What Does Michigan State's Win over Notre Dame Mean?

With Michigan State and Notre Dame each receiving five votes in the USA Today poll last week, it's possible that the Spartans might eke out a Top-25 ranking as a result of this win. I hope not. They don't deserve it. Not yet.

Though the history that goes with beating Notre Dame always makes it emotionally satisfying to do it again, this particular win, like the one last season, tells me nothing about either team that I didn't already believe.

While losing to the Irish at home today would have surprised and worried me, beating them solidly, but not abusively, has been something I've expected for months. My heart will treasure this win until we meet them next season, but my head must treat it as what I originally thought it to be: A challenging team about as tough as Florida Atlantic that we should beat.

And did.

But please, save the rankings bump until (and if) we win our first two conference games.

The little things in this game that deserve comment...

Javon Ringer is a dangerous toy. The impact of the decision to put games entirely on his shoulders is the one thing that could take this team above my expected 8-4 record.

But only IF he can keep grinding out the big yards, and IF he stays healthy. If he's the identity of the team, then losing him is as dangerous as having him in the first place.

Otis Wiley is going to steal a game. He nearly did it with Cal and he was a big part of this win as well. In one of the final eight games, Wiley will put points on the board that decide the outcome in Michigan State's favor: a punt return or an int return. He's a highlight waiting to happen on every down and this season's biggest pleasant surprise.

Other parts of the secondary played like a decent coverage group with a few holes in it, rather than a leaky group that sometimes covers somebody. And this against a good (though young) Notre Dame QB and receivers.

Even the one score allowed was despite tight coverage, a super play by Notre Dame. That's a huge improvement over many previous MSU seasons.

The front seven looked great: Three sacks, allowing 16 yards on 22 carries and simply pounding the living crap out of Clausen all day long.

Again, there were some big pass plays allowed. But on balance, the defense has made it to slightly above average.

Brian Hoyer will be picked apart by those who don't watch the games closely. The gameplan through three games has been very obvious: Run to win. Incompletions are looked at as failed runs that go for no yards and allow you to fight again, merely minor mis-executions. It is interceptions that must be avoided at all cost.

Thus, passes are thrown to spots where only Spartan receivers can get them, but sometimes to far beyond even that. He's been ordered to execute a very safe, conservative passing game, ride Ringer, and only deviate from that when it isn't enough (such as at Cal.) He's doing it very well.

Against Wisconsin, Ohio State and Penn State (three games MSU should definitely not win) Dantonio will probably need to let him take more risks and play more aggressively. And if they get behind in any other game, Hoyer will certainly also play with more abandon.

But otherwise, running Ringer and winning the turnover battle by passing carefully seems a sure gameplan. Even when the opposition knows its coming, such as Notre Dame, they have a hard time stopping it.

That's smashmouth football. No reason to let up if it works.

The penalties continue to annoy me. This is a carryover from the loss at Cal. This time, there were a couple of crucial ones that seemed on the crappy call side of the ledger, the late hit flag on Precious Jimmy in particular. But still, a trend is a trend. More discipline is needed here. They could yet lose a game they should otherwise win because of penalties.

All in all, they are as good as I thought they were. I still see three more defeats, but I'm getting more and more confident in them getting the five more wins.