East Lansing — For all intents and purposes, Michigan State had what most would classify as a successful season in 2021.
Just one year after winning all of two games, the Spartans rebounded to 11 victories in coach Mel Tucker’s second season, beating Michigan for the second straight season before capping things with a victory over Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl.
As good as it was — a program-record nine-win improvement — it was lacking something fairly important. Despite all the good that was accomplished, the Spartans did not win the Big Ten East, didn’t reach the conference title game.