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Michigan State football: It’s time to flip season in right direction vs. Michigan

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 15: Keon Coleman #0, Jalen Berger #8 and Nick Samac #59 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate Bergers 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)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 15: Keon Coleman #0, Jalen Berger #8 and Nick Samac #59 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate Bergers 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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As Michigan State football players spoke to the media on Tuesday ahead of the massive Michigan rivalry game, one thing stood out to me: Xavier Henderson and Jacoby Windmon are perfect leaders.

Both talked about keeping their mouths shut and letting their play do the talking during rivalry week when Michigan fans and players have been outspoken.

And then Henderson said something that resonated. He said that he told the team before the Wisconsin win that it was time to wipe the slate clean and start fresh in the second half of the season. He said that he wanted this season to count for something after such a rough start.

That’s what MSU fans like to hear.

The team wants to win out or at least make a drastic turnaround after that 2-4 start and a win over Michigan this weekend could go a long way to making 2022 memorable, after all.

Michigan game could launch Michigan State football

While it’s going to take a near-perfect effort and execution to beat the No. 4 Wolverines in Ann Arbor, crazier upsets have happened in this rivalry. It’s not a likely win, but it’s possible.

And with Michigan State getting healthy at the right time and picking up some confidence against Wisconsin, the Spartans could finally start playing like everyone expected at the beginning of the year. This would be the perfect “we’re back” win and it would launch the Spartans into a legit red-hot trajectory heading into the final month of the season.

If Michigan State can somehow find a way to upset the Wolverines, they’d improve to 4-0 with a looming road game against a ranked Illinois team. Beating Michigan would show everyone, including themselves, that they can beat anyone left on the schedule.

Let’s say Michigan State wins on Saturday, I could legitimately see the Spartans winning at Illinois and at home against Indiana and Rutgers to improve to 7-4 before the Penn State game.

This is a massive longshot, but that’s what a Michigan win could do for this team.

Next. MSU football: 5 most important remaining 2023 targets. dark

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