Tag: michigan state spartans

Nov 16, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles (2) hands the ball to running back Nate Carter (5) during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Motivated Michigan State must beat Rutgers to go bowling

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Michigan State needs a win against Rutgers on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich., to become bowl eligible for the first time in three years.

“This is an important game for multiple reasons — our last home game, the last home game for some of our seniors, the opportunity to keep this group together for … another month if you can have success this Saturday,” said first-year Spartans coach Jonathan Smith. “All of that should add to their motivation.”

The Spartans (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten) snapped a three-game losing streak last weekend, holding on for a 24-17 win over Purdue to put them in a position for a postseason berth.

Aidan Chiles, who has passed for 2,265 yards and 12 touchdowns, has not thrown any interceptions in his last two starts after tossing 11 in his first nine games.

“A tremendous athlete,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said of Chiles. “Really, a quarterback that you can see is just getting better and better each week. We recruited him. We’re very familiar with him. We really wanted him. He ended up going to Oregon State and now he’s at Michigan State, but somebody that we really thought was an excellent player.”

The Scarlet Knights (6-5, 3-4) are trying to rebound from a crushing 38-31 loss to then-No. 25 Illinois. Rutgers gave up a 40-yard, game-winning touchdown pass with four seconds left.

Schiano expects to see the best from Michigan State.

“I think it’s a huge challenge going on the road, playing a team that’s certainly motivated with bowl aspirations but I don’t worry about the other team,” Schiano said. “I learn about the other team. We use it to educate ourselves, but our team has overcome adversity all season and they will overcome it again.”

With game-time temperatures expected in the low 30s, the Scarlet Knights will likely need to rely on the run game led by Kyle Monangai, whose 122 rushing yards against Illinois gave him 1,150 for the season.

A win Saturday would give Rutgers its best regular season finish since 2014.

“We’ve had a lot of things that can test your will, test your focus,” Schiano said. “I think our guys have done a very good job. Here’s another opportunity.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Xavier Scott (14) tackles Michigan State receiver Aziah Johnson (11) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Josh McCray’s big day powers Illinois past Michigan State

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Josh McCray rushed for three touchdowns while Luke Altmyer threw for 231 yards and two scores as Illinois earned a 38-16 Big Ten victory over Michigan State on Saturday afternoon in Champaign.

The Illini (7-3, 4-3), who had lost two straight games, never trailed while clinching their fifth winning record in 23 seasons. Altmyer hit 19 of 32 passes, primarily to senior wideouts Pat Bryant (4 catches, 135 yards, 1 TD) and Zakhari Franklin (7 catches, 44 yards, 1 TD) on Senior Day.

Aidan Chiles completed 23 of 40 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns for the Spartans (4-6, 2-5), but also suffered five sacks and narrowly avoided several others. After losing its third straight, Michigan State must beat Purdue and Rutgers at home to secure a bowl berth in Jonathan Smith’s first year at the helm.

After the teams exchanged punts on their first drives, they swapped touchdown bombs on their second drives.

Bryant got behind two Spartans down the left sideline and caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Altmyer at the 9:52 mark of the first quarter. Michigan State responded with Aziah Johnson getting wide open down the right sideline on a coverage bust for a 52-yard scoring strike from Chiles two minutes after Illinois’ TD. Jonathan Kim’s extra point went wide right, though, to preserve Illinois’ lead at 7-6.

Illinois answered with a more conventional drive to expand its lead. McCray capped the 13-play, 75-yard march with a 11-yard run — using a stiff-arm maneuver to bounce outside before tightroping down the right sideline for the final 5 yards to take a 14-6 lead with 1:06 left in the first.

The Illini pieced together another long drive to seize a 21-6 cushion with 2:01 to go in the half. Altmyer capped the 12-play, 65-yard march with a 4-yard fade route to Franklin. Kim booted a 38-yard field goal to pull the Spartans within 21-9 at the break.

Michigan State opened the second half with a 75-yard touchdown drive. The Spartans converted two fourth downs, including Chiles’ 5-yard scoring toss to Nate Carter to cut Illinois’ lead to 21-16.

