However, after Maxwell led the Spartans down the field twice at the end of Saturday’s 16-13 overtime win against Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium, he’s found himself in a different position.

“It doesn’t hurt the confidence, that’s for sure,” Maxwell said of his 12-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Bennie Fowler to seal the win for the Spartans.

After the game, Maxwell said he checked into the play after seeing the type of defense the Badgers came out in.

On Tuesday, he added it was a play that had been practiced so many times in practice, that the throw-and-catch wasn’t just on him and Fowler, but on the team as a whole for preparing for the moment.

Still, Maxwell said having spent three years practicing with Fowler helped give him the assurance to go ahead and make the play call.

“(Fowler’s) one of those guys who’s made that play before, and he’s a guy who’s been around, and I think he kind of expected that check too,” Maxwell said. “He’s a guy who’s smart and is a heady football player so he saw the look, and I’m sure he was thinking in his head that maybe a check’s coming here.

“So just to know that he’s going to be on the same page as me and I’m seeing him make the play gave me the confidence to make the check.”

Maxwell recognizing the play was there displayed a step forward for a quarterback who, over time, has begun to make pre-snap reads quicker and more efficiently.

Head coach Mark Dantonio said he recognized Maxwell has grown and begun to make his reads quicker, and expects him to continue doing so throughout the rest of his career.

“He’s going to be a very efficient, proficient quarterback here,” Dantonio said. “He’s got the demeanor and he’s got the tools to be able to do everything we want him to do.”

Maxwell also looked more confident stepping out of the pocket and making plays on his own, at one point during the crucial game-tying drive tucking the ball and scrambling seven yards for a first down.

It’s a skill Maxwell might have to utilize this coming Saturday when the Spartans host No. 21 Nebraska, a team that has struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks in the past.

Maxwell said he remembers watching film with his mentor Kirk Cousins before last year’s game against the Cornhuskers and discussing Nebraska’s tendency to give the quarterback room to run.

“He goes, ‘the one thing they do give up is quarterback runs,’” Maxwell recalled. “They play a fair amount of man coverage. So any time you play man coverage, you’ll have guys on the second level who are running with receivers or tight ends. So that opens up some doors, and (those are) eyeballs that aren’t on you.

“If the situation presents itself, maybe I can capitalize on it in the game.”