Michigan State comes into the 2015 season as the No.5 ranked team in the nation with a potential first-round draft pick under center. The schedule for the Spartans is tough as the team jumps ahead to facing Oregon in a week, but first they much get past taking on Western Michigan on the road for their season opener. Head coach Mark Dantonio is aware that the Oregon Ducks are waiting in the wings, but he first wants to see how his team plays in a road matchup.
There is reason to believe this Michigan State team could be something special going forward this season. The team is bringing back 17 starters from last year which includes 11 seniors. This is almost the exact same team that beat Baylor in the Cotton Bowl last year. The most important player could be quarterback Connor Cook who is entering his third season as the starter and is slotted as a top draft pick in 2016. Cook's 2014 season included 3,214 yards passing with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He is viewed as a typical pocket-passing quarterback but is being hyped as a future NFL star. He will get the chance to prove that true against Western Michigan and then again against the Oregon Ducks.
Western Michigan plans to give the Spartans all they have. The team has some playmakers in Zach Terrell who put up 3,443 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. Jarvion Franklin is in the backfield after having 24 touchdowns last season. Corey Davis and Daniel Braverman were a dynamic receiving duo last season as they combined for 2,405 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Broncos have not beaten the Spartans in nearly a decade and this could be a big upset win for the program.
The issue for Michigan State is not overlooking a seemingly weaker opponent. The team will be in prime time next week when they face the Oregon Ducks, but getting caught looking ahead could put the team on upset alert and fast.
"Honestly, we don't talk about Oregon that much," linebacker Riley Bullough said, via ESPN.com. "Obviously, we keep them in our minds. That's a lot different than looking past Western. It's not bad at all. I think you do have to focus on your big games throughout the offseason."
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