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Michigan State Football: 5 reasons to be optimistic about 2019 season

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 24: Cornerback Josiah Scott #22 celebrates with linebacker Antjuan Simmons #34 and safety Khari Willis #27 of the Michigan State Spartans after intercepting a pass by quarterback Giovanni Rescigno #17 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium on November 24, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 14-10. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 24: Cornerback Josiah Scott #22 celebrates with linebacker Antjuan Simmons #34 and safety Khari Willis #27 of the Michigan State Spartans after intercepting a pass by quarterback Giovanni Rescigno #17 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium on November 24, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 14-10. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 20: Michigan State Spartans fans cheer during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 20: Michigan State Spartans fans cheer during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

4. Schedule is winnable

The 2018 schedule was supposed to be the one that had all Michigan State fans drooling over a potential 12-0 or 11-1 season with the talent returning and the home games against tough opponents, but the 2019 slate isn’t as tough as many may lead you to believe.

Sure, the games in Ann Arbor against Michigan, Columbus versus Ohio State and Madison with Wisconsin scream “three sure losses” right now, but with the elite defense returning and movement of coaches on the offensive side of the ball, improvement is inevitable.

Let’s look at the schedule, shall we?

In September, the Spartans open with Tulsa, Western Michigan and a rematch with Arizona State, all in East Lansing. That could be three easy wins right there, depending on the Sun Devils’ progression under Herm Edwards. Then the Spartans will get a shot at revenge in Evanston against Northwestern before coming back home to end the month with Indiana.

Michigan State could be 5-0 before October when it faces Ohio State. Getting the Buckeyes this early in the year is actually a good thing. It’ll be the first month, or so, of the Ryan Day era and they could still be trying to figure things out. Still, it’s in Columbus — Michigan State has won in Columbus twice since 2012, though.

Then the Spartans will travel to Wisconsin, but the Badgers had an off-year in 2018 like Michigan State and that one will be an even matchup. Penn State then awaits the Spartans in East Lansing the following week, but Michigan State has won two straight versus the Nittany Lions and Mark Dantonio has never lost to James Franklin at home.

November will be Illinois at home before traveling to Michigan and Rutgers and then ending the year in East Lansing versus Maryland. Traveling to Ann Arbor is daunting, but the Spartans have won there twice against Jim Harbaugh.

The other three November games should be sure wins.

At worst, with this schedule, the Spartans should be 8-4 — that should be the absolute basement. The ceiling is 11-1 or 10-2. We could be looking at yet another 10-win season under Dantonio with a winnable 2019 schedule approaching.

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