Much to the chagrin of the rest of the Big Ten, it appears Michigan State’s penchant for being really, really good even when you don’t necessarily expect them to be has carried on past the Connor Cook era.
The Spartans waltzed into South Bend against top-20 Notre Dame and hung an Irish pelt on the wall, 36-28, in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score. That, by the way, was a final score where MSU basically needed to wake up and put one drive together within the last 20 minutes of action and did so.
Point 1: In case there were any lingering doubts, Michigan State can compete with Ohio State and Michigan for the Big Ten title and a playoff spot.
At one point, Mike Tirico of NBC busted into a great story about how MSU QB Tyler O’Connor thought about transferring rather than sitting behind Connor Cook, but his mother wouldn’t let him, noting that the family doesn’t quit. Good call, mom. O’Connor proved that MSU is simply going to roll on with another signal caller who just has a penchant for making plays when they need to be made, which should be a scary proposition for the rest of the Big Ten. His third down throw on the final drive to Donnie Corely, Jr. was vintage MSU. This is a football team that once again will be in the upper crust of the Big Ten, and announced itself again as a playoff contender.
Point 2: Playing conservative with a lead continues to be a lousy way to go.
Michigan State bullied their way out to a 36-7 lead, which looks insurmountable until you consider nothing really is insurmountable in college football. Then, the Spartans got un-aggressive. They stopped rushing Deshone Kizer with any more than four folks. Offensively, they went into clock-running mode. And before too long, Notre Dame came back to make it a one-possession game. It’s eternally difficult to put the foot back on the gas pedal after voluntarily taking it off, and no lead is really safe. MSU closed it out, but the point is, you can’t be too aggressive anymore when ahead by whatever margin.
Point 3: Notre Dame isn’t mentally tough, and it showed in a big way.
The Irish had control of the football game in the first half, up 7-0 and MSU couldn’t find their backsides on offense with both hands and a Tile stuck to it. Then, MSU punted, it inadvertently hit a Notre Dame player in the calf. The Spartans recovered, scored a quick touchdown, and suddenly 7-0 went to 7-36. If there’s one major thing the Irish need to be a little discouraged by, it’s the lack of mental toughness to get up off the mat after a rough play rather than let the game get out of hand. You simply cannot content for a playoff spot giving up 36 straight points to anyone. And so, as it goes, ND is no longer competing for a playoff spot.
[link_box id=”21150″ site_id=”165″ layout=”link-box-full” alignment=”alignleft”]
