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Michigan State Football: Ranking 2019 opponents by toughness

By Connor Muldowney

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)
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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EVANSTON, IL – OCTOBER 28: Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans tackles Flynn Nagel #2 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 28, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 39-31 in triple overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL – OCTOBER 28: Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans tackles Flynn Nagel #2 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 28, 2017 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 39-31 in triple overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

How is a team that has given Michigan State fits over the past five, or so, years ranked No. 5 on a list of toughest opponents for 2019? That’s just how difficult Michigan State’s 2019 schedule is where traveling to Evanston isn’t even in the top four.

Northwestern did lose Clayton Thorson, though, which is music to Michigan State’s ears. He was an actual Spartan killer over the past few years and he found ways to pick apart relatively solid defensive backfields with his nickel-and-dime passing. He gives way to Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson, but there’s no way of telling if he’ll be as effective as Thorson was in Evanston.

Isaiah Bowser returns to a backfield that ranked 120th in college football in rushing yards, so the Spartans shouldn’t have much of an issue there.

On top of that, the Northwestern defense was horrid against the pass last year, ranking 109th, so expect Brian Lewerke to have a big game like he did two years ago when he passed for over 400 yards against the Wildcats in Evanston.

This will be a tough game, but Michigan State is due to end the losing streak against the Wildcats, right?

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