This season was supposed to be a return to form for Mark Dantonio and Michigan State.
The second-winningest coach in Spartan history — six more wins to tie Duffy Daugherty — flipped the record from 3-9 in 2016 to 9-3 plus a Holiday Bowl victory in 2017. Despite a 13-12 record the two years before this campaign, optimism bubbled over 19 returning starters, most in the nation.
With a wealth of receivers at preseason all-Big Ten second-team Brian Lewerke’s disposal and a stifling front seven defensively, some were projecting a divisional title.