Against Michigan, MSU went 2-for-4 in the red zone. Numerous promising drives ended abruptly with no points to show for moving the football. 

“We just had too many missed opportunities,” redshirt junior running back Nate Carter said postgame. “When we move the ball like we did and get into the red zone, we have to capitalize on those opportunities, and we have to finish with points. And unfortunately, we didn't do that, and that kind of hurt us late in the game.”

This inability to find the end zone has plagued the Spartans (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten) all season.

This year, MSU’s red zone offense is one of the worst in college football, ranked 122nd. Last year at Oregon State, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith went 41-for-42 in the red zone, the best rate in the country. His 2024 Spartans are 21-for-28 with a majority of the failed conversions coming in early, tone-setting, momentum-altering drives that could've made a difference. 

“The red zone piece is frustrating,” Smith said. “We gotta keep looking at it.”

Even in a 32-20 win over Iowa last week, MSU displayed many promising drives that only ended in three points. While it was enough for victory that night, inability to finish drives in the end zone ultimately translates to losing.

In the loss Saturday, the Spartans' inaugural possession started off as promising as an opening drive could be. Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles showed off his mobility and composure while Carter distributed strong runs, taking the offense deep into Wolverine territory. 

Then, like the Spartans have all season, they stalled deep in opponent territory. MSU sixth year kicker Jonathan Kim missed a 25-yard field goal with the Michigan student section screaming in front of him, pushing it right. The Spartans pushed the ball all the way down the field and had nothing to show for it. 

MSU picked it right back up on the next drive. A 34-yard run by Carter on third-and-nine set up the offense with another red zone opportunity. This time it capitalized, with a two-yard Carter touchdown run on a fourth down putting MSU up 7-0. 

From there, the Spartan offense stalled. Michigan scored a touchdown in the second quarter, grabbing momentum for the first time.

Up 7-6, MSU played for points with 29 seconds left in the first half and quickly regretted it. 

While evading pressure and rolling out to his right, Chiles was sacked from behind by Michigan senior defensive end Josiah Stewart, losing the football in the process. It was recovered by Michigan, giving the Wolverines a field goal and the lead at the break. 

The Wolverines found the end zone on 11 plays to open the second half and the Spartans' backs were against the wall. Without the late Chiles fumble, Michigan wouldn't have had the momentum it did or the ability to take a two-score lead right out of the locker room.

Chiles hit senior wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. for 30 yards on the ensuing drive to get things moving again, but another promising MSU drive stalled out. Kim made a 46-yard field goal to come back within one possession. 

More opportunities were presented and squandered for MSU, none bigger than its final drive. 

After the Spartan defense delivered a stop to get the ball back down 24-17 with 4:32 seconds left in the game, the offense had 51 yards left to potentially tie or take the lead. MSU began the game-deciding drive by reaching the red zone before facing a fourth-and-five. 

Chiles dropped back, rolled out to evade pressure and slung it to redshirt freshman wide receiver Aziah Johnson. It was broken up in the end zone, spelling the end of a loss that will sting for MSU. Of the Spartans' ten drives of the game, they were only able to score on three. 

"At the end of the day, we shot ourselves in the foot," Carter said. "And yeah, it hurts, especially when you're having so much success otherwise."