Michigan State football: Joe Bachie return a big piece to Big Ten title puzzle

Michigan State football is bringing back a major piece to its Big Ten puzzle in 2019 as Joe Bachie announced his return to the Spartans.

Following the Redbox Bowl, Joe Bachie declined to talk about his future with Michigan State football, stating that it’d be something he’d have to speak to his coaches and family about. Less than a week later, the junior All-Big Ten linebacker has announced his return.

While it may be a bit crazy to say that he’s a big piece to the Spartans’ Big Ten title hopes in 2019 since they finished just 7-6 in 2018, Michigan State had one of the best defenses in college football and that should continue. A Big Ten title, assuming the offense makes the necessary moves, isn’t out of the question.

Bachie had garnered plenty of NFL interest after being named first-team All-Big Ten after he recorded a career-best 102 tackles to go along with nine for loss and an interception. He put his name on everyone’s radar last season and lived up to expectations this year with a back-to-back 100-tackle season.

Michigan State’s defense could very well be the best in the Big Ten next season as it carried the Spartans week in and week out in 2018.

In fact, with even an average offense, the Spartans would have contended for the Big Ten title and finished with a 10-2 overall record, at the absolute worst.

Bachie’s return shows that he’s willing to show patience with the offense and allow them to live up to the hype in order to allow a special season to occur in 2019.

Don’t sleep on the Spartans in the Big Ten East next season, especially with one of the nation’s best middle linebackers returning to East Lansing. This defense is going to be scary-good.