Josh Dooley
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Things you need to know about Michigan State — and a few you don’t need to know, but are fun anyway
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Reinvigorated by new head coach Jonathan Smith, the Spartans are off to a solid start this season and present a big step up in competition for Ryan Day’s Buckeyes.
The Ohio State Buckeyes hit the road for their Big Ten opener this weekend when they (will) travel north to take on the 3-1 Michigan State Spartans. This matchup resulted in a Buckeye drubbing of the Spartans last season, however, things are a bit different in 2024. Mel Tucker, Harlon Barnett, and a group of subpar quarterbacks are all gone for/from MSU, replaced by new coach Jonathan Smith and new signal-caller Aidan Chiles — both formerly of Oregon State. And, thus far, the rebuild in East Lansing seems to be going rather well.
Smith, Chiles, and a massive group of transfers have infused new energy into Michigan State’s program, on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Spartans are balanced and far more threatening than they were last season. Or the season before that. Sure, Chiles is turning the ball over far too often, but he has also been responsible for several big plays and seven total touchdowns in four games. And he is backed up by a solid duo at running back.
On defense, well, Sparty learned a few new tricks! After finishing the last two seasons outside the top 75 nationally in points per game allowed, MSU currently sits 25th at just 14.2 PPG allowed. Sure, it’s a small sample size of four games, but we’re talking about a team and a defense that had grown accustomed to giving up 35, 40+ on a regular basis.
And seeing as though Saturday night’s game is the first against real competition for Ohio State, it could and maybe should be an interesting one... For both fanbases.
Here are a few more things you should know about the Michigan State Spartans:
Michigan State University was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its (agro) kind in the United States. Now you know.
The MSU football program claims six national titles, all won between 1951 and 1966.
“Police Academy” actor Bubba Smith played football and was a two-time All-American for the Spartans in the 1960s. That’s right, Hightower was a monster for MSU prior to going No. 1 overall in the 1967 NFL Draft, enjoying a highly successful NFL career, and eventually catching the acting bug.
Michigan State is the last (football) team to beat both Ohio State and Michigan in the same season. Led by Connor Cook, Aaron Burbridge, and a nasty, stingy defense, MSU swept OSU and TTUN in 2015, en route to the Spartans’ second Big Ten title in three years.
Prior to earning notoriety and praise as Oregon State’s coach (and then MSU’s), Jonathan Smith was a successful quarterback for the Beavers. Smith was a four-year starter in Corvallis from 1998-2001. He helped lead the “other” OSU to a program-best 11-1 record in 2000 while throwing to Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Smith then became a GA at Oregon State in 2002, kicking off his coaching career at the ripe old age of 23.
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Aidan Chiles was a top-10 QB recruit in the 2023 class. 247Sports had Chiles ranked as the No. 7 QB in his class, ahead of Kansas State starter Avery Johnson, South Carolina starter LaNorris Sellers, and Ohio State’s Lincoln Kienholz, among others. Chiles ultimately committed to Oregon State, where he split time with D.J. Uiagalelei as a true freshman.
This ain’t your 2023 Michigan State squad. The Spartans just weren’t good last year. At anything, really. They finished 131st in scoring offense and 87th in scoring defense (out of 133) on their way to a 4-8 record. In games against ranked opponents – Washington, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State – MSU was outscored by a combined total of 170-10. But with Smith now at the helm, the Spartans look much better and much more competitive.
Even with Chiles at QB, Michigan State’s offense is (and/or should be) leaning on the run. This is partly because Chiles leads the Big Ten in interceptions thrown. But also, running backs Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams and Nate Carter have proven to be a nice 1-2 punch for MSU, both surpassing 200 yards on the ground through four games. So the Spartans would be wise to pound the rock against the Buckeyes and others.
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Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
But don’t forget about Nick Marsh. I’m talking to you, Mike Locksley, and Brian Williams! Maryland F’ed around and found out what happens when a team doesn’t gameplan for Michigan State’s true freshman wide receiver. Marsh went off for 8 receptions, 194 yards, and a tuddy against the Terps, helping his squad pull off a come-from-behind victory in Week 2. Tight-end Jack Velling and wide receiver Montorie Foster are other MSU pass catchers to know and watch.
