Michigan State football: Expectations for 2021 Spartans have changed

Big things may be cooking for Michigan State football.

Mel Tucker is 5-5 with the Spartans in 10 games. Three wins against AP Top 25 teams (Northwestern, Michigan, and Miami). Entering the season, Michigan State was expected to go 6-6 with a bowl game in the team’s future. That’s an upgrade when considering what Tucker was given.

After bringing in 41 new players, 20 of them being transfers, the Spartans have completely re-tooled and rebuilt the roster. Payton Thorne is a big-time quarterback with several years of playing time; Kenneth Walker III could very well win a Heisman at Michigan State.

After starting 3-0, expectations for Michigan State football have changed

By Michigan State’s projections, they could’ve easily dodged both Northwestern and Miami to start 1-2. Instead, Michigan State beat up on every single opponent they’ve played thus far. If Michigan didn’t look as dominant as they were against Northern Illinois, most could argue that Michigan State should be ranked higher.

But now the Spartans are ranked No. 20 and could be 7-0 and could be ranked in the Top 12 before they play Michigan. It would be the first time both schools were ranked in the Top 12 since No. 7 Michigan State famously ousted No. 12 Michigan on a punt miscue.

Between now and Oct. 30 when Michigan State faces Michigan at Spartan Stadium, the Spartans play Nebraska (which may not be as easy as previously thought), Western Kentucky, Rutgers, and Indiana. Expectations for Michigan State are to go 5-0 during this stretch.

No one, by any stretch of the imagination, is expecting Michigan State to beat Michigan, Penn State, and Ohio State. Both the Wolverines and Nittany Lions are rivals, and those games could go either way. Michigan State may be able to compete in all three of those games, including against Ohio State.

If Michigan State met these metrics, they’d be 9-3. If we’re optimistic they could go 11-1 or even 12-0. Do I think they’ll go 12-0? Most likely not.

So far, they’ve beaten a struggling Big Ten team (Northwestern), an FCS school (Youngstown State), and a fading Power Five program (Miami). But all of this still means something.

Even when you consider Miami’s near loss to Appalachian State, it’s still a win against a ranked Power Five team on the road. That’s huge.

The stakes on this season are definitely raised, but Mel Tucker seems up for the challenge.