Maybe that was just coach speak. Maybe the 3-2 Spartans really are who we thought they were. But watching Saturday’s game, I saw a much different team than I have all season.

The most obvious difference in the week-five Spartans was the sudden appearance of big plays that had eluded the team all season.

The defense forced three turnovers. Sophomore wideout Keith Mumphery rumbled 29 yards for his first career touchdown in what has been the most impressive play from MSU’s offense so far.

Sophomore running back Nick Hill took four kicks back for 102 yards, including a 34-yard return that set up Mumphery’s score.

There’s even silver lining in junior running back Le’Veon Bell’s stunted output. Bell was unable to get anything going, but junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell was able to pick it up through the air, throwing for 269 yards and a touchdown.

Sure, the Buckeyes have the second-lowest-rated passing defense in the Big Ten, and often stuffed the box with eight players to take away the run — but that Maxwell was able to step up puts to rest doubts of his leadership.

It was the production MSU needed to see from its passing attack — that if teams are going to key in on Bell, Maxwell can make them pay through the air.

On defense, the Spartans struggled to contain Heisman candidate quarterback Braxton Miller — most teams do — but played physical, prompting Meyer to describe the game as “two sledgehammers going against each other.”

It was an encouraging loss.

Yes, Bell can’t allow himself to be shut down so easily.

Yes, the receivers still need to reduce drops. Yes, the defense can’t allow time to run off when the offense is counting on them to get the ball back.

But the Spartans fought hard. Had it not been for a few missed opportunities, they may well have kicked off the Big Ten season with a victory against the conference’s highest-ranked team.

Head coach Mark Dantonio was quick to remind that Pasadena still is within MSU’s grasp.

“All of our goals are still in front of us,” he said.

Those goals just got a little harder to reach. But as Dantonio has preached since day one, we won’t know the identity of these Spartans until they show how they deal with adversity.

If that’s the case, we’ll find out who they are very soon.

And you might be surprised to find the Spartans are more than who we thought they were.

Jesse O’Brien is a State News football reporter. He can be reached at obrie151@msu.edu.