"I want to see the continued competitive spirit they’ve had; I want to see us being able to finish at the end of the game," MSU head coach Jonathan Smith said. "These guys are working so hard. They put a lot into this thing. I feel like these guys deserve [a chance to celebrate] because of their continued belief, competitive spirit, how hard they're playing, how much work they put into it."

What’s at stake for the Spartans is simple: three more wins mean a bowl game appearance; one more loss, and it’s back to the drawing board. It’s a reality that’s merciful — but in college football, merciful is the standard.

Such a merciful standard can become even more daunting when the end of the season nears, especially when the reality of six consecutive losses plagues a program like MSU’s. Players must stay motivated, coaches the same. There must be linear improvement in execution, consistency and efficiency. 

There must also be a willingness and toughness to fight to the end, not just in terms of the season, but also individual games. 

This is what MSU has struggled with as of late. The motivation has seemingly been there; the execution and consistency and efficiency has been an improving factor – even if only seen in small increments. But the ability to finish football games? It’s been nonexistent.   

This factor has been MSU’s downfall. Against USC, against Nebraska, against Michigan, and most recently — and most prominently — against Minnesota, the Spartans have not finished. They play tough, relentless football for two quarters, three quarters, or even three quarters and 14 minutes, yet still find a way to lose the game.

In MSU’s 23-20 overtime loss to Minnesota two weeks ago, the Spartans crumbled when it mattered most. With a 17-10 lead with under two minutes left to play, the Spartan defense – which had been playing lights out – allowed Minnesota to drive 65 yards in just over a minute, scoring to tie the game and sending it into overtime where the Spartans would stagnate and fail to finish.  

"Defensively, there’s a long stretch of that game where we’re playing well," Smith said. "We just have to find a way to finish better."

It wasn’t just Minnesota. Against rival Michigan, MSU had its chances. Against Nebraska, MSU lost its lead. Against USC, MSU’s comeback attempt sputtered out in the waning minutes. 

All of these games exhibit victories that could have been. Instead, they are just games that were lost and will instead be forgotten solely for the reason of MSU’s inability to finish. 

"When you go on such a long losing streak, a lot of people can get discouraged, a lot of people fight and pull apart and blame each other," senior defensive lineman Grady Kelly said. "But when you get guys together that care about each other on a deeper level, then with the highs and the lows or whatever you experience, there’s no finger pointing. There is no selfishness [in the MSU locker room]. We’re fighting tooth and nail every day because we still know we have something to play for."

A quarter of the season still remains on the horizon. For Kelly and the Spartans, they understand this, and they're prepared to begin the new quarter of the season in a dogfight against Penn State.

While this article is written by The State News, it could also be written by Penn State's student newspaper, The Daily Collegian, as the season similarities between the two programs are nearly identical, the only difference being that MSU still has its full-time head coach. 

Through nine games, the Nittany Lions are 3-6. They are winless in the Big Ten. They still possess motivation. They struggle finishing games.  

Last week against Indiana, the college football world watched as Penn State failed to finish when it mattered most. Holding onto a 24-20 lead with under a minute left to play, the Nittany Lions were one stop away from upsetting the No. 2 ranked team in all the land. But they faltered, they couldn’t finish, and with 36 seconds left in the game, Indiana scored to take the lead and win 27-24.

Only weeks prior to this, the Nittany Lions lost by one point to Iowa. The week before that, they lost by one point to Northwestern. 

Like MSU, Penn State hasn’t been able to finish games. Like MSU, Penn State holds the same record. Like MSU, Penn State wants — desperately wants — to win. On Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3:30 p.m. in Spartan Stadium, MSU and Penn State will battle in a game that one of them is bound to finish. The game will air on CBS.