Michigan State football: 3 positives heading into bye week

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 15: Keon Coleman #0, Jalen Berger #8 and J.D. Duplain #67 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate Berger's touchdown against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first quarter at Spartan Stadium on October 15, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

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Oct 15, 2022; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) catches a touchdown pass in spite of Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Ricardo Hallman (2) in a second overtime period to win the game, 34-28, at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The Payton Thorne-Jayden Reed connection is back, better than ever

Speaking of getting leaders back and healthy, when Payton Thorne and Jayden Reed are 100 percent, they’re a tough duo to stop. Heck, they’re borderline impossible to stop.

Thorne admitted earlier last week that he hadn’t been 100 percent all season and that was really shocking to no one. Reed had also been less than 100 percent all year long, starting in the offseason and being doubled down with a back injury suffered against Akron after sliding into a bench on the sidelines.

Against Wisconsin, both looked like their old selves.

Thorne realized that when he found Reed, good things happen. The Wisconsin defense just couldn’t slow that combo down and they connected nine times for 117 yards and a touchdown.

When they’re both healthy, they’re both producing at a high level.

This is a major positive heading into the bye week — plus, they’re only going to get healthier with the week off.

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