Michigan State football earns respect at No. 18 in CFB Playoff Top 25

Michigan State football entered Tuesday night’s College Football Playoff Top 25 show not expecting much, but the Spartans earned major respect.

When Michigan State dropped out of the rankings following a Northwestern loss a few weeks ago, it seemed like the Spartans were kissing their chances at a spot in the Top 25 goodbye for the year.

Fast forward a few weeks and the Spartans have wins over Penn State, Maryland and Purdue and a two-touchdown loss to top-10 ranked Michigan. After holding the Terrapins to 100 total yards on the road in Week 10, the Spartans jumped back into the AP Top 25 at No. 24 and no one was expecting much in Tuesday night’s College Football Playoff rankings reveal.

Michigan State was pleasantly surprised with the newest rankings.

When No. 25 through No. 21 were revealed with no Michigan State, it looked like a done deal that the Spartans weren’t going to be in the Top 25, but the No. 20 through No. 16 graphic appeared with Michigan State right in the middle at No. 18.

Yes, No. 18 — that’s not a typo.

The Spartans are just 6-3 on the season, but the recent improvement — especially on the defensive side of the ball — has impressed the committee enough to move them seven spots into the poll with a chance to upset No. 10 Ohio State on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing.

With a win over Ohio State, the Spartans would not only end a long drought against the Buckeyes at home, but it would likely jump Michigan State into the top 15.

Not too shabby for a team with no offense experiencing a “down year” under Mark Dantonio.

If Brian Lewerke is healthy and looking like his old self throughout the remainder of the year, there’s a good chance we could be talking about a 9-3 Michigan State team with an outside shot at making the Rose Bowl.