MSU football's season finale will come with high stakes as the Spartans fight to secure a postseason spot against Rutgers this Saturday.
MSU football escaped a narrow fourth-quarter comeback by league-worst Purdue, 24-17.
It's been a tumultuous season on the field for the Spartans, but a bowl appearance in year one under head coach Jonathan Smith would be considered an improvement from years prior. MSU took its penultimate step toward that goal Friday night.
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.
While the Spartans’ season hasn't lived up to many expectations, they will be favored at home Friday with a chance to win out and become bowl eligible.
In its final road game of the season, MSU football struggled to contain Illinois, which dominated from start to finish and secured a commanding 38-16 victory.
MSU football continues its season Saturday after a bye last week, traveling to take on Illinois (6-3, 3-3). For the Spartans, the path to bowl mania is simple: win two out of the next three.
MSU's next game at Illinois this Saturday, Nov. 16 will look a little different, with new faces on the field due to a myriad of injuries.
Against its first four opponents, MSU racked up a Big Ten-leading 15 sacks. It hasn't sacked an opposing quarterback once since a 23-19 loss to Boston College on Sept. 21.
Michigan State football had a 10-0 lead at home over the No. 13-ranked, undefeated Indiana Hoosiers in the first quarter Saturday. Then, the Spartans shut down.
On Saturday at Spartan Stadium, history repeated itself for MSU in a 47-10 drubbing to undefeated Indiana.
The words "success" and "Indiana football" have historically been antonyms. But this season in Bloomington, IN, has been different.
After a setback loss against Michigan, MSU looks ahead to the 8-0 Indiana Hoosiers this weekend at Spartan Stadium.
Between opening up the ground attack in a 12-point win over Iowa on Oct. 19 and the early display against Michigan, MSU's offensive line has turned a corner with its efficiency.
With the headlines all week being Michigan's desperate quarterback situation and MSU's handling of Iowa last weekend, it was the Spartans' inability to capitalize on good drives that ended up the story.
In an up-for-grabs matchup at the Big House against the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday night, MSU football ended up in the losing column for the third straight time against its most heated rival.
Rivalry week has returned to the state of Michigan for the 117th time as Saturday's Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy will be won in Ann Arbor. With both teams at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten, there's a lot on the line, mostly bragging rights for the next 11-12 months.
While Michigan football still has its physical, run-first identity, will play in front of over 100,000 fans at the Big House and has the last laugh in the rivalry, MSU's program enters Saturday with more momentum.
This Saturday, Oct. 26 will mark the 117th meeting between the in-state rivals. Here are some of MSU's best performances against Michigan since 2010.
Entering the 117th Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy this Saturday in Ann Arbor, MSU and Michigan's records are identical. But after losing 49-0 a year ago to the Wolverines at home, MSU has gained considerable momentum compared to its bitter rival, highlighted by a clear gap between each team's situation under center.