College football 2018: Biggest Achilles’ heel for every Top 25 team

13. Michigan State

Achilles’ heel: Potentially limited ceilings of offensive ‘stars’

The shovels of dirt being thrown on Mark Dantonio and the Michigan State Spartans following their dismal 2016 season are now firmly beneath their feet. As they say, reports of their demise were a bit premature as this team was one of the biggest surprises of the 2017 season and they now look to take another step forward as they return the group that helped them lead the way to that massive turnaround a year ago.

Working even more in favor of the Spartans is the fact that they have a “favorable” run through the gauntlet in Big Ten play. Not only do they avoid a date with Wisconsin on their schedule, but the only ranked opponent in the conference they have to play on the road is Penn State as Michigan and Ohio State both have to go to East Lansing to face the Spartans.

With running back LJ Scott and quarterback Brian Lewerke, the catalysts on offense behind their success last season, Michigan State appears primed to be a sleeper this season that could sneak into the College Football Playoff picture. Oddly enough though, those leaders could be their downfall in terms of that sleeper potential.

While Scott and Lewerke were great last season, they weren’t otherworldly, which the Spartans need them to be to take control of the Big Ten this season. Put simply, they might be who they are with not much upside left to mine. That still makes them great players, but not quite great enough to carry this team over the proverbial hump.