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MSU football grades for Spartans' performance at Michigan

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MSU football grades for Spartans' performance at Michigan

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Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch rates Michigan State's performance in a 24-17 loss to Michigan on a scale of 1-10.

INJURY: 4

MSU's running game has never looked more determined and efficient this season than it did on the Spartans' first two drives Saturday night. The Spartans set the tone with 93 yards rushing in the first quarter and outscored the Wolverines 352-265 overall in the game. But the points left off the board are significant – the opening drive that stalled inside the 5-yard line before a missed field goal, the penalties then and in the second half that made moving the chains more difficult made, and the Aidan Chiles fumble before halftime allowed Michigan to take the lead at the break. This was both a promising and crazy achievement.

DEFENSE: 4

For three possessions on Saturday, it looked like MSU's defense would be in control of this game, that Michigan's disappointing quarterback play and lack of game-breakers on offense would allow the Spartans to play aggressively and give the offense the Continuing to give MSU as many chances as it needed. But starting with a touchdown drive late in the second quarter, the Wolverines found their footing and began converting third downs and making key completions, and MSU seemed to lose some of its discipline. Holding Michigan to 265 total yards is a solid performance, but giving up 24 points to an offense that looked like it was going to get booed off the field in the first half isn't great.

SPECIAL TEAMS: 4

Jonathan Kim's missed 25-yard field goal on the game's first possession set the tone, as did the punishing 14-play drive that led to it. He drilled a 46-yarder when MSU needed him to cut the deficit to 16-10, and Ryan Eckley averaged 52 yards on three punts, but Kim's earlier miss and later an illegal fair catch from Sam Edwards failing to return was a costly faux pas. This 20-yard fair catch penalty in the third quarter forced MSU to start from its own 5-yard line. The Spartans finished the drive with three points on Kim's 46-yarder, but if they had started at the 25, this drive might have ended in a touchdown. The Spartans also tried an onside kick that didn't work, but that cost them nothing other than field position.

COACHING: 4

There was an obvious error: On the first possession of the game, a delay penalty was called instead of a timeout on fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line. If you really want to try there, take some time off and do your best. There's also an argument to be made that MSU could be more aggressive offensively in the passing game and try to get receivers Nick Marsh and Montorie Foster more involved. The Spartans were efficient in the running game and Michigan's pass rush didn't give Aidan Chiles much time, so it could be a matter of quarterbacking Monday morning. Still, with that late touchdown, you saw what Marsh can do when he has the ball in his hands. More Marsh is always better. MSU's coaches had a good plan and the Spartans took control of the game, but then lost it. And Michigan seemed to make the adjustments that worked. Maybe the Wolverines are just better, pound for pound, but this felt like a missed opportunity.

MORE: Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State's 24-17 loss at Michigan.

CONCLUSION

Jonathan Smith was noticeably as irritable as he had been all season. He and his players know they could have won a game that would have changed the memory of this season and halted Michigan's momentum in this rivalry. Another lesson in a growth phase that's not all fun. You'd better move on quickly. Indiana will happily beat up the Spartans next week if they still don't know what happened in Ann Arbor.

Contact Graham Couch at [email protected]. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch.

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