Michigan State football: 3 things I want to see vs. Washington

Michigan State football will travel to Seattle on Saturday evening to take on a 2-0 Washington team primed for an upset. What do I want to see?

After two weeks, Michigan State football has picked up two wins and has beaten opponents by a combined score of 87-13. Washington, too, has dominated opponents through the first two weeks, 97-26.

Michigan State has to hope that its defense holds up against Michael Penix Jr. who has been fantastic this season against inferior opponents and Mel Tucker is looking for a similar result as last year’s Power Five non-conference road game against Miami — he wants his team to drag the Huskies into the deep water.

Here’s what I want to see from the Spartans against Washington on Saturday.

3. Pressure on Michael Penix Jr.

Through two games, Michael Penix Jr. has yet to be sacked. Sure, his Huskies have faced only Portland State and Kent State, but that’s impressive considering how many snaps he’s taken. He’s just that good at escaping pressure and extending plays with his legs.

I want to see him feel the pressure on Saturday night. He’s not used to feeling uncomfortable in the pocket at Washington but that should change against this aggressive Spartan front.

Jacoby Windmon leads the nation in sacks and so do the Spartans as a whole. Jacob Slade, if healthy, is a legit All-American candidate, Khris Bogle is an athletic freak on the edge, and Simeon Barrow can get a ton of push up the middle, too, if healthy. This front is going to easily be the toughest this Washington line has seen since last season.

If Michigan State can get constant pressure on Penix and get to him a few times, I’ll feel much better about the Spartans’ chances to win on the road.