Opponent Preview: What can Penn State fans expect from Michigan State in 2023?

Penn State is just a few days out from the start of the 2023 season. Expectations are as high as they’ve ever been under head coach James Franklin, as the Nittany Lions will start the year at No. 7 overall in both major polls. Between the excitement surrounding Drew Allar and a host of future NFL players, there’s no shortage of storylines to follow.

But their schedule also features marquee games throughout the 2023 season. Before shifting our focus to Michigan State, Penn State fans can recap our previous opponent previews below.

West Virginia
Illinois
Iowa
Northwestern
Ohio State
Indiana
Maryland
Michigan
Rutgers

Quick Facts

All-Time Series: The series is tied 18-18-1
Last Meeting: Sean Clifford threw four touchdown passes to lift Penn State past the visiting Spartans 35-16 on Nov. 26, 2022
Head Coach: Mel Tucker (18-14 in three seasons at Michigan State; career collegiate coaching record: 23-21)
2022 Record: 5-7, 3-6 Big Ten
Returning Starters: 13 (7 offense, 6 defense, 0 specialists)

Returning Leaders

Rushing: RB Jalen Berger (683 yards, 6 TD)
Passing: QB Noah Kim (174 yards, 3 TD)
Receiving: WR Tre Mosley (359 yards, 4 TD)
Tackles: OLB Cal Haladay (120)
Sacks: MLB Jacoby Windmon (5.5)
Interceptions: CB Charles Brantley, MLB Jacoby Windmon (1)

What Could Go Right

The running backs — Jalen Berger, Nathan Carter and Jaren Mangham — could thrive behind an experienced offensive line, giving Michigan State a chance to build up some momentum before facing one of the season’s biggest tests when Washington visits East Lansing in Week 3.

What Could Go Wrong

The defensive struggles, particularly against the pass, could saddle the Spartans with another middling record, hindering their recruiting efforts at a time when their in-state rival Michigan is ascendant.

Summary

Mel Tucker has been on a wild ride since taking over Michigan State’s program in February 2020.

Tucker’s second season was a spectacular success, with the Spartans soaring to an 11-2 finish after making what would turn out to be one of the nation’s most astute portal acquisitions in running back Kenneth Walker III.

His third season, however, turned out to be an injury- and suspension-plagued washout. The Spartans finished 5-7 and missed the postseason for only the third time since 2007.

Heading into the 2023 campaign, Spartan loyalists have to be wondering where the program is headed from here. Did the school overspend when it gave Tucker a 10-year, $95 million contract extension after the stunning successes of 2021? Or was last year a temporary setback, soon to be forgotten?

Impact: Penn State’s OL depth tested with Landon Tengwall forced to retire

The worries do not appear to be entirely unfounded. The portal giveth and the portal taketh away, and this year it’s cost Michigan State some key players.

Following spring practice, quarterback Payton Thorne and receiver Keon Coleman announced that they were leaving East Lansing. Thorne has since resurfaced at Auburn, while Coleman is headed to Florida State. Both will be missed.

Thorne threw for 6,494 yards in three seasons, including two as Michigan State’s starter. He was battling redshirt junior Noah Kim for the starting job after an up-and-down junior season, but his exit means that the Spartans have virtually no game experience returning at quarterback. Kim has seen just 38 snaps to this point in his career, while redshirt freshman Katin Houser has taken six.

Losing Coleman was another big setback. He led the Spartans last year with 58 receptions for 798 yards and seven touchdowns, and his exit, coupled with the departure of second-leading receiver Jayden Reed for the NFL, leaves Michigan State with a void in the passing attack. The Spartans may have to lean hard on their ground game while Kim gets acclimated.

Penn State vs. West Virginia Predictions: Lions look to make a statement in opener

Running back Jalen Berger is back after rushing for 683 yards last year, and Michigan State has added depth by bringing in Nathan Carter from Connecticut and Jaren Mangham from South Florida.

On defense, the Spartans got some good news this spring when cornerback Charles Brantley pulled his name out of the portal. As a sophomore last fall, Brantley played the fourth-most snaps (694) of anyone on the Michigan State defense and finished with a team-high six pass breakups.

Brantley also returned an interception for a touchdown against Ohio State, and the Spartans need more of those kinds of plays this fall. A lot more. They finished with an FBS-worst two interceptions as a team last year while allowing 237.9 yards per game through the air to rank 87th nationally.