Where does Michigan State land in USA TODAY’s pre-spring Big Ten power rankings?
Spring football is right around the corner, so it’s only fitting that we start to rank the Big Ten teams heading into the 2025 season.
Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY has released his pre-spring practice Big Ten power rankings, and the Spartans are in the back half of the league — which comes as no surprise. Myerberg has Michigan State listed at No. 13 out of 18 teams in his power rankings that dropped earlier this week.
The Spartans are notably right behind Washington and right ahead of UCLA. The only other teams that Myerberg has behind the Spartans are Northwestern, Purdue, Maryland and Wisconsin.
Here’s what Myerberg had to say about the Spartans:
Michigan State football is coming off its third straight year of missing out on the bowl season. The Spartans finished last season with a 5-7 record in the Jonathan Smith’s first year as Michigan State’s head coach.
My thoughts on these rankings
The rankings as a whole I don’t have much issue with, even the surprising top spot for Penn State. But the one thing I will call out is Myerberg having Rutgers ahead of the Spartans. The Scarlet Knights are a team I personally expect to see a drop off this upcoming season.
As far as Michigan State’s spot at No. 13? I think that’s a fitting position for a team that has potential to surprise some teams and play their way into the upper tier of the Big Ten. But also has a low enough floor that could once again see them miss out on the postseason. So this a perfectly justified position for Michigan State, who is simply a wildcard as we enter the spring.
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