“We're having a hard time right now," sixth year defensive lineman Khris Bogle said postgame. "We didn't win the game, we just gotta bring everybody close.”

The final score was not indicative of the first quarter. Early on, MSU didn't just compete with a team that's handed out losses all season, it hit first and made the Hoosiers react. 

Freshman wideout Nick Marsh kept an early MSU drive alive with a 33-yard catch down the right sideline and later in the drive, displayed his field awareness and snagged another jump ball in the endzone with his foot barely inside the white line. MSU took a 10-0 lead into the second quarter.

From there, it was all Hoosiers.

In the first quarter, MSU scored one touchdown and made a field goal on 128 total yards compared to Indiana's scoreless frame and 52 total yards. In the second, the Hoosiers were the team college football fans have seen all year, racking up 21 points on 144 total yards to the Spartans' zero points and 50 total yards.

The MSU downfall starting in the second quarter was aided by more turnover struggles from sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles. Hoosier defensive back Amare Ferrell picked him off twice in the second quarter as Indiana surged in front. 

Chiles' first interception was intended for junior tight end Jack Velling. Ferrell popped out in front and snagged the pick. Later on in the same quarter, Chiles telegraphed a pass for fifth year wideout Alante Brown and Ferrell jumped the short out-route without much difficulty. 

The biggest blow for MSU came in the third quarter as it faced a fourth down on offense. MSU redshirt sophomore punter Ryan Eckley's attempt was blocked in front of his own end zone. In the mad dash for the football, Eckley conceded a safety by sending the ball out the back of the end zone. 

“They came out and they executed at a higher level than we did,” MSU sixth year defensive lineman Maverik Hansen said postgame.

The safety gave Indiana a 23-10 lead at a juncture in which MSU was already desperate. As Spartan mistakes continued to roll in, so did injuries. 

Chiles was injured in the third quarter after being knocked down by Indiana defensive linemen Mikail Kamara and exited the field to the locker room with what appeared to be an upper-body injury. Sixth year backup quarterback Tommy Schuster finished off the game under center for the Spartans.

In the second quarter, MSU senior defensive back Chuck Brantley left the field with two trainers, reluctant to put weight on his left foot. MSU junior defensive back Malik Spencer also left for the locker room with an athletic trainer. 

None of the injuries are season-ending and Chiles is expected to return in MSU's next game in two weeks against Illinois, Smith said postgame. 

MSU had its chance to earn the best win of its season Saturday. But costly mistakes and injuries added up and the Hoosiers were out of reach by the start of the fourth quarter. After starting up 10-0, MSU was scoreless in the final three quarters.