UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For 30 minutes, Mel Tucker saw the type of football he envisions Michigan State playing.
Solid defense and special teams. Hard running from Jordon Simmons. Pinpoint passing from Payton Thorne. Sound blocking up front.
Three second-quarter touchdowns in a row sent MSU into the locker room leading by 11 points at Beaver Stadium vs. Penn State on Saturday.
Football is not a 30-minute game, of course. And the precision the Spartans showed in the first half vanished in the third quarter.
The defense found itself out of position, with missed assignments leading to explosive plays and Nittany Lions TDs.