Playing the worst Michigan State team in a decade in a game no one cares about is not a "big national game".
Using 2016 as an example (you picked the year), we had maybe 2 quality P5 games vs: Utah and W Va. The following stunk: Arizona, UCLA, Miss State, Michigan State. Boise State was good, but not P5, you could say this was a big game.
Not our fault there were many bad teams, but to state we have 5-6 "big national games" is laughable. We have not had 5-6 P5 games year in an year out (specifically "big national games").