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Michigan State Football: 5 takeaways from mammoth upset of Penn State

By Connor Muldowney

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: La'Darius Jefferson #15 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Brian Lewerke #14 after scoring a 1 yard touchdown in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: La'Darius Jefferson #15 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Brian Lewerke #14 after scoring a 1 yard touchdown in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 13: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is pressured by Tyriq Thompson #17 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 13: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is pressured by Tyriq Thompson #17 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

3. Defense might just be gaining steam

There always seems to be that one game each season that swings the momentum for Michigan State. In 2018, it could just be the Penn State upset.

Last year, it was the Michigan game that seemed to turn things around for the Spartans as they were able to take down Penn State shortly after and eventually dominate a ranked Washington State team in the Holiday Bowl.

The Spartans looked shaky on offense yet again, but the defense took a step in the right direction outside of a couple of chunk runs by Miles Sanders. If it wasn’t for his 78-yard and 48-yard rushes, the Nittany Lions’ offense would have been non-existent on Saturday afternoon. Trace McSorley couldn’t get anything going on the ground himself with 37 yards and he struggled through the air, too.

In fact, he was 19-of-32 passing for 192 yards and a touchdown and most of his big plays were on catch-and-runs. He did add 25 yards on the Nittany Lions’ second-to-last play, so he would have finished with under 170 yards on the day.

The secondary stepped up on many short passes and even made some great plays on would-be receivers to break things up.

Why didn’t Penn State take more shots down the field? Because the secondary wasn’t allowing anything behind it.

Strong game from the front-seven, containing McSorley in the pocket, as well as the secondary. This type of defense will keep the Spartans in each Big Ten game.

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