What was it again? 26 or 26.5 point underdogs to Indiana. It truly feels like we are living in an alternate universe when Indiana is a 4 touchdown favorite. Yet, it is not an alternate universe, it is the sad reality when Spartan fans walk away from the game saying, “at least they didn’t cover”. I am not a gambling person at all and in fact, I don’t think I’ve made a bet on a football game in about 6 years. One thing I never do, is bet on the Spartans. This team is definitely lacking….something. With the state of affairs and the remaining schedule, I don’t think they are going to find an answer to what it is. At least, I don’t have the faith. I’ve been down this road for a long time. I’m a Chicago Bears fan. Let us take that weekly dive into purgatory and check out this weeks report.
Sun 1: Time of Possession (First Half)
It really is difficult finding the suns these days but the first half gave us a little something. I don’t think any of us were fooled into thinking we had a chance when the defense can give up 7 every sing possession but MSU did manage to hang onto the ball. It was actually a game where it seemed the coaches had a game plan. The use of screens and quick slants in an attempt to keep Chiles from dying as he played his 100th game for MSU behind a junior varsity offensive line was actually working. MSU was moving the ball down the field but constantly seemed to be facing third and fourth downs. Somehow, they managed to get the firsts and keep drives alive and get some sort of points on the board. With all that time having the ball the Spartans managed only 10 points. There are a number of reasons for that failure. Regardless, I felt a ray of sunshine seeing that there might have been an offensive game plan and that was the first I can recall seeing from this regime.
Sun 2: Only lost by 25
I actually thought it was going to be much worse. Frankly, if not for the first half time of possession it would have been. As I mentioned earlier, its a sad day when this is the bright spot but I believe I heard that sentence from every Spartan I spoke to after the game.
Sun 3: They didn’t quit
Last week it felt like this team just gave up. They were all someplace else and we were stuck watching it. It killed the season. They did not quit against Indiana, they were just significantly overmatched. Being overmatched these days is something you can fix rather quickly but that will be tough to do when the program’s reputation has taken blow after blow. Chiles actually played with continued improvement, liked confident, poised, and making adjustments at the line. I would like to see how he plays with a line.
Indiana’s Aiden Fisher (4) tackles Michigan State’s Makhi Frazier (5) during the Indiana versus Michigan State football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Indiana’s Aiden Fisher (4) tackles Michigan State’s Makhi Frazier (5) during the Indiana versus Michigan State football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Cloud 1: Running Game/Offensive Line
I know you all saw the game but please look at the MSU box score and the rushing statistics. I know the Spartans literally have nobody blocking on the line. It almost feels like elementary school when you have to count 5 Mississippi’s before you can rush the quarterback. The only difference is a five count would be better than what the line is giving. The rushing game was nonexistent. Frazier averaged .1 yards per carry. Yep, .1! Thats just how much every ball carrier is getting tackled in the backfield. When all of your backs have more yards receiving than they do rushing it becomes very clear how overmatched you are. The only way the Spartans are going to keep up with teams like Indiana is if they score on every single drive. To do that, of course, is ridiculous unless you play against your own defense, but even so, you can’t be one dimensional.
Cloud 2: The Sieve
I’ve decided this is the new name we should use to refer to the artist formerly known as our defense. I can’t get over how atrocious this unit is. I believe I said it last week but I’ll repeat it again, I don’t recall seeing anything like it. Indiana basically scored 7 on nearly every possession it had and for a while the average scoring time was under 2 minutes. That should be a glaring problem to address in the offseason. But how? Recruits are bailing, NIL players aren’t going to want to come here after what they are witnessing. To top all this off, the Spartans have lost their two starting safeties and nickel back. I’ve heard others mention this is the last high potent offense that MSU faces and that they could have chances in the upcoming games if the offense play well. I don’t see how this is possible. I don’t see any signs that tell me this defense will be able to stop anything.
Cloud 3: Inability to capitalize
MSU seemingly continues to get in its own way. Indiana had one penalty the entire game and for only 5 yards. MSU seems to commit penalties directly after a big play or immediately upon entering the red zone. They have to find a way to get the ball into the end zone and clean up the costly mistakes. I can think of at least three possessions in which they could and should have walked away with seven. MSU was 5-14 on third down conversions. That is a brutal statistic. It is rare to see MSU in third and short as they tend to gain 1 on first downs and go backwards on second downs. Red zone scoring needs to improve, especially when you are dominating the time of possession and have a defense that is a black hole.
Cloud 4: Strength and Conditioning
Over the last two seasons the Spartans have accumulated a ridiculous amount of injuries. The offensive line has been decimated, the defense has had no consistency in starts, Chiles has been knocked out of two games, Frazier and Marsh have missed time and our preseason starting kicker has been out all year. What is going on with strength and conditioning? Mike McDonald and crew need to figure something out. Of course freak things happen but this is now an epidemic and I believe has to do in part with conditioning. MSU Hockey tends to always have the upper hand in OT games and the second game of a back to back. Why? Their conditioning is on point. The team is prepared to outlast, out skate, out hit the opponent. The football team needs to take some notes because whatever they are currently doing is not working. You know what they say about repeating the same thing over and over and getting the same result.
Weather Anomaly?
Aidan Chiles, the punter? So, that happened and that is really all I have to say about it.
MSU crawls back home to what will likely feel like the Big House next Saturday due to all the tickets for sale. It does not look like a coaching change will be happening midseason so let’s see if the Sieve can hold any remaining opponent to under 21 points scoring. We have to at least make the remaining ones a little interesting. Shout out to MSU Hockey for the #1 BU sweep in Boston. That’s the Spartan team that should have our utmost attention.