Mel Tucker is doing things Nick Saban didn’t even do at Michigan State

Mel Tucker’s rivalry accomplishment for Michigan State against Michigan is something even Nick Saban didn’t manage with the Spartans.

The college football world is ready to crown Kenneth Walker III as the Heisman Trophy winner and Michigan State head coach  Mel Tucker as Coach of the Year after Saturday’s victory over Michigan.

The game had national implications, not just because of those awards, but the achievement in terms of the rivalry was huge too.

Tucker is the first Michigan State head coach to go 2-0 against the Wolverines. As r/CFB pointed out, not even Nick Saban managed that.

Saban won his first meeting with Michigan in 1995, upsetting the No. 7 team in the nation 28-25.

He had less success the next season when the Wolverines got him back 45-29.

Tucker’s first season in charge was unusual. The 2020 season was canceled because of COVID-19 before the Big Ten reversed course and came back in October. That’s how Tucker ended up playing Michigan in his second game. He shocked Jim Harbaugh’s team 27-24.

That was one of just two wins for Tucker in Year 1. This year, he got the big win over the rival while also putting his team in a better position against everyone else. The Spartans are 8-0 with a shot at the Big Ten title in clear view.

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