Michigan State Football: 3 takeaways from win over No. 8 Northwestern

Nov 28, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Connor Heyward (11) leaps over Northwestern Wildcats defensive back A.J. Hampton (11) as he looses control of the football during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 28, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker looks on during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The future is bright

It’s hard to really judge this team because they’ll lose to Rutgers and then beat a ranked Michigan team on the road. And then they’ll lose to Indiana and Iowa in blowout fashion and then beat the No. 8 Northwestern Wildcats who were undefeated heading into Week 13.

How can we truly judge this team? Effort.

Effort hasn’t been lacking all season but the talent gap has been relatively obvious against teams like Iowa and Indiana, but they adjusted in the second halves of both games and didn’t give up anything to the Hoosiers and only 14 points to Iowa. The defense has improved each week and they allowed less than 300 yards to the Wildcats on Saturday.

No one gave the Spartans a chance to beat the Wildcats in this one, especially after losing the previous two games by a combined score of 73-7. Mel Tucker has these guys believing.

The future of this program under Tucker looks brighter than people think.

Next. 3 takeaways from MSU's win over Eastern Michigan. dark

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