Michigan State Football: 3 implications of gritty win at Indiana

Oct 16, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Jacolby Hewitt (2) misses a pass under coverage from Michigan State Spartans linebacker Quavaris Crouch (6) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 16, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jalen Nailor (8) sings with his team to the fans after the match against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Spartans win 20-15. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /

1. MSU controls its own destiny

Heading into a Week 8 bye, Michigan State controls its own destiny. Raise your hand if you thought you were going to hear those words together at the beginning of the year. No one? Didn’t think so.

The Spartans have now passed a couple of potentially tricky road tests against Rutgers and Indiana (a team that was ranked to begin the year) and now they head into the bye week with a 7-0 record before facing Michigan at home in Week 9. If the Spartans can beat Michigan, they’ll be 8-0 with four games left and two will be likely wins.

Michigan State is going to be favored in at least two of the remaining four games after Michigan and possibly against Penn State as well, and if it can win all the games in which it’s favored, it’ll finish the regular season with a 10-2 or 11-1 record.

Plus, if they can keep things close against Ohio State or even pull the upset on the road, we’ll be talking about a possible Big Ten East title and playoff berth.

It’s wild that this team is in this position right now.

Next. 3 takeaways from MSU's tight win at Indiana. dark

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