Michigan State Football: 5 reasons Spartans will shock the Big Ten in 2019

5. Mark Dantonio’s track record after disappointing seasons

Since Mark Dantonio took over in 2007, the Spartans have made a bowl game in all but one season. Michigan State has been as consistent as any program in the conference, but that doesn’t mean he’s immune to the ups and downs of college football.

In fact, he’s had his fair share of disappointments such as the 2009, 2012, 2016 and 2018 seasons. Heck, if you wanted to reach a little, you could say that his first year of 7-6 with a tough loss to Michigan was a disappointing campaign, that would still work under this narrative.

Dantonio has an incredible track record after disappointing seasons.

Flash it all the way back to 2007. He went 7-6 in his first year with the Spartans and watched a win against Michigan slip through his fingers. The following year, Michigan State went 9-4 and finished third in the Big Ten.

Then, in 2009, Michigan State had tough losses galore (Central Michigan comes to mind) and finished 6-7 with a loss in the Alamo Bowl and a handful of suspensions due to a fight in a campus dorm. The following campaign? Michigan State went 11-1 in the regular season and split the Big Ten title with Wisconsin before getting walloped by Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.

In 2012, Michigan State went 7-6 again with poor quarterback play but solid offense and then turned it around to go 13-1 with a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl win in 2013.

Lastly, the Spartans went 3-9 with zero expectations for the following season but still had one of the best turnarounds in college football, winning 10 games in 2017 with a Holiday Bowl victory over Washington State.

After a 7-6 campaign in 2018, we can expect Dantonio to right the ship like he has each time before.