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College Football Week 5: Five teams on upset alert

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 17, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Chris Warren III (25) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the California Golden Bears defense in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Chris Warren III (25) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the California Golden Bears defense in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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EAST LANSING, MI – SEPTEMBER 24: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs with the ball during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Spartan Stadium on September 24, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – SEPTEMBER 24: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs with the ball during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Spartan Stadium on September 24, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

There’s a problem in East Lansing these days, and he goes by the name Tyler O’Connor. The senior might be serviceable, but for a guy replacing the school’s all-time leading passer and winningest quarterback in history, O’Connor isn’t going to get the job done if the Spartans want to contend for a Big Ten title.

Mark Dantonio’s motto this season has been ‘Back 2 Back’ but that surely won’t happen with O’Connor under center and the head coach has already said he’s not going to make a change at quarterback just yet. That means that a poor Week 5 performance could spell doom for the Spartans.

Taking on a potent Indiana offense featuring JUCO transfer quarterback Richard Lagow who is coming off a 496-yard passing performance against Wake Forest, the Spartans’ secondary might be in big trouble. Michigan State has talented defensive backs, but the coaching staff is all about playing them 10-15 yards off the line of scrimmage. Not the best game plan.

Michigan State’s run defense hasn’t had a problem shutting down guys like Josh Adams, Tarean Folston and Corey Clement so far this season, so I don’t anticipate Devine Redding having a ton of success against the Spartans.

However, missing two elite-level linebackers — Riley Bullough and Jon Reschke — might be the difference on defense. This has all the makings of a trap game for the Spartans, and it might just turn out to be a title hope-ending loss in Bloomington Saturday night.

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