In a game of strength, speed and physical durability, mentality and morale have entered the picture as MSU plays its last two regular-season games at home to scrap for a bowl appearance. 

"I like to look at the stretch and the hard times that we're in now as things that are really hardening our guys for the future," MSU defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said Tuesday. "This thing isn't gonna be perfect the whole way through. The hard times and the struggle is what ultimately creates those rewards down the road for the people that are the right people."

10 games into his early MSU head coaching tenure, Jonathan Smith has repeatedly emphasized the importance of playing the best football during the tail end of the season. In their past two games, the Spartans failed to do so. 

First, a 47-10 loss to still-undefeated Indiana banished any hopes MSU carried of beating a top-tier team this season. The Spartans had a 10-0 lead after the first quarter and were outscored by 47 the following three. 

A hard-fought but inevitable 38-16 loss to Illinois the following week further showed the work MSU has to do before competing in the Big Ten.

MSU hasn't sacked an opposing quarterback since it played Boston College on Sept. 21. The six-week drought is the longest streak in Division I since 2005. 

"No, I haven't seen a stretch like this before," Rossi said. "Usually, but now, just by accident, you get (a sack). And so, it's something that's a concern. We just haven't seen the results right now."

Winter sports are now in full swing in East Lansing, but MSU football still has something to play for.

What’s at stake for MSU is the chance to make something of its season. Ultimately, that's playing in a bowl game, which it hasn't done since a 31-21 Peach Bowl win over Pittsburgh in 2021. 

One win would give the Spartans an improved record from last year. Two wins would make them officially bowl eligible. Regardless of the season's murky, forgettable moments, a postseason appearance in Smith's first year would help subside much of that turmoil. 

Finishing the season strong could also carry weight for MSU beyond 2024 in recruiting and the transfer portal. Smith's 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 58 nationally and No. 16 out of 18 Big Ten schools by 247Sports. 

"I'm not going to sit up here and ask for patience," Smith said. "We're not patient people. Immediate results have not come, but I'm confident in the process we're taking, and we're continuing to develop the current roster."

Matched up against a Big Ten bottom-feeder in Purdue (1-9, 0-7) tonight, the Spartans' determination and morale will be tested in a must-win game.

While they haven’t beaten an FBS team — their only win coming against Indiana State in August — the Boilermakers have played against four top six teams in the College Football Playoff Rankings.

"Having patience is knowing that you know everything is gonna be okay," sophomore defensive lineman Jalen Thompson said. "We have a lot of new guys, different coaches, so everything is not gonna always go our way. Nobody said it was gonna be easy."

The Spartans and Boilermakers will square off tonight, Friday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. at Spartan Stadium. FOX will air the game.