Michigan State football has scored 30, 35, 10 and 13 points through its first four games: A combined 88 points. The Spartans are averaging 22 points per game, ranking 110th in the nation and last in the Big Ten.
It gets worse against Power Four opponents. MSU averages 11.5 points per game against Notre Dame and Nebraska. That level of offense makes it hard to win in the later half of the season.
"The biggest thing that we're working to address is to eliminate the negative plays and protect the football," offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said at Tuesday's press conference. "And if we do that, then we'll have opportunities to win the games. And if we don't, we won't."
MSU committed just one turnover, a fumble, during its 2-0 start but has since given it away five more times, four by way of interceptions. Its six total turnovers are tied with Michigan and Wisconsin for the second most in the Big Ten.
The bigger problem is the sacks, and they've escalated against tougher opponents. MSU allowed five through the first two games but has since given up 10 sacks, including six to Nebraska. The Spartans' 15 sacks allowed are the fourth most in the nation.
Interceptions usually fall squarely on the quarterback, but sacks are a shared burden between the quarterback and the offensive line. Even so, sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has taken accountability for the sacks.
"When you play quarterback, you can't second-guess yourself," Milivojevic said. "That's when bad plays like sacks and sack fumbles happen, when you're about to throw."
The Spartans average just 200.5 passing yards per game, 105th in the nation and last in the Big Ten. That's partly because they've been a run-first offense, with 153 rush attempts to 106 passes. Regardless, there's still room to improve, and part of it means being less aggressive.
"Take what the defense gives you," head coach Pat Fitzgerald said Monday about his quarterbacks. "We're trying to make plays, instead of playing within the framework."
Run plays make up 59.1% of the Spartans' offense, but the results don't match the approach. MSU averages 122.8 rushing yards per game, 114th in the nation and fourth-worst in the Big Ten.
The numbers look a little worse than they actually are. The NCAA counts sacks as rush attempts, so Milivojevic has minus 100 rushing yards this season. Without the sacks, MSU would average 132.3 rushing yards per game.
Still, the ground game will be tougher to fix without graduate running back Cam Edwards, the team's leader in all-purpose yards, who is out for the season. The staff is confident in the rest of the backfield, led by graduate running back Jaziun Patterson, who appears to be the new starter after getting 16 carries against Nebraska once Edwards went down.
"Part of the next man up opportunity is to be ready for the opportunity when it presents itself," Fitzgerald said. "And I think Jazz (Patterson), I think Marv (Marvis Parrish), I think that whole room is being very well coached. And I think they're all ready for whatever opportunities present themselves."
Saturday will show whether the offense can put the pieces together to win a Big Ten game, and it'll be a big test. The Spartans are on the road against a defense that started conference play hot.
Despite allowing 41 points to Notre Dame in Week 1, Wisconsin ranks 28th in the nation in total defense. The Badgers allow 275.3 yards per game and 163.8 passing yards per game, which rank 22nd in the country.
Last week, the Badgers pulled off a road upset of No. 13 Penn State, holding the Nittany Lions to 20 points and shutting down quarterback Rocco Becht, who completed 12 of 29 passes for 114 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception.
It's a defense Sheridan will face for the third year in a row, after his former stop, Alabama, played Wisconsin in each of the past two seasons.
"I think there’s a confidence in them executing the scheme," Sheridan said. "You can just see the evolution of the defense, the development of the players, the continuity there on the staff, and putting the players in positions to be successful."
MSU (2-2) faces its first Big Ten road test of the season at Wisconsin (3-1). Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3rd at Camp Randall Stadium. The game will air on Big Ten Network.
