Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, left, runs against Indiana’s Bryant Fitzgerald during the second half of a Big 10 game on Oct. 16 in Bloomington, Ind. Michigan State won 20-15. (AP file photo)

EAST LANSING — The Michigan State Spartans are openly talking about winning a national championship, confidently saying they can top last year’s 11-win season.

Mel Tucker, entering his third season with the Spartans, knows what it takes to win it all. He did it as an assistant on championship-winning coaching staffs at Alabama in 2015 and with Ohio State in 2002.

“Yeah, we won 11 games last year, but we want to win championships,” fifth-year senior safety Xavier Henderson said. “Coach Tucker has been on national championship-winning teams so we trust him, and his process.”

Tucker has made it clear that what Michigan State did last year, after going 2-5 in the pandemic shortened season, was simply not enough.

“It was just really a step in the right direction,” said Tucker, who won the Big Ten coach of the year award last year and a new contract that pays him $9.5 million per season. “We did some good things, but nobody cares what you did last year.”

Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne warms up before the Peach Bowl against Pittsburgh on Dec. 30 in Atlanta. (AP file photo)

The 15th-ranked Spartans lost six starters on offense, including award-winning running back Kenneth Walker III, but just three starters on defense.

“The goal for us is to win every game on our schedule,” Tucker said. “That’s our stated goal. Our goal is to finish first. That’s our goal. And we need to bring a championship to East Lansing.”

Walker leaves a void, but quarterback Payton Thorne and do-it-all Jayden Reed return to give the team a potent passing game that could open up the running game.

Michigan State was shaky against the pass last season, and hopes to be much better with an experienced group that has added Georgia transfer Ameer Speed at cornerback.

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SHOES TO FILL

Walker, a Wake Forest transfer, ranked second in the FBS with 1,636 yards rushing and was among the nation’s leaders with 19 touchdowns.

Colorado transfer Jarek Broussard and Wisconsin transfer Jalen Berger hope to follow Walker’s footsteps as high-impact transfers.

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NAMES TO KNOW

Reed, an AP All-Big Ten all-purpose player, returned two punts for touchdowns last season and had team highs in catches (59), yards receiving (1,026) and receiving touchdowns (10).

Jacob Slade earned a spot on the AP All-Bowl team after the 6-4, 315-pound defensive tackle had six tackles and 1 1/2 sacks to help MSU earn a New Year’s Six bowl win over Pittsburgh.

Henderson had 96 tackles last season to rank among Big Ten leaders.