Matchup to Watch: Indiana’s Buy In vs. Michigan State’s Buy In

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan State Spartans will battle for the Old Brass Spittoon on Saturday in Bloomington. Both teams entered the 2023 season with bowl hopes, but August seems like it was lightyears ago. The Hoosiers fell to 3-7 after a 48-45 loss to Illinois and head coach Tom Allen’s name is starting to show up on hot seat lists while the Spartans already have their coaching search underway after Mel Tucker was fired mid-season. They are also 3-7 and out of bowl contention. So which team will be bought in the most for this unique trophy game?

“We definitely have a lot to play for, and we understand that it's a testament to your character as a person, as a team, and as a program when you don't allow the circumstances on the outside to dictate your focus, your effort, how you do things on a daily basis and eventually how you perform on game day. Great opportunity in front of us, and we're excited about it.” Indiana head coach Tom Allen said this week. The Hoosiers defeated the Spartans in East Lansing in Week 12 last season 38-30.

Spartans coach Harlon Barnett is not putting any stock into what happened in this game last season. He said that “ I haven't even looked at it in that perspective. It's a new year, they have a new team, we have a new team, so I never come from that perspective like that. It's more of let's get better, let's play hard, finish, and let's try to get a win. No, it hasn't been a motivational thing based on what happened last year, that was us not finishing. We have to finish.”

So far, Indiana has responded well to the doubts that they can bounce back from hard losses and dashed bowl hopes. They proved last year, that they can win a game when bowl eligibility was erased at the end of a disappointing season.

Saturday is also Senior Day for the Hoosiers and there should be plenty of motivation to send this group out with a Spittoon win. Whichever team buys into the game the most will most likely come out victorious with the trophy.