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Michigan State Football: What went wrong vs. Notre Dame?

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: Michigan State Spartans head football coach Mark Dantonio watches the replay after a second quarter fumble in the end zone during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Spartan Stadium on September 23, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: Michigan State Spartans head football coach Mark Dantonio watches the replay after a second quarter fumble in the end zone during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Spartan Stadium on September 23, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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After a nightmare of a performance on Saturday night, here’s what went wrong for Michigan State football against Notre Dame.

Turnovers, sloppy play and poor game-planning all led to Michigan State football’s ugly loss to Notre Dame on Saturday night in East Lansing. The Spartans fell behind early and turnovers halted any chance of a comeback.

More went wrong outside of those three things, but what exactly kept the Spartans from a victory in this one? Themselves. Not only were they close to pulling within a touchdown right before half, but they made some big stops which were negated with penalties.

Here’s what went wrong:

  • Turnovers — This one’s a no-brainer. Michigan State isn’t going to win any games this year in which it turns the ball over three times. Especially when one of those was a sure touchdown and resulted in a touchback.
  • Inability to take shots down field — Brian Lewerke is often getting rushed before his receivers can break routes down the field. The line needs to do a better job of giving him time so he can let guys like Darrell Stewart, Trishton Jackson and Felton Davis III get open.
  • Penalties — While Notre Dame had six penalties as well, Michigan State’s came at inopportune times and really shot the Spartans in the foot. For example, you cannot get an offsides penalty on a third-and-one, especially when you make the big stop.
  • Inability to stay composed — After falling behind 14-0, the Spartans showed an ability to remain calm by marching down the field to score a touchdown. The next drive, they forced a Notre Dame punt. Eventually, they reached the end zone, but Scott’s fumble turned the game on its head. After that, all composure was lost and so was the momentum.
  • Letting Brandon Wimbush connect on short passes — The Spartans knew the game plan. Wimbush wasn’t going to take shots down the field, and he didn’t outside of a long first-quarter toss. The Spartans should have let him try to burn them with long throws, but instead he torched the defense with quick 5-10 yard throws and screens which nickel-and-dimed MSU down the field. Poor planning.

Next: MSU Football: 5 bold predictions for September

It was a poor performance all around for the Spartans and this type of deflation after a tough turnover cannot happen again this season. Michigan State must avoid a domino effect like Scott’s fumble against Wisconsin last season provided.

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