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Michigan State football: Why Western Kentucky won’t be easy win

By Brad LaPlante

Michigan State's Jayden Reed, left, celebrates his touchdown with Connor Heyward during the fourth quarter in the game against Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 235a
Michigan State's Jayden Reed, left, celebrates his touchdown with Connor Heyward during the fourth quarter in the game against Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 235a /
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Michigan State football has surprised everyone this year. The Spartans are 4-0, ranked No. 17 in the Week 5 AP Poll, and have wins over No. 24 Miami, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Youngstown State. Mel Tucker is ahead of schedule.

Last week, Michigan State played from behind for the first time this year.

Unlike games against Miami and Northwestern, the Spartans had to find a game plan that worked, because it was not working against the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska held Michigan State to one offensive yard in the fourth quarter and no first downs in the entire second half. They were down by seven with less than two minutes left in the game. The Spartans can attribute Jayden Reed’s punt return for a touchdown to their comeback.

Nebraska unlocked the key to beating Michigan State football this season

No, I’m not saying that Western Kentucky will win at all; I hardly think that. The Hilltoppers are not a terrible team, despite what their record suggests. They’re 1-2 with their sole win against an FCS school.

Despite that, they’ve had some close games so far, losing 38-35 to Army and losing 33-31 to Indiana. Both programs are not great this year, despite some thinking Indiana would carry momentum into this year.

This could be another game that Kenneth Walker runs up and down the field with 200 rushing yards. Michigan State’s defense should not take Western Kentucky for granted, though. They have some weapons, especially in their quarterback, Bailey Zappe.

Zappe has had some misfortune this year. A better defense may have secured another win or two for the Hilltoppers. He’s 87-119 (73.1 completion percentage) and has thrown for 1,224 yards this season. That’s 408 yards per game and his 13 touchdowns this season — 4.3 per game.

It’s not like Tucker to think any game is a “cakewalk” and we’ve seen that in his rhetoric this season, and in his career. If Michigan State wants to start building momentum towards their Oct. 30 game against Michigan, it starts with Western Kentucky.

Next. Michigan State up to No. 17 in AP Poll. dark

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