MSU football video analysis after the Spartans’ 20-17 loss at Iowa
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss MSU’s loss at Iowa and decisions that led to it.
Free Press sports writer Chris Solari looks ahead to the final game of the regular season for Michigan State football as the Spartans host the Maryland Terrapins at Ford Field on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Fast facts
Matchup: Michigan State (3-8, 0-8 Big Ten) vs. Maryland (4-7, 1-7).
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29; Ford Field, Detroit.
TV/radio: FS1, WJR-AM (760).
Line: Spartans by 3½.
Michigan State football vs Maryland availability report
MSU – Out: DE Anelu Lafaele (left leg, season), LB Brady Pretzlaff (shoulder, season), OG Luka Vincic (left knee, season), DB Andrew Brinson IV (left arm, season), DB Caleb Gash (arm, season). Doubtful: DT Ben Roberts (lower body). Questionable: RB Makhi Frazier (undisclosed), QB Aidan Chiles (left foot), S Nikai Martinez (undisclosed), CB Chance Rucker (undisclosed), WR/RB Bryson Williams (undisclosed), T Stanton Ramil (lower body), OG Kristian Phillips (right leg), KR Alante Brown (lower body), DB Ade Willie (undisclosed), DB NiJhay Burt (undisclosed), TE Brennan Parachek (undisclosed), TE Jayden Savoury (undisclosed), LB Marcus Pulliam (undisclosed), DB Deuce Edwards (undisclosed), DB Jeremiah Hughes (undisclosed), RB Jace Clarizio (calf), TE Jaxon Wilson (undisclosed), K Tarik Ahmetbasic (undisclosed), LS Kaden Schickel (left leg), S Justin Denson Jr. (personal).
Maryland – Out: WR Ryan Manning (undisclosed, season), CB Lloyd Irvin III (neck, season), RB Bud Coombs (undisclosed, season), LB DJ Samuels (undisclosed, season), CB Judah Jenkins (undisclosed, season), LB Keyari James (undisclosed, season), RB Solomon Foye (undisclosed, season), OG Michael McMonigle (undisclosed, season), OG Jaylen Gilchrist (undisclosed, season), DL Dimitry Nicolas (undisclosed, season). Questionable: WR Sean Williams (undisclosed), DE Daniel Owens (undisclosed), P Phillip Noyes (undisclosed), DL DD Homes (undisclosed).
Scouting report
When MSU has the ball: The Spartans put together a solid showing through three quarters against a tough Iowa defense before completely collapsing in the fourth. Their offensive line deficiency showed again when they needed to try and salt away a 10-point lead, with MSU running just nine plays for 6 yards in three three-and-out possessions to start the final quarter. They managed just one first down on the final drive before punting away, and the Hawkeyes quickly moved into Spartan territory for a game-winning field goal as time expired. The 20-17 loss that was MSU’s eighth straight. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic looked more comfortable in his third straight start, though he got sacked twice and hit nine other times. The redshirt freshman completed 60% of his throws for 255 yards and two third-quarter TDs to Chrishon McCray, spreading the ball between tight ends Jack Velling and Michael Masunas for 11 of his 25 completions and 135 yards. But the ground game without Makhi Frazier averaged 3.6 yards on 25 carries but got zero yards on five fourth-quarter rush attempts. MSU enters the final week ranked among the bottom of the 134-team Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense (335.7 yards, 107th), rushing yards per game (119.4, 114th), third-down conversion rate (34.5%, 113th), first downs (tied-99th) and scoring (23.4 points, 99th). Maryland enters on a seven-game losing streak and its defense ranks 94th in total yards allowed nationally (397.5) and third-most in Big Ten games (433.3). The Terps are tied for 32nd in the nation with 27 sacks, while the Spartans’ 37 sacks allowed is tied for sixth most in FBS.
When Maryland has the ball: As the offense vanished in the fourth quarter, MSU’s defense also disappeared as it spent 10:40 on the field because of the Spartans inability to move the ball. It resulted in the Hawkeyes scoring 13 unanswered points to close the game, including a touchdown and the final field goal in the final 2:37. Before that, Joe Rossi’s unit was smothering Iowa, forcing two turnovers in a game for the first time this season — a fumble recovery by Jordan Hall that set up one of the TDs in the third quarter and a safety Malik Spencer interception — while holding Iowa to just 142 total yards through three quarters. Hall, who has been playing through an injury to his midsection, and fellow linebacker Wayne Matthews III have continued to improve throughout the back half of the season and will be challenged in run and pass coverage by Maryland’s DeJuan Williams, who leads all Big Ten running backs with 357 receiving yards this season along with his 449 rushing yards on 123 carries. MSU ranks 62nd in total defense (364.5 yards) but 108th in points allowed per game (30.1). Opponents are throwing for 210.6 yards a game (55th), but MSU’s pass efficiency defense is among the nation’s worst (118th). The Terrapins average 344.2 yards and 23.1 points per game, both of which rank 101st in FBS. However, Maryland has allowed just seven sacks this season, fifth-best in the nation, while MSU only has 20 as a defense.
Know the foe
Shell game: Like MSU, Maryland hasn’t won a game in more than two months since its 27-10 win over Wisconsin on Sept. 20. The Terps have allowed 25.5 points a game for the season but have given up 33.9 a game during the losing streak. 225.3 YPG rushing and 452.9 ypg total since winning their first four. Opposing quarterbacks are completing nearly 66% of their passes for 227.6 yards over the past seven games.
Fresh face: Quarterback Malik Washington has been electric for the Terps, one of just three true freshmen with 10 or more games with 200-plus yards passing. His 2,504 passing yards are the most ever by a Maryland freshman and are third-most among Power 4 conference QBs. The 6-foot-5, 231-pound Washington is completing 57% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Turnover Terps: Maryland’s defense has a Big Ten-high 18 interceptions, which is fourth in FBS, and safety Jalen Huskey’s four is 10th in the nation and third in the conference. The Terrapins’ plus-7 turnover margin is second in the Big Ten and 20th nationally. Their offense has given the ball away just 13 times. Meantime, MSU ranks 123rd in takeaways on defense (17) but 26th on offense in turnovers lost (nine).
Chris Solari’s two cents
Historic slide: In falling at Iowa, the Spartans matched their second-longest losing streak in program history, which happened in losing the final game of 1981 and the first seven games of 1982 under Muddy Waters. The only one longer was a 10-game slide between the final game of 1916 under Frank Somers and an 0-9 season in 1917 under Chester Brewer. MSU has never lost every game in the Big Ten since joining the league in 1953, though Duffy Daugherty’s 1958 team went 0-5-1, with a tie against Michigan.
Locked in: While new MSU athletic director J Batt has yet to disclose the future of Jonathan Smith, Batt’s counterpart at Maryland, Jim Smith, announced that coach Mike Locksley will return next year for his eighth season with the Terrapins. Smith — hired in May, a month before MSU hired Batt — said the school plans during the offseason “to rapidly strengthen our NIL support for 2026 and beyond, with a clear and focused effort on roster retention, recruiting and being highly competitive in the transfer portal.” Smith won his first Big Ten game last season at Maryland in Week 2, 27-24, but has had only two more conference victories since.
Chris Solari’s prediction
The fight the Spartans showed throughout the misery finally pays off, with Alessio Milivojevic getting enough protection to make things happen in the passing game — and getting Nick Marsh involved with another big game against the Terrapins. The defense takes care of the rest, giving MSU some good feelings heading into an uncertain offseason. The pick: MSU 23, Maryland 17.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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