This summer, I considered Michigan State to be a dark-horse candidate to win the Big Ten’s East division this season. After the Spartans fell to 6-4 on the season after a 26-6 loss to Ohio State Saturday, that prediction looks awfully wrong. But why? Injuries.
After running back LJ Scott left the Arizona State game with an ankle injury in the second half, the Spartans couldn’t hold onto a two-score lead and lost 16-13 in Tempe. Scott missed the next four games before returning against Michigan. But Scott reinjured himself against Purdue, and after sitting out the last two games, decided to redshirt this season since he’d only played in four games.