Michigan State’s Mel Tucker sees recruiting advantages in Big Ten expansion to the West: ‘It makes us stronger’

East Lansing, Mich. – A lot of pundits, coaches and administrators inside and outside of college football have grumbled about the Big Ten’s recent expansion and the de facto demolition of the Pac-12. But Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker isn’t one of them.

Rarely one to complain about changes or the status quo, Michigan State’s fourth-year head coach – who has coached in both conferences – isn’t grumbling about last week’s news that Oregon and Washington will be joining the Big Ten, along with UCLA and USC.

“I think it’s good for the Big Ten,” Tucker said during his weekly press conference on Monday. “It makes us stronger.”

Tucker spent the 2019 as head coach at Colorado, and became Michigan State football head coach in 2020. Previously, he served as defensive coordinator at Georgia and defensive backs coach at Alabama. 

He has sought to broaden and strengthen Michigan State’s recruiting pull into the South and to the West, with spurts of success, as well as some second-place finishes.

As is the case with most coaches with hopes of competing for National Championships, Tucker sees recruiting angles in every decision and issue. And that includes conference expansion, and the addition of four West Coast powers.

“When you’re recruiting players – high school guys or portal guys – who you play is a big draw for them,” said Tucker, who is 18-14 overall at Michigan State, including a No. 9 national finish in 2021 with a victory in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. “Just think about what type of schedules we’re going to have and what type of football, and what type of competition there’s going to be week-in and week-out. It’s a huge stage. It’s getting bigger. 

“It’s going to be even more competitive on the field and even more competitive in recruiting. It just makes our league stronger and makes our league better.

“You would be surprised how many recruits we talk to and they talk about, ‘Okay, well SEC vs the Big Ten.’ It always comes up.”

The Spartans will open the 2023 season at home at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31 against Central Michigan at Spartan Stadium (FS1).

In week three, Michigan State will play host to Washington in what will amount to a preview of future conference games between the two schools. 

Washington defeated Michigan State, 39-28, last year in Seattle. Washington is ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press preseason poll, which was released today. 

Michigan State is trying to bounce back from a 5-7 finish in 2022.

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