Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from win over Penn State

Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Arjen Colquhoun (36) and cornerback Jermaine Edmondson (39) carry the Big Ten east championship trophy after a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

2. Spartans gelling at the perfect time

After about nine games of uncertainty on both sides of the ball to start the season, the Spartans were looking like one of those Mark Dantonio-coached teams that would finish below expectations and fade into irrelevancy during bowl season — maybe making a New Year’s Day bowl, but nothing more.

However, since the loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Michigan State has been on fire, outscoring opponents 96-37 in those three contests, including a win over No. 3 Ohio State on the road. This team is a lot like last year’s Ohio State team that won a national title in the way that it also went through a rough patch at the beginning of the year and came together near the end.

Michigan State is one win away from likely making the College Football Playoff and the committee has to like what it’s been seeing from the Spartans. Winning on the road against a top-three team without Connor Cook and blowing out a decent Penn State team at home to close the year just shows that this team is gelling at the right time.

Taking the field against Iowa on Saturday, we will find out just how much the Spartans have gelled over the past month. The Hawkeyes have yet to lose a game this season and Michigan State will be their biggest test.

A win for Michigan State would prove to the country that Mark Dantonio and Co. are not messing around and the “Reach Higher” mantra never wavered with this squad.

Next: 1. Connor Cook's still got it