Michigan State Football: 5 reasons Wisconsin loss isn't the end of title hopes

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Michigan State football’s loss to Wisconsin doesn’t ruin the Spartans’ title hopes in 2016, and here’s why.

Heading into the Wisconsin game, it seemed like Mark Dantonio and Michigan State football was prepared to win its second straight contest against a ranked opponent and really take a step toward becoming serious playoff contenders.

However, Wisconsin marched into East Lansing, laid a beatdown on the Spartans and left just as quickly. Michigan State was handed a 30-6 defeat on its own turf, and fans were left wondering, “what type of team do we really have?”

Just hours after losing to Wisconsin in embarrassing fashion, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were defeated at home against Duke. Michigan State’s Week 3 victory over the Fighting Irish was looking less impressive by the minute.

All talks of a potential playoff run have seemingly ceased and the media is no longer giving Michigan State any credit. Last week, it seemed like everyone had jumped on the Spartans’ bandwagon, but that’s just how quickly they’ve fallen off.

Still, it’s too early to declare the 2016 season a lost cause. Here are five reasons why this loss to Wisconsin isn’t the end of Michigan State’s title hopes — Big Ten or national.

5. Personnel changes can be made

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O

It’s not too late to make changes at certain positions. The quarterback play might be an issue, but Mark Dantonio said that he’s sticking with Tyler O’Connor ‘right now.’ Saying that there’s no plan ‘right now’ to change the quarterback or fire up a position battle leaves the door open for Brian Lewerke or Damion Terry to swipe the job.

The offensive line might still be going through some changes in the next few weeks as well as some of the positions on the defensive side of the ball that haven’t had much success.

Defensively, the line will be looking at two, possibly three, new performers. The redshirt was burned for Mike Panasiuk, Josh King and Auston Robertson, and if they are added to the rotation, things might be looking up for the Spartans.

Plenty of time to make changes still for the better of the team.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio stands on the field during the first half a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

4. Season is still very young

To declare any title hopes dead because of one loss would be ridiculous. To do so after the fourth week of the season is even sillier. Michigan State lost in the Big Ten opener to drop to 2-1 on the year with nine games still left on the schedule. The only way a loss in the fourth week of the year would be damning would be if it was for a non-Power Five team — or a loss by a Power Five team to an FCS foe.

It was a tough day for Michigan State, but who’s to say that it wasn’t a fluke of a poor game? Maybe Michigan State just had its worst game and won’t play nearly this bad for the rest of the season. It’s just way too early to declare a team ‘good’ or ‘bad’ based on one loss in four weeks.

There are still eight conference games left on the schedule and one more non-conference opponent. Michigan State could win 7-of-8 in the Big Ten or even win out and still look like a team poised to make a run at the conference title or even a playoff spot.

One loss this early won’t ruin anyone’s title hopes.

Sep 24, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) runs the ball against Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton (8) during the first half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

3. Play-calling has to improve, right?

We say this every week, but you know Dantonio isn’t going to sit around while Dave Warner calls predictable plays each time. The head coach has watched film and he knows exactly which plays to run in each situation.

You know there’s something wrong when the entire stadium, fans included, know what play is going to be run on first down of a new drive. LJ Scott is going to run it between the tackles, pick up two, maybe three, yards and finish in a cloud of dust. The next down is also obvious, it will be another run by Scott, but maybe to the other side.

Third down comes around and there’s five or six yards to go and you know the Spartans will be passing. The defense doesn’t even have to prepare for the run and they can drop more guys back into coverage.

If Michigan State has a chance at a first on these types of drives, it’s with Tyler O’Connor’s legs when he can’t find anyone open after waiting for a couple of seconds.

The run-run-pass three-and-outs have to stop. Also, no more jet sweeps to the short side of the field. Everyone knows what’s coming when you R.J. Shelton is motioned or Donnie Corley lines up next to O’Connor.

Play-calling will improve.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Tyler O

2. Issues have become obvious, can be fixed

If you don’t think the issues of this team aren’t glaring, we clearly aren’t watching the same games. Michigan State knows what it needs to correct after a dismal game such as the Wisconsin one, and it should be easy to drill on the weaknesses in practice.

Michigan State looked lost against the Badgers, failing to hit open targets in the pass game, failing to stop Wisconsin on third downs and just turning the ball over more than it should have. Four turnovers and a fumbled punt that gave Wisconsin the ball inside the Spartans’ five-yard line.

LJ Scott needs to hold onto the ball better. He might not be known for his fumbling, but the fact that he coughed the ball up to start the second half after the Spartans shut down Wisconsin on their first drive was crucial. If Scott holds onto that ball, Michigan State might end up tying the game at 13. That momentum could have carried them to victory.

O’Connor needs to stop panicking at the first sign of pressure in the pocked. He looked like a true freshman in his first career start and threw the ball away more than he should have. The pressure was evident, but at the first sign of it, he panicked. He also needs to keep more than one option open — AKA go through his progressions.

The secondary needs to play press coverage since clearly the 10-yard bubble they’re giving opposing receivers isn’t paying off.

Defensive line needs to get more pressure.

All of these can be fixed and it might just take a loss like this to do that. Losing this early in the year and knowing what needs correcting is the perfect scenario for the Spartans.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Donnie Corley (9) celebrates after MSU defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 36-28 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

1. Spartans control their own destiny

The major cliche of sports happens to be the No. 1 reason on this list. While many teams with one loss already in the 2016 season might be saying the same thing, this truly applies to Michigan State.

Must Read: MSU Football: 10 bold predictions for 2016 season

Losing to Wisconsin in the first game of Big Ten play does affect the Spartans’ conference record, but it’s not as crucial of a loss as it would be if Wisconsin was in the Big Ten East. The Badgers are in the West, and if you don’t recall, Michigan State beat Wisconsin in the regular season in 2011 and still managed to rematch the Spartans in the conference title game.

The Week 4 battle might just be a preview of the Big Ten Championship and Michigan State will have to beat both Ohio State and Michigan at home to advance to the title game.

By beating both the Buckeyes and Wolverines at home, the Spartans will ensure that they hold the tie-breaker over whichever team finishes with one loss along with them.

I don’t see any other team from the East winning out to surpass all three powers in the division, but if that does somehow happen, they deserve it. Otherwise, if the Spartans win out, they’re in the conference title game.