One of the biggest surprises in all of college football is Michigan State. They were picked to finish fifth in the East Division of the Big Ten, but now they have risen to third in the initial CFP rankings. It has been an impressive turnaround from a dismal 2020 season in which they went 2-5 after a 6-6 2019 season. Everyone begins a season with a wealth of optimism, but no one really expected this out of the Spartans.
The addition of Kenneth Walker III has been huge, as he has played like a Heisman Trophy candidate.