When Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker arrived in East Lansing in late-February 2020, he knew there was work to be done.
A COVID-19-shortened 2020 season left Michigan State with much to be desired. In the opening week, MSU had seven turnovers against Rutgers in a loss. In the next week, the Spartans upset rival Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Tucker’s two wins in his first year were impressive: two ranked wins against No. 13 Michigan and No. 8 Northwestern. But Michigan State finished the 2020 campaign with just a 2-5 record.
In the offseason, Tucker went to the transfer portal.