Michigan State Football: 3 implications of undefeated first half of 2021 season

Through six weeks of the 2021 season, Michigan State football is 6-0. Reading that again still doesn’t make it feel real, but it is.

Mel Tucker has done a fantastic job of turning this team around in less than a year, going from 2-5 last season to 6-0 this year. He took a team that was projected to finish in the bottom half of the Big Ten to an undefeated first half of 2021 and a top-10 ranking.

No one saw this coming.

What are the implications of the 6-0 start?

3. Jay Johnson has turned things around

After watching Michigan State’s offense put up the second-worst turnover rate, have the No. 116 scoring offense, No. 122 passing offense, and 109th total offense last year, some members of the fanbase were ready to crucify Jay Johnson. They were already calling for his job.

The Spartans looked really bad offensively. Rocky Lombardi had more interceptions than touchdown passes and the leading rusher (Jordon Simmons) averaged just 3.9 yards per carry.

Mel Tucker hit the transfer postal hard in the offseason and picked up some key players like Kenneth Walker III and Jarrett Horst on offense and the outlook completely changed. He even added Anthony Russo to push Payton Thorne for QB1 in the offseason and it seemed to have made the sophomore quarterback just that much better.

Johnson has since led Michigan State to the No. 38 passing offense, No. 22 rushing offense, No. 15 total offense, and No. 48 scoring offense. He’s turned this offense around with great adjustments and play-calling and playing to the strengths of his players.