David Olano kicked a 37-yard field goal midway through the third to make it 24-16, then McCray provided an insurance score when he soared over the pile for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 31-16 with 7:30 to go. McCray, who rushed for 61 yards on nine carries, added another 1-yard scoring blast with 1:56 left.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Tayven Jackson (2) runs the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Washington Huskies at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

Playoffs in view as No. 13 Indiana takes on Michigan State

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With the last third of the college football regular season here, No. 13 Indiana serving as a feel-good story this year feels like old news.

Now, remarkably, the big question is whether the Hoosiers can play their way into the College Football Playoff.

Four games remain for Indiana (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) to achieve that improbable feat. The first game will come against Michigan State (4-4, 2-3) on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing, Mich., and the clash will serve as the annual battle for the Old Brass Spittoon.

First and foremost on the minds of the Indiana faithful is the health of starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke.

After Rourke missed last Saturday’s 31-17 win over Washington with an injured thumb, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said Monday he was “optimistic” on the quarterback’s return.

“Building up,” Cignetti said. “Workload will increase as the week goes on. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”

Backup Tayven Jackson did a serviceable job against Washington, completing 11 of 19 passes for 124 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Indiana, however, knows its best chance of cracking the 12-team playoff is to have Rourke in the lineup.

Rourke enters the game fifth in the Big Ten in passing yards (1,941) and second in completion percentage (74.6).

Cignetti said his team will have to be sure to match Michigan State’s physicality.

“They’re going to smack you in the mouth,” Cignetti said. “Have a good play-action game. Also have enough little trickery there to keep you off balance so you’re not overcommitting. Very aggressive on defense.”

While Indiana is aiming for a conference title and playoff berth, Michigan State is bidding for at least two more wins to become bowl-eligible for the first time since the 2021 season.

The Spartans are coming off a 24-17 loss to arch-rival Michigan and are preparing a stretch in which they will play three of their last four games at home.

“We do have to move on to a big-time opponent,” Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith said. “One of the hottest teams in the country. Doing it in all three phases. You look at Indiana, offensively they are doing some things and can score points in bunches. Defensively, they have some good players running around and have a solid scheme. You don’t win every game by accident.”

Michigan State hasn’t been as consistent as Indiana this year, which is a reflection of the up-and-down play of first-year starting quarterback Aidan Chiles.

After throwing for seven interceptions in the first four games of the season, Chiles has been picked off only twice in the last four games.

If Chiles can continue to take care of the ball and make plays with his arm and feet, the Spartans can present problems for Indiana.

“I think we’ve gained confidence as the year has gone on,” Smith said. “We can go toe-to-toe with just about anybody. Now we want to play our best football in November.”

The road team has won four straight games in the rivalry, including Michigan State’s 24-21 win last year in Bloomington, Ind.

–Field Level Media

Sept. 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins (1) waits for a television interview following an NCAA Division I football game against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

No. 3 Ohio State braces for stern test from Michigan State

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No. 3 Ohio State worked out enough kinks during its soft nonconference schedule to feel positive going into its Big Ten opener at Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.

The Buckeyes rolled to a 52-6 win over Akron, 56-0 rout of Western Michigan and 49-14 victory over Marshall — all at home — while introducing fans to Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard and former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins.

They’ve helped the Buckeyes (3-0) to a No. 3 ranking in scoring offense (52.3 points) and fifth in total offense (552.0).

“Going on the road against a conference opponent is a big deal,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday. “If you have a young team, it’s significant. I think our guys have played a lot of football and been around a lot of games, different styles of games, so we should be able to adjust pretty quickly.”

In order for the Spartans (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) to have a chance, coach Jonathan Smith said they must do better scoring touchdowns in the red zone. Michigan State was 3-for-3 in the red zone in a 23-19 loss to Boston College last Saturday but just one was a touchdown.

Michigan State is 112th of 133 FBS schools in red-zone efficiency at 73.3 percent (11 of 15), which includes four scores rushing, two passing and five field goals.

“This red zone touchdown percentage is not where it needs to be. We’ve got to improve in that area,” Smith said on Monday.

In comparison, the Buckeyes have scored touchdowns on all 11 opportunities (nine rushing, two passing). While that seems low in chances for such a high-scoring team, who needs the red zone when you have such an explosive offense?

In the win over Marshall, the Buckeyes had four touchdowns of 40-plus yards: receptions of 68 and 53 yards by Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith, respectively, and runs of 86 yards for Judkins and 40 by TreVeyon Henderson.

