Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: Ranking 2022 opponents by toughness

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State Spartans defensive end Dashaun Mallory (94) signals fourth down after a stop against the Maryland Terrapins during second half action Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 at Spartan Stadium.Msu defense happy
Michigan State Spartans defensive end Dashaun Mallory (94) signals fourth down after a stop against the Maryland Terrapins during second half action Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 at Spartan Stadium.Msu defense happy /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Nov 27, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) makes a touchdown catch against Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Johnny Dixon (3) during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) makes a touchdown catch against Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Johnny Dixon (3) during the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Michigan State hasn’t faced Wisconsin in a few years and the last time these two teams met, it wasn’t a pretty outcome for the Spartans. In fact, the Badgers have had Michigan State’s number for the past handful of meetings and Mel Tucker will look to change that fortune on Oct. 15 for a Homecoming battle.

East Lansing will be electric for this matchup and I think that the Badgers will be the Big Ten West favorites so both teams could be ranked fairly high here. Honestly, this could be a top-10 battle.

Graham Mertz is the key here. If he is still struggling, Michigan State will take advantage but if he took that next step, this is going to be a classic. Either way, this game will be a tight one.

Penn State is never an easy matchup for Michigan State. Never.

The Nittany Lions will be looking for revenge after Michigan State took them down in a snow-filled battle in 2021. Jayden Reed stomped on the Nittany Lions’ hearts with a late touchdown in which he Moss’d a Penn State defender. The Spartans were underdogs in this game somehow, but they didn’t care and won the game in impressive fashion.

Penn State will be better than it was a year ago, but it’s still hard to peg the Nittany Lions as true threats to Ohio State or even Michigan. They went 0-3 against OSU, MSU, and Michigan last year. But Happy Valley will be rocking to end the season.

Home/Spartans Football