Friday, January 9, 2026

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports

VOLLEYBALL

COLUMN — Winless weekend won't define volleyball season

No. 23 MSU (4-2 overall) did not get the results it wanted over the weekend after losing consecutive games to No. 17 UNC (4-1 overall) and No. 20 Duke (5-1 overall) at home as part of the ACC- Big Ten challenge. However, these losses can be attributed to the growing pains of a tough non-conference schedule and are not indicative of the team the Spartans can become.

FOOTBALL

COLUMN — Big Ten has to improve if MSU wants to make College Football Playoff

Eugene, Ore. — For the first 40 minutes of the game, No. 13 MSU looked like it could hold its own with the best of the best. The Spartans held a two-possession lead on the road over No. 2 Oregon and were looking like they could pull the upset and catapult itself into elite status. However, that quickly changed with Oregon reeling off 28 unanswered points to knock off MSU, 46-27.

VOLLEYBALL

After winless weekend, volleyball remains positive attitude

The Spartans, (4-2 overall) ranked No. 14 as of Sunday, came into the weekend undefeated and ready to prove they could compete with top-25 competition, which will no doubt be the norm in the stacked Big Ten conference. However, after losing to No. 20 North Carolina 3-0 (17-25, 20-25, 22-25) and No. 19 Duke 3-2 (25-12, 22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 10-15) in consecutive nights as part of the ACC- Big Ten Challenge last weekend, MSU will have to regroup.

FOOTBALL

Ducked

It was billed as a heavyweight title fight between two programs that would be in the conversation for the inaugural College Football Playoff in January. On Saturday in Eugene, Ore., one team showed they are ready for the bright lights that shine on elite programs, and one team did not. No. 13 MSU (1-1 overall) lost to No. 2 Oregon 46-27, despite holding a 24-18 halftime lead.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Women's soccer improves to 5-0 with win over IPFW

MSU (5-0 overall) saw new faces make big plays Friday, and the Spartans got out to a quick start against IPFW and never looked back, defeating the Mastadons 3-1 at DeMartin Soccer Complex.Junior midfielder Sarah Kovan scored off of a free kick from junior defender Alexandra Gjonaj in the sixth minute for the Spartans.