Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from 2017 season

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SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 28: Head coach Mark Dantonio holds up the winning trophy along with players Chris Frey #23, Brian Lewerke #14, and Damion Terry #6 of the Michigan State Spartans after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

5. Immediate future brighter than anyone expected

Did you expect this quick of a turnaround? Neither did anyone else. People were stating that six or seven wins would be an “win” in 2017 given the way 2016 ended, but Mark Dantonio and the Spartans took that one, or four, steps further with a 10-3 campaign and trip to the Holiday Bowl.

Moreover, the Spartans finished with three wins over ranked teams (Michigan, Penn State and Washington State) and did so with one of the youngest teams in college football.

Youth was a major concern heading into the season with just a small number of seniors, but the Spartans didn’t look like a young team. They played like a veteran football team, winning 10 games and taking care of the inferior opponents they were supposed to — outside of Northwestern which also finished the season ranked.

With the 2018 recruiting class all signed on early signing day and more on the way and the 2019 class off to a hot start, the future of Michigan State football is brighter than anyone expected after 2016.

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