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Michigan State Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2022

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 30, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) celebrates with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) celebrates with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s way too early, but we’re already looking forward to the 2022 Michigan State football season. With the schedule finalized, how will the Spartans fare?

Mel Tucker and Michigan State football had an incredibly successful 2021 season, finishing with an 11-2 record and a Peach Bowl win over Pitt.

Coming into the year, no one expected Michigan State would contend for a New Year’s Six bowl, but making the Peach Bowl and winning it in comeback fashion with 11 wins just went to show that Tucker is a fantastic coach more than worth his 10-year, $95 million extension.

With some top programs looking to replace coaches during the year and shortly after, it was good to see Michigan State pay up. The school has shown that it’s ready to play with the big boys.

Now that Tucker is freshly signed and heading into his third season overall and second full season in 2022, the expectations are rising. The Spartans went 2-5 in his first season and 11-2 just the next year so we could expect even bigger things in 2022, right? Well, losing Kenneth Walker III and Jalen Nailor will hurt the offense but the Spartans have brought in some talent to help replace them.

In fact, Tucker landed Jalen Berger in the transfer portal and he looks to be on the verge of adding Colorado running back transfer Jarek Broussard. On top of that, Jayden Reed returns along with Tre Mosley, Keon Coleman, Christian Fitzpatrick, and Maliq Carr while the 2022 class adds Germie Bernard, Tyrell Henry, Jaron Glover, Jack Nickel and Antonio Gates Jr.

If the pass defense can improve even to the 70-80 range nationally, the Spartans could be serious playoff contenders. Adding Ameer Speed and getting Charles Brantley back and healthy and returning Xavier Henderson should help.

Let’s go game by game to see just how this team could fare in 2022.

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