Michigan State Football: Ranking 2019 opponents by toughness

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 10: J.K. Dobbins #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs into the tackle of Kenny Willekes #48 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 10, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 13: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hurries Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Penn State is going to look fairly different this season. The Nittany Lions lost Trace McSorley to the NFL and backup Tommy Stevens to Mississippi State where he won the starting job.

On top of that, Miles Sanders is also gone and the Nittany Lions have suffered some of the most attrition of any team in college football this offseason.

Related Story. MSU football game-by-game predictions for 2019. light

KJ Hamler is back as the team’s top receiver and he could be due for another big year and breakout tight end Pat Freiermuth should be solid as well, but replacing McSorley and Stevens will be tough, especially for Sean Clifford who attempted just seven passes last season.

While the offense has almost an entirely new look, the defense should be solid yet again. This is a tough game for the Spartans, but they took down the Nittany Lions on the road last season and Mark Dantonio has had James Franklin’s number since he took over in Happy Valley.

The Nittany Lions are a tough team to judge, though. It wouldn’t shock me if they either won seven games or won the Big Ten East.

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