“I’ve got a bunch of respect for that program and those coaches and those players,” Smith said of Ohio State. “It will be a real, real challenge. We’re going to put in a lot of work this week to take it on.”

The former Oregon State coach, in his first season with the Spartans, brought quarterback Aidan Chiles with him but it has been a struggle at times. Chiles threw three interceptions against Boston College but he was hampered by missing three wide receivers and two offensive linemen due to injuries.

Smith said he won’t know until later in the week if receivers Nick Marsh, Jaron Glover and Antonio Gates Jr. will be available.

“Jonathan’s done a really good job already of establishing an identity there,” Day said. “They have a really good young quarterback who can do a lot of different things.

“They’re playing really, really hard. You can tell they’re well coached. I think he’s upgraded a lot of areas.”

Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock said there is something different about conference games, especially this being the first fall weekend of football. The temperature for the Buckeyes’ first three games ranged from the high 80s to the low 90s. It should be in the low 70s for the nighttime kickoff on Saturday.

“I’ve been ready for Big Ten Conference play,” Hancock said. “The cold weather out­side, going to hostile territories, and the tradition. Big Ten, Ohio State or Michigan State, I’ve always been watching those games, and I’m just excited for the matchup.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Boston College Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1) speaks with head coach Bill O'Brien before the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

BC hosts unbeaten Michigan State in Red Bandana Game

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Unbeaten Michigan State visits Boston College for the programs’ first meeting since 2007 on Saturday at Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Playing its annual Red Bandana Game in honor of Boston College alum and Sept. 11, 2001, hero Welles Crowther, the Eagles (2-1) look to bounce back from last weekend’s 27-21 loss at then-No. 6 Missouri — the first setback under new head coach Bill O’Brien.

“For us to be able to go out there and play a game in honor of (Crowther) is a big deal,” O’Brien said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for Boston College to show off who we are. This is who we are.”

Thomas Castellanos threw three touchdowns against the Tigers and ranks second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with nine on the season. The Eagles led 14-3 before giving up 24 unanswered points.

“We’re never going to accept losing at Boston College, but these guys fought hard,” O’Brien said. “I think if we can do a better job stopping the run, that’s going to lead to more success for us in the future.”

With last week’s 40-0 win over Prairie View A&M, Michigan State (3-0) has won three straight games under a first-year coach in Jonathan Smith for the first time since Mark Dantonio in 2007.

The Spartans have seen both Aidan Chiles and Tommy Schuster make an impact at quarterback, with the latter debuting with his new team last week — 8-of-10 passing for 97 yards — after transferring from North Dakota.

Chiles threw for 173 yards and a touchdown, following up a 363-yard performance in a 27-24 win at Maryland on Sept. 7.

“We’ve got total confidence (Schuster would) be ready to go out there,” Smith said. “It’s a long season, just like we’re dealing with injuries at different spots, he needs to be ready, and he will be.”

A new Spartan has recently been added to the injury list in offensive lineman Gavin Broscious.

“You probably won’t see him the rest of the year which is unfortunate,” Smith said. “Again, these yearly ones (hurt) because he’d been working really hard.”

Boston College has a 4-1-1 advantage in the all-time series, including a 24-21 win in the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. The QB matchup in that game featured Matt Ryan against Michigan State counterpart Brian Hoyer.

–Field Level Media

Michigan State's head coach Jonathan Smith watches over the action during the first day of football camp on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in East Lansing.

Aidan Chiles, new-look Michigan State to test mettle vs. FAU

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Oregon State wasn’t one of the former Pac-12 teams that joined the Big Ten this season. The Beavers, however, will have two prominent former members making their Big Ten debuts on Friday night.

New head coach Jonathan Smith was hired as Michigan State’s head coach after leading Oregon State to winning records over the past three seasons. Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles followed him to East Lansing, Mich. and he’ll start in the Spartans’ home opener against Florida Atlantic on Friday night.

Chiles has so impressed his new teammates that he’s already been named one of the team’s captains.

“I think he’s definitely ready for this,” Smith said. “He’s a competitive player. And a true competitor understands it’s not going to go perfect every snap, and things are going to take place. There’s gonna be some really good plays, too. But there’s nothing like experience. And the guy’s been out on the field playing big-time football before.”

