Know Your Opponent: Week Ten Michigan State Spartans
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Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers hit the road for the Old Brass Spittoon Game against the Michigan State Spartans. The visiting team has won each of the last four meetings dating back to 2020.
Head Coach: Jonathan Smith (1st Year at Michigan State)
Overall Record: 38-39(.494) 7th Season
At Michigan State: 4-4 (2-3)
Michigan State Bowl Games: 30
Last Year’s Record: 4-8
This Year’s Record: 4-4 (2-3)
Mascot: Sparty
Colors: Green and White
Outfitter: Nike
National Titles: 6
Conference Titles: 8
Heisman Winners: 0
FUN FACT:
• George S. Alderton, then sports editor of the Lansing State Journal, decided the name was too cumbersome for newspaper writing and vowed to find a better one. Alderton contacted Jim Hasselman of Information Services to see if entries still remained from the contest. When informed that they still existed, Alderton ran across the entry name of "Spartans" and then decided that was the choice. Unfortunately, Alderton forgot to write down who submitted that particular entry, so that part of the story remains a mystery.
1. Michigan State Goes as Aidan Chiles Goes, Maybe?
There was plenty of hype surrounding Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles when he followed head coach Jonathan Smith to East Lansing from Oregon State. Chiles is a super athletic quarterback who possesses all of the tools to be the next great Spartans quarterback. However, there has been a downside with Chiles and it has manifested itself in turnovers. On the season Chiles has nine interceptions to his seven touchdown passes.
The splits between his performances in wins and losses is closer than you would think. In MSU’s four wins Chiles has completed 61.3-percent of his passes with five touchdowns and five interceptions. In the four losses he has completed 60.6-percent of his passes, but with just two touchdowns and four picks.
So does the wildness of Chiles really determine how Michigan State plays? Not statistically.
2. They Actually Go How the Defense Goes
This comes as a shock to basically no one. It’s been the recipe for success at Michigan State since 2007. Win win a dominating defense and an offense that leans on people late in the game.
In Michigan State’s four wins the defense has 11 sacks and 30 tackles for loss. When the Spartans get pressure on the quarterback and create havoc in the backfield, they win. Indiana’s offensive line has been great this season and will have another challenge when they hit the road. In their losses those numbers drop to just four sacks and 16 tackles for loss.
Another area that will determine the outcome of the game is Michigan State’s third down defense. In the Spartans four wins opponents converted just 41.5-percent of their third downs. Conversely, in the four losses they allowed opponents to convert 48.2-percent of the time. Indiana has the best third down offense in the Big Ten, succeeding 54-percent of the time.
3. Michigan State Kicks A Lot of Field Goals
MSU kicker Jonathan Kim is the third leading scorer in the Big Ten and he is doing it three points at a time. Kim has hit 16-of-18 field goals through eight games, usually that’s a season’s worth of makes. He can hit from beyond 55 yards as well. After playing a couple teams who really did not want to kick field goals, the Hoosiers are playing a team that is a threat to score when they cross mid-field.
4. No Jordan Turner in the First Half
Michigan State will be without their best defender in the first half of Saturday’s game. Jordan Turner was flagged for a second half targeting penalty which means he has to sit the first 30 minutes. Turner has been an All-Big Ten caliber defender this year. He leads Michigan State with 48 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. He is tied for the team lead in sacks as well with three. He has also added an interception. For a defense that is susceptible in the passing game, losing Turner could be a devastating blow.
5. Stop the Run, Win the Game
The Spartans have two really good running backs in Nick Carter and Kay’ron Lynch-Adams. They have nearly evenly combined for 871 yards and five touchdowns. In the four wins, the MSU running game averages 4.93 yards per carry while averaging 3.1 yards per carry in losses. The Hoosiers have been good against the run this year, so this will be a matchup to circle.