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Michigan State football ranked 3rd-least experienced team in CFB for 2017

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 19, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) celebrates a touchdown with Michigan State Spartans tight end Josiah Price (82) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) celebrates a touchdown with Michigan State Spartans tight end Josiah Price (82) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State football was ranked as the third-least experienced team in college football for 2017, according to Phil Steele.

Entering the 2017 season, Michigan State football will have its work cut out. The Spartans are coming off a disastrous 3-9 season and an even worse offseason, but Mark Dantonio is confident that he’ll right the ship.

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However, there will be two obstacles standing in Michigan State’s way. One is the fact that Michigan State has one of the toughest schedules in college football. Moreover, CBS Sports even ranked it the toughest in the nation.

And two, the Spartans return few starters from last year’s team and not many with actual playing experience at the collegiate level.

According to college football expert Phil Steele, the Spartans are returning the third-least experienced team in the country. That’s not the best news Michigan State fans have heard all offseason, but it’s also not much of a surprise.

In fact, the Spartans have lost starters such as Riley Bullough, Jon Reschke, Malik McDowell, Montae Nicholson, Demetrious Cox, Darian Hicks, Josiah Price, R.J. Shelton and Donnie Corley this offseason. All had started at some point last season.

Michigan State will have a lot of work to do in order to replace those departures, but it’s not like the young talent isn’t there.

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Steele also ranked Michigan as the least experienced team in college football while USC is the second-least experienced and the Spartans are tied with Illinois for third.

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