Chiles appeared in nine games as a freshman in a backup role. He completed 24-of-35 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. None of his attempts were picked off.

The Spartans are coming off a woeful 4-8 season and Chiles will be just one of many new faces suiting up this fall. A whopping 38 players departed via the transfer portal. Smith and his staff brought in 61 newcomers either as transfers or freshmen.

Florida Atlantic is coming off a 4-8 season, including losses in its last four contests. The Owls also will have a new starting quarterback in Cam Fancher, a Marshall transfer. He threw for 2,162 yards last season with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The Owls also faced a Big Ten team last season, dropping a 23-17 decision at Illinois.

“It’s going to be a really difficult place to play,” head coach Tom Herman said of this year’s opener. “I know Coach Smith does a phenomenal job and will have those guys ready. It poses unique challenges, too, in Week 1 to (face) a brand new staff. Very little of our film study has been on Michigan State.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (8) makes a throw against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

Transfer portal: QB Athan Kaliakmanis leaving Minnesota

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Minnesota starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis intends to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining, he stated on Tuesday.

As a sophomore this season, Kaliakmanis completed 156 of 294 passes (53.1 percent) for 1,838 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games for a 115.2 passer rating.

“Minnesota will always be an important place in my life and one that I believe has helped me grow immensely, both as a player and a man for the last three years,” Kaliakmanis wrote on X. “After several days of discussion with my family, I am announcing my intention to enter the transfer portal with 2 years of eligibility left.”

His backup, fifth-year senior Cole Kramer, played in two games and his only pass was intercepted. Kramer has one season of eligibility remaining. Drew Viotto, a freshman who didn’t see action for Minnesota this season, also announced his intention to transfer elsewhere.

The Golden Gophers, who went 5-7, could have another quarterback in contention for playing time next season. Max Brosmer, who led the FCS in passing yards (3,449) and passing yards per game (313.5) and was second in touchdown passes (29) at New Hampshire, entered the transfer portal and announced on X on Monday that Minnesota offered him a scholarship.

–Ten Michigan State players have entered the transfer portal since the Spartans (4-8) ended their season with a loss to Penn State on Friday and announced former Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith as their new head coach on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Noah Kim joined two other scholarship quarterbacks — redshirt freshman Katin Houser and freshman Sam Leavitt — already in the portal.

A redshirt junior, Kim played in five games this season and was 91 of 160 for 1,090 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.

Kim, a former starter, will be joined in the transfer portal by wide receivers Christian Fitzpatrick and Tyrell Henry and offensive linemen Geno VanDeMark, Spencer Brown, Kevin Wigenton II and Ethan Boyd.

–North Carolina junior defensive lineman Kedrick Bingley-Jones announced that he is entering the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder appeared in four games this year and make two solo tackles, including one for loss. He played in 26 games total for the Tar Heels in three seasons.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Nathan Carter (5) evades tackle by Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Phillip Dunnam (6) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State scores late, hangs on to top Indiana

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Katin Houser went 26-of-41 passing for 251 yards and three touchdowns to lead Michigan State to a 24-21 win at Indiana in a Big Ten East contest on Saturday.

Maliq Carr caught eight passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns, and Montorie Foster had seven receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown for Michigan State (4-7, 2-6).

Brendan Sorsby completed 19-of-34 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns for Indiana (3-8, 1-7).

Trailing 21-17 late in the fourth quarter, Michigan State took a 24-21 lead on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Houser to Carr with 1:19 remaining. The score completed an eight-play, 75-yard drive in 2:47.

Indiana drove to the Michigan State 31-yard line, but a 49-yard field goal attempt by Chris Freeman sailed wide right with two seconds left.

On the prior play, Sorsby was called for intentional grounding, making it a longer try for Freeman.

Indiana took a 21-17 lead with 4:06 remaining on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Sorsby to Trey Walker after driving 75 yards in 11 plays.

With the game tied 14-14 in the fourth quarter, Michigan State took a 17-14 lead with 9:26 remaining on a 43-yard field goal by Jonathan Kim.

Michigan State opened the scoring with 11:09 remaining in the first quarter on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Houser to Carr, which finished off a 9-play, 62-yard drive.

