That couldn’t have been any more evident at Spartan Stadium on Saturday.

“Trust on our defense is critical,” sophomore linebacker Denicos Allen said. “I can’t even explain how much I can trust the linebacker next to me to fill his gap.”

As the players’ trust in each other has grown throughout the years, their quality of play has improved and ability to finish games increased, creating an upward trend in MSU’s development under Dantonio.

Saturday, in the then-No. 23 Spartans’ 28-14 win over then-No. 11 Michigan, MSU entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 21-7 lead — an oddly similar situation and progression of events compared to the last time the teams played in East Lansing.

In 2009, MSU started the fourth quarter up, 20-6, over the Wolverines, but in the final minutes of the quarter, U-M scored two touchdowns to send the game into overtime.

Although the Spartans eventually won, 26-20, it never should have come down to a final overtime drive.

This year, MSU proved it’s grown up since then and has learned how to close out games. But not before almost experiencing déjà vu all over again. U-M scored a second touchdown to shrink the score gap and came within 10 yards of tying it up.

Luckily, MSU’s defense had a better game plan this time around — and more trust in everyone doing their respective jobs — because when U-M was fourth-and-one on MSU’s nine-yard line, junior cornerback Johnny Adams sacked quarterback Denard Robinson for a 10-yard loss and put the kibosh on the potential tying touchdown.

Instead of choking, the Spartans managed to finish and secure the win before things really got ugly.

Is it possible MSU has learned how not to blow a lead before winning in the end and moved onto just outright declaring victory and not, well, screwing up in true Michigan State fashion?

After Saturday, the answer appears to be yes — with the exception of a close call against Ohio State. So maybe the idea of true Michigan State fashion is changing with Dantonio and defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi.

Maybe it’s evolving into not only winning games they should win but winning games against the nation’s “best.”

Robinson — whose Heisman candidacy seriously has been threatened after this weekend — completed nine out of 24 passes for 123 yards and one interception, rushed for 42 yards and took four sacks. I guess I expected more from the quarterback of the country’s No. 11 team.

Don’t get me wrong. Robinson is a tremendous athlete, but he’s the equivalent of putting senior wide receiver Keshawn Martin at quarterback and hoping no one will stop his run.

Robinson was up against the nation’s best defense and had yet to face a tough defensive team, but the hype made it seem like he was going to stomp all over the Spartans.

Overall, MSU held U-M to 250 total yards — 58.3 yards less than what Robinson usually averages alone. Does that sound like the No. 11 team in the nation?

The AP didn’t think so this week, as U-M dropped to No. 18 and MSU moved up to No. 15.

Although the polls showed the Wolverines as MSU’s biggest challenge to date, the real measuring stick for the Spartans is next week against No. 4 Wisconsin — an opponent definitely worthy of being in the top 10.

Players don’t care about the rankings, but it’s always nice to receive recognition, especially after doubling their highly overrated rivals’ score.

“They can call us the worst team in the country,” sophomore linebacker Max Bullough said.
“But as long as we’re winning, then we’re happy.”

Pretty sure Spartan Nation would agree.

Michelle Martinelli is a State News sports reporter. She can be contacted at mart1114@msu.edu.