Something is amiss in East Lansing.
Michigan State's 2015 season went quite well for Mark Dantonio. Heading into New Year's Eve, the Spartans were 12-1 and coming off of an instant classic Big Ten Championship victory over the Hawkeyes. The Dec. 31 College Football Playoff matchup against the eventual national champion Crimson Tide didn't go quite as well, however, as the Spartans were trounced by a score of 38-0.
Still, it was a big season in East Lansing. L.J. Scott looked like an emerging superstar at tailback and the Michigan State defense was doing what we've come to expect from it over the years. The Spartans had jumped right up toward the top of the Big Ten – along with Ohio State – and they looked poised to be a force for the coming years.
And then things came crashing down.
Following the 12-win season, they were able to manage just a trio of wins in 2016. How is that possible? I'm not really sure, but you've got some major problems when your only victories come against Furman, Rutgers, and a Notre Dame. Those three teams combined for just nine wins on the season.
Connor Cook was gone at quarterback, but Scott entered his sophomore season and expected to lead a talented Spartan backfield. Dantonio was also fresh off of his best recruiting class yet, and a number of 2016 newcomers were expected to contribute as true freshmen. No one projected Michigan State to make another Playoff run, but a mere three wins was still a pretty big shock to anyone who follows college football.
Now, with the 2017 season approaching, the Spartans look to have gone from a potential Big Ten powerhouse to a team that – at least on paper – looks like the fourth-best program in the conference's East Division. A resurgent Nittany Lion program appears to have taken Michigan State's spot among the Big Ten's most distinguished triumvirate.
| Year | 4 & 5-starS | B1G Rank | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 | No. 4 | No. 25 |
| 2015 | 5 | No. 3 | No. 22 |
| 2016 | 10 | No. 3 | No. 17 |
| 2017 | 4 | No. 6 | No. 34 |
| 2018 | 2 | No. 9 | No. 39 |
The Spartans have never been able to compete with the Ohio States and Alabamas of the recruiting world, but right now things aren't going so hot in East Lansing, and that may very well spell some trouble for the coming years.
Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State are three of the hottest teams in the country right now. The Buckeyes have been at the top of the Big Ten for a while and both Michigan and Penn State are putting the appropriate pieces in place to make a run. Both programs appear to have the right men at the helm, and that certainly doesn't hurt.
The Nittany Lions and Wolverines have the potential to make a leap forward into the national spotlight. The same spotlight where Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, and Florida State have been over the past several seasons. With just over three months until the 2017 season kicks off, some publications have Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State all ranked in the top 10 of the preseason rankings.
Don't expect to find the Spartans anywhere near the Top 25. When ESPN released its initial Preseason Football Power Index back in February, Michigan State checked in at No. 58. That's two spots ahead of Indiana and behind schools like Syracuse and Wake Forest.
Despite the recruiting woes and putrid 2016 campaign, there may be a small glimmer of hope. Scott is still around and he's still one of the more talented backs in the conference. Quarterback Tyler O'Connor is gone, and I don't think you'll hear any complaints from the Spartan faithful. Brian Lewerke looked like a competent quarterback a season ago before suffering a broken tibia.
The talented 2016 class was led by a strong group of wideouts and defensive linemen, and those guys will obviously be a bit more seasoned in 2017. The Spartan defense ranked last in the conference and No. 124 nationally when it came to getting after the quarterback a season ago. Some of the younger linemen were given an opportunity late in the season and will look to build on that for 2017.
There remains a dark cloud over East Lansing, however. Rumors have been running rampant about three players' involvement in a sexual assault allegation. An incident that allegedly may also involve the ace recruiter on their coaching staff. If anything does come from this – especially if the rumored names end up being correct – then that could spell even more trouble in 2017.
The Spartans have a long way to go if they wish to return to the success of recent years. Right now they're trying to add to a recruiting class that ranks No. 39 in the country all the while the Buckeyes, Wolverines, and Spartans continue to bring in top talent. Ohio State checks in with the No. 2 class while Penn State and Michigan are No. 3 and 10 respectively.
Meanwhile, the wait goes on for the results of a Title IX investigation that could set the program even further behind.
Not the spotlight that Mark Dantonio would prefer.