Sparty learned how toputt play defense. Michigan State is currently 25th in the country in PPG allowed! One can scream about competition, sample size, and all that, but the Spartans haven’t finished inside the top 50 since 2019. Even if Ohio State is able to hang 30, 40+ on them, it’s hard to argue that MSU hasn’t gotten exponentially better on the defensive side of the ball.
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Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Reinvigorated by new head coach Jonathan Smith, the Spartans are off to a solid start this season and present a big step up in competition for Ryan Day’s Buckeyes.
The Ohio State Buckeyes hit the road for their Big Ten opener this weekend when they (will) travel north to take on the 3-1 Michigan State Spartans. This matchup resulted in a Buckeye drubbing of the Spartans last season, however, things are a bit different in 2024. Mel Tucker, Harlon Barnett, and a group of subpar quarterbacks are all gone for/from MSU, replaced by new coach Jonathan Smith and new signal-caller Aidan Chiles — both formerly of Oregon State. And, thus far, the rebuild in East Lansing seems to be going rather well.
Smith, Chiles, and a massive group of transfers have infused new energy into Michigan State’s program, on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Spartans are balanced and far more threatening than they were last season. Or the season before that. Sure, Chiles is turning the ball over far too often, but he has also been responsible for several big plays and seven total touchdowns in four games. And he is backed up by a solid duo at running back.
On defense, well, Sparty learned a few new tricks! After finishing the last two seasons outside the top 75 nationally in points per game allowed, MSU currently sits 25th at just 14.2 PPG allowed. Sure, it’s a small sample size of four games, but we’re talking about a team and a defense that had grown accustomed to giving up 35, 40+ on a regular basis.
And seeing as though Saturday night’s game is the first against real competition for Ohio State, it could and maybe should be an interesting one... For both fanbases.
Here are a few more things you should know about the Michigan State Spartans:
Michigan State University was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its (agro) kind in the United States. Now you know.
The MSU football program claims six national titles, all won between 1951 and 1966.
“Police Academy” actor Bubba Smith played football and was a two-time All-American for the Spartans in the 1960s. That’s right, Hightower was a monster for MSU prior to going No. 1 overall in the 1967 NFL Draft, enjoying a highly successful NFL career, and eventually catching the acting bug.
Michigan State is the last (football) team to beat both Ohio State and Michigan in the same season. Led by Connor Cook, Aaron Burbridge, and a nasty, stingy defense, MSU swept OSU and TTUN in 2015, en route to the Spartans’ second Big Ten title in three years.
Prior to earning notoriety and praise as Oregon State’s coach (and then MSU’s), Jonathan Smith was a successful quarterback for the Beavers. Smith was a four-year starter in Corvallis from 1998-2001. He helped lead the “other” OSU to a program-best 11-1 record in 2000 while throwing to Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Smith then became a GA at Oregon State in 2002, kicking off his coaching career at the ripe old age of 23.
Aidan Chiles was a top-10 QB recruit in the 2023 class. 247Sports had Chiles ranked as the No. 7 QB in his class, ahead of Kansas State starter Avery Johnson, South Carolina starter LaNorris Sellers, and Ohio State’s Lincoln Kienholz, among others. Chiles ultimately committed to Oregon State, where he split time with D.J. Uiagalelei as a true freshman.
This ain’t your 2023 Michigan State squad. The Spartans just weren’t good last year. At anything, really. They finished 131st in scoring offense and 87th in scoring defense (out of 133) on their way to a 4-8 record. In games against ranked opponents – Washington, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State – MSU was outscored by a combined total of 170-10. But with Smith now at the helm, the Spartans look much better and much more competitive.
Even with Chiles at QB, Michigan State’s offense is (and/or should be) leaning on the run. This is partly because Chiles leads the Big Ten in interceptions thrown. But also, running backs Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams and Nate Carter have proven to be a nice 1-2 punch for MSU, both surpassing 200 yards on the ground through four games. So the Spartans would be wise to pound the rock against the Buckeyes and others.
But don’t forget about Nick Marsh. I’m talking to you, Mike Locksley, and Brian Williams! Maryland F’ed around and found out what happens when a team doesn’t gameplan for Michigan State’s true freshman wide receiver. Marsh went off for 8 receptions, 194 yards, and a tuddy against the Terps, helping his squad pull off a come-from-behind victory in Week 2. Tight-end Jack Velling and wide receiver Montorie Foster are other MSU pass catchers to know and watch.
Sparty learned how to
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