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Football

FOOTBALL

Controversial offside call defines 118th MSU–Michigan matchup

Tyler Gaylord
October 26, 2025

A late, controversial offsides call proved pivotal in Michigan’s 31–20 victory over Michigan State, negating a potential fumble recovery and swinging momentum in the Wolverines’ favor. The ruling not only shifted the scoreboard but also sidelined Spartans’ defensive captain Jordan Hall for the remainder of the quarter. MSU’s struggles with penalties compounded the impact, highlighting self-inflicted mistakes that kept the Spartans from capitalizing on key opportunities. For fans, the loss deepened the rivalry’s drama and left lingering “what-ifs” about what might have been.

FOOTBALL

Passion fuels MSU football’s fight against No. 25 Michigan

Kaspar Haehnle
October 23, 2025

Michigan State football seeks to return the Paul Bunyan Trophy back to East Lansing this Saturday against its more fierce rival in the Michigan Wolverines. To ensure the Spartans hold passion for a passionate game, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith has brought ex-players and alumni into the facility to speak to his team in attempts to spread knowledge and history of what this game means, while also supplying resources and tips on what to expect. 

FOOTBALL

MSU football looks to be unforgettable against Michigan

Tyler Gaylord
October 22, 2025

Michigan State looks to snap a near four-year drought against Michigan when the rivals meet Saturday night at Spartan Stadium. With head coach Jonathan Smith seeking his first ranked win and alumni stressing the rivalry’s importance, the Spartans hope to deliver an “unforgettable” performance and bring Paul Bunyan back to East Lansing.

FOOTBALL

Stretches of unanswered points characterize the Jonathan Smith era of MSU football

Tyler Gaylord
October 19, 2025

Under Jonathan Smith, Michigan State is supposed to be rebuilding — but the losses have become alarmingly familiar. Over the past two seasons, the Spartans have repeatedly started strong before unraveling in waves of unanswered points, turning competitive moments into blowouts. From ranked opponents like Ohio State and Oregon to unranked foes such as UCLA and Rutgers, the pattern has been the same: defensive lapses, fading urgency, and an offense that eventually disappears. As MSU continues its search for identity in year two, the question isn’t whether it can win — it’s whether it can compete.

FOOTBALL

MSU seeks an offensive revival against a stifling Indiana defense

Tyler Gaylord
October 17, 2025

After a promising 3-1 start behind a high-powered passing attack, Michigan State enters its matchup with No. 3 Indiana, searching for answers on offense. Junior quarterback Aidan Chiles has struggled in recent weeks and could miss his first start as a Spartan, opening the door for sophomore Alessio Milivojevic to step in against one of the nation’s stingiest defenses. The Hoosiers, unbeaten at 6-0, boast a physical front that ranks among the top 10 nationally in fewest points, yards and third-down conversions allowed. Facing a three-game skid and mounting offensive pressure, MSU looks to revive its early-season rhythm and regain confidence on the road.

FOOTBALL

Lack of consistency finally leads to complete MSU meltdown

Tyler Gaylord
October 11, 2025

Michigan State’s promising 3-0 start has unraveled after a 38-13 homecoming loss to UCLA dropped the Spartans to 3-3 and intensified pressure on head coach Jonathan Smith. Following two competitive defeats that showed signs of progress, MSU collapsed against the Bruins in front of a restless home crowd. Questionable play-calling, defensive breakdowns and offensive inconsistency fueled the blowout, leaving fans frustrated and Smith searching for answers as the team prepares for a critical matchup at No. 7 Indiana.

FOOTBALL

MSU receives decommitment from four-star wide receiver Tyren Wortham

Tyler Gaylord
October 6, 2025

Four-star wide receiver Tyren Wortham has decommitted from Michigan State, reopening his recruitment just days after the Spartans’ 38-27 loss to Nebraska. Wortham, the No. 40 receiver in the 2026 class and MSU’s top commit, had been verbally committed since June. His decision highlights growing recruiting concerns amid the team’s recent struggles, as other programs pursue top targets like linebacker Braylon Hodge. In today’s college football landscape, winning remains the key to retaining talent—something MSU hopes to get back to soon.

FOOTBALL

Spartans gear up for test against Nebraska’s rising star quarterback

Kaspar Haehnle
October 2, 2025

In the sea of red where the sold out Nebraska football crowd promises stimulating energy, the Spartans take on a sophomore quarterback by the name of Dylan Raiola, a confident and NFL-caliber player that could give MSU some fits defensively. To stop Raiola and his Cornhusker squad, the Spartans must play better defense, which means tackle, generate pressure, communicate, cover, play attack coverage, win one-on-one’s and have success in the small details..

FOOTBALL

Redshirt freshman Rustin Young fills key role on MSU offensive line

Tyler Gaylord
October 1, 2025

When redshirt sophomore Stanton Ramil left Michigan State’s Sept. 20 matchup against USC with an injury, redshirt freshman Rustin Young was thrust into the spotlight. The little-known offensive lineman played 51 of 60 snaps, more than his entire career to that point, and held his own against a Trojan pass rush averaging nearly five sacks per game. Once a four-star recruit from Hawaii who followed head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State, Young now finds himself in line for a bigger role as the Spartans battle mounting injuries on the offensive line. With Nebraska’s less disruptive pass rush on deck, Saturday could mark Young’s first career start — and an opportunity to solidify himself as a key piece of MSU’s future.