With the additions of USC and UCLA in 2024, the Big Ten as we know it only has two more years in its modern era. In 2022, there is certainly no shortage of firepower around the league, and this is shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated seasons to date.
With that being said, Ohio State has been and will continue to be the clear-cut favorite to win the Big Ten Championship until proven otherwise.
However, there are certainly still a handful of contenders who are going to rival the Buckeyes for that spot in Indianapolis, one of those teams being the Michigan State Spartans.
Three Reasons Why Michigan State Will Win the Big Ten In 2022
1) Mel Tucker
Now that Mel Tucker has finally gotten a full season under his belt, the whole country saw what he was able to, and over half of the players on his team were not even his recruits.
The Spartans were projected to finish last in the Big Ten a year ago and then mustered their way to an 11-2 record, finishing third in the Big Ten East.
Mel Tucker has been able to transform the state of this program in just two seasons, all while remaining undefeated against “That school up the road,” as Tucker would say.
Tucker’s recruiting prowess continues to gain steam at Michigan State and is only going to continue to get better.
In a recent meet and greet with Spartan Alumni at Truist Park in Smyrna, Georgia Tucker stated, “We recruit heavily in the state of Georgia.” “We expect to have a Top 5 class and we are just getting going.”
Coach Tucker and his recent haul of recruits remain a large part of why Michigan State will return to Indianapolis this year for the first time since 2015.
2) Quarterback Payton Thorne, Wide Receiver Jayden Reed
Over this year, Michigan State lost arguably its most important piece on the offensive side of the football, Kenneth Walker III.
However, the Spartans still return several veteran players on the offensive side of the football such as QB Payton Thorne and WR Jayden Reed.
Thorne and Reed are no strangers to playing pitch and catch, as these two played together throughout Middle School and High School in Naperville, Ill.
Payton Thorne ranked third in the Big Ten last year in total QBR as well as passing touchdowns as just a sophomore. Thorne will only continue to get better in the coming years, and he is a big reason why Michigan State will continue to improve overall.
It also doesn’t hurt to be throwing to his top receiver Jayden Reed. Reed leads all returning Big Ten Wide Receivers in touchdowns with 10. Reed ranked third among all Big Ten wide receivers a year ago in receiving yards with 1,026 and fifth among all receivers in average yard per reception with 17.4.
These two, along with transfer running backs Jalen Berger and Jarek Broussard will supply the offensive firepower this team will need to get back to their Big Ten winning ways.
3) Revamped Defense and Secondary
Michigan State’s major letdown last year was their defense, and more specifically, their secondary.
Last year, Ohio State torched the Spartan’s secondary for 432 yards and 6 touchdowns. Ohio State Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw 36 total passes and connected on 32 of those. That is about as bad as it gets.
However, over the offseason, Mel Tucker has brought some pieces in through the transfer portal that should revamp and turn around the secondary and defense as a whole.
National Champion cornerback Ameer Speed is a huge addition coming to Michigan State from Georgia and his presence will be felt right from the start. The six-foot-three cornerback will be a key addition in helping lock down the passing game.
The Spartans also got transfer linebacker Jacoby Windmon from UNLV, who was one of the more sought-after transfer players in this entire cycle. Windmon accumulated 119 tackles in his last year with UNLV and was named to the All-Mountain West team.
Lastly, the Spartans landed another linebacker in Aaron Brule from Mississippi State, as well as defensive end Khris Bogle from Florida.
All four of these players are going to be huge contributors to this Michigan State defense right from the start.
The Spartan’s offense is poised to be just as good if not better and more rounded than a year ago. However, if they want to win the Big Ten Championship and find themselves playing for a National Championship, it will be because of their defense.
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