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Michigan State Football: 3 biggest disappointments from 2019 season

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans looks towards an official after a penalty was called against the Spartans during the first half of a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Spartan Stadium on November 30, 2019, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans looks towards an official after a penalty was called against the Spartans during the first half of a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Spartan Stadium on November 30, 2019, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 12: Nakia Watson #14 of the Wisconsin Badgers avoids a tackle by Xavier Henderson #3 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 12: Nakia Watson #14 of the Wisconsin Badgers avoids a tackle by Xavier Henderson #3 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

2. Big-game performances

Michigan State had one of the toughest schedules in the month of October in the entire nation, traveling to Ohio State and Wisconsin and then capping off the month with a ranked Penn State team in the thick of a Big Ten East title race. The Spartans went into the month with a 4-1 record and were looking to gain some momentum with a couple of wins, but that didn’t happen.

The Spartans put up a decent fight against Ohio State for 15 minutes, but the Buckeyes broke out in the second quarter and took a commanding lead which they never let up, winning 34-10.

Then Wisconsin just wiped the floor with Michigan State to the tune of 38-0 in Madison. The game wasn’t close at really any point as the Spartans couldn’t stop the Badger offense while struggling mightily to move the ball effectively.

October ended with a home game against a Penn State team the Spartans have had their way with over the years, but not this time. The Nittany Lions downed the Spartans 28-7 as Michigan State showed little life on its own turf.

If those three ugly losses weren’t disappointing enough, Michigan State went on the road in mid-November to face Michigan and the Wolverines blew the doors off the Spartans 44-10.

Not scoring over 10 points against the Big Ten’s “big four” was as embarrassing as it was disappointing. Mark Dantonio didn’t build up the program just to lose by a combined score of 144-27 against teams with a pulse.

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