Indiana tied the game at 7-7 with 9:29 left in the second quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by Trent Howland, who capped off an 11-play, 88-yard drive.

The Spartans regained the lead at 14-7 with 1:10 left in the second quarter when Houser hit Foster for a 29-yard touchdown pass.

On the first drive of the second half, Indiana drove 75 yards in eight plays and tied the game at 14-14 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Sorsby to James Bomba.

–Field Level Media

Nov 4, 2023; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Caleb Coley (3) tackles Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Alex Bullock (84) in spite of tight end Thomas Fidone II (24) at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State tops Nebraska, halts 6-game skid

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Two quarterbacks threw touchdown passes as Michigan State snapped a six-game skid, beating visiting Nebraska 20-17 in a Big Ten Conference game on Saturday afternoon in East Lansing, Mich.

The Spartans (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) won for the first time since Sept. 9 and first time in seven tries under interim head coach Harlon Barnett, who took over after Mel Tucker was suspended and later fired amid sexual harassment allegations.

Nebraska (5-4, 3-3) was trying to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2016 but had a three-game win streak snapped. It was only the third time this season the Cornhuskers allowed more than 14 points.

Tied at 10 at the half, Michigan State took a 13-10 lead with 5:11 left in the third quarter on a 50-yard Jonathan Kim field goal. The Spartans built a 10-point advantage with 12:13 remaining on Montorie Foster Jr.’s 25-yard TD catch from Sam Leavitt.

Leavitt was 1 of 2 for 25 yards while starter Katin Houser was 13 of 20 for 165 yards and a touchdown.

A 43-yard run by Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg set up Emmett Johnson’s 4-yard TD run with 3:35 remaining, but after getting the ball back with under three minutes to go, Haarberg lost a fumble. It was his third turnover, along with two interceptions, as he threw for 129 yards on 12-of-28 passing and added a rushing TD.

MSU got a field goal on its opening drive, then later intercepted a pass at its own 4, but fell behind early in the second quarter when Haarberg scored on a 5-yard run. The Spartans retook the lead on an 11-yard TD pass from Houser to Christian Fitzpatrick with 9:14 left in the first half, a score set up by a 42-yard pass from wide receiver Alante Brown to Foster.

Foster finished with four catches for 94 yards.

Nebraska hosts Maryland next Saturday, while Michigan State visits No. 1 Ohio State.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule reacts after a fourth down stop against the Purdue Boilermakers during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Streaking Nebraska riding defense against struggling Michigan State

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Nebraska will try to use the same formula that has led to a three-game win streak when it visits Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.

The Cornhuskers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) have limited their last three opponents to a combined 30 points, most recently beating Purdue 31-14 at home to move within a game of being bowl eligible for the first time in seven years. Overall, they’re allowing 18.6 points per game, sixth best in the conference and 21st nationally.

A year ago, they were near the bottom of the Big Ten in most defensive categories, but first-year coach Matt Rhule still isn’t satisfied.

“We didn’t play nearly as well on defense as the stats denoted,” Rhule said.

Michigan State (2-6, 0-5) is the one giving up a lot of points (27.8 per game) and not scoring many (18.0), reaching the 20-point mark only once during a six-game losing streak. The Spartans’ season went into disarray in mid-September when coach Mel Tucker was suspended, and eventually fired, over allegations of sexual harassment.

The most recent loss, 27-12 at Minnesota, saw the Spartans allow only 10 points through the first three quarters after losing 49-0 the previous week.

“That’s something we’ve got to build on,” interim MSU coach Harlon Barnett said.

Nebraska has been able to win of late despite being near the bottom nationally in turnover margin at minus-9. The Cornhuskers have given it away 19 times, including nine in the past three games.

“We’re last in the nation in fumbles (24), last in the nation in fumbles lost (11),” Rhule said. “That falls squarely on my head.”

Another win will not only ensure Nebraska goes bowling for the first time since playing in the Music City Bowl in 2016 but also will give the program its longest win streak since an eight-game run in 2015-16.

MSU is trying to avoid matching the seven-game skid it had in 2016, when it went 3-9 for the Spartans’ worst season since 1994.

Nebraska holds a 9-3 lead in the series, winning six of seven meetings at home, but the Spartans took the last matchup 23-20 in overtime in East Lansing in 2021.

–Field Level Media