Michigan State Football: 3 takeaways from massive upset of Michigan

Michigan State football played Michigan tougher than expected on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor. What’d we learn from this one?

Watching Saturday’s game in front of an empty Big House was weird. Seeing Michigan State, a 25-point underdog, take a lead in the first half was weirder. Taking a 20-17 lead late in the third quarter was even weirder. Beating Michigan on the road was the weirdest.

No one saw this coming from Michigan State.

We saw a heck of an effort from Michigan State on Saturday despite being given not being given a chance by any fans or people in the media. Mel Tucker’s team responded with a nightmare performance in the season opener with a solid performance against the Wolverines.

Michigan State played tough, Rocky Lombardi did just enough and the Spartans are now 1-1 on the season with a massive win over Michigan.

What’d we learn from this incredible win?

3. Conservative play-calling needs to stop

On two occasions in the first half, Michigan State could have tacked on to a lead but chose to concede and punt, giving Michigan time to potentially score again. That can’t continue to happen.

The first instance was a third-and-15 around the Spartans’ 40-yard line and they decided to run with Connor Heyward instead of trying to get to midfield and continue the drive. The second was a first-and-20 thanks to a penalty and Michigan State decided to run three straight dives up the middle. They gave up on both drives.

In the fourth quarter, Michigan State decided to kick a field goal on fourth-and-2 up 20-17 instead of going for it. Matt Coghlin ended up missing and a make wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

While it ultimate didn’t matter, the conservative play-calling cannot continue if Michigan State wants to do any damage in the Big Ten this season.