The Only Colors: All Posts by Paolo Giannandreahttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49231/onlycolors-fave.png2022-11-16T18:30:00-06:00https://www.theonlycolors.com/authors/paolo-giannandrea/rss2022-11-16T18:30:00-06:002022-11-16T18:30:00-06:00Get To Know The Opponent: Indiana
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<img alt="Penn State v Indiana" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/R7Pjk0YThjO0J3eK030vo6_Qe9c=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71638428/1440341954.0.jpg" />
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<p id="OLjgD5"><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> (5-5, 3-4 in Big Ten play) remains in East Lansing as it prepares to host Indiana on Saturday at noon Eastern Time on the Big Ten Network.</p>
<p id="2mrdAi">Here, we take a look at MSU’s opponent as the Spartans’ hope to <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/11/12/23455361/notes-quotes-michigan-state-spartans-keeps-chopping-in-its-quest-for-a-bowl-game">clinch a bowl berth</a> with a win this weekend. The Old Brass Spittoon is also on the line. </p>
<p id="709fG1"><strong>School: </strong>Indiana University</p>
<p id="NXBJXr"><strong>Nickname: </strong>Hoosiers</p>
<p id="kmQSlg"><strong>Location: </strong>Bloomington, Indiana</p>
<p id="7ofnum"><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Tom Allen. In his seventh year with the Hoosiers, Allen posts a 29-39 record. After departing from South Florida after one year as the Bulls’ defensive coordinator. Allen has led Indiana to three bowl appearances, most recently the Outback Bowl in 2020 following Indiana’s surprise 6-2 season fueled by the heroics of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is now the signal caller for the <a href="https://www.uwdawgpound.com">Washington Huskies</a>. </p>
<p id="bvXfWM">After starting the season with victories over Big Ten West co-leader Illinois, Idaho and Western Kentucky, the Hoosiers have dropped seven-straight games. Indiana now sit at the bottom of the Big Ten East standings at 1-6 in conference play and 3-7 overall. Indiana is also yet to gain a victory on the road.</p>
<p id="xkSs0N"><strong>Series History: </strong>MSU leads 49-16-2. Following a 24-0 shutout at the hands of IU in East Lansing in 2020, MSU eked out a 20-15 victory in Bloomington in the most recent meeting in 2021.</p>
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<strong>Players to Watch</strong>: </h2>
<h3 id="XEYkl7"><strong>Connor Bazelak </strong></h3>
<p id="cJSFyH">Indiana likes to throw the ball. Junior quarterback Connor Bazelak’s 384 attempts are good for 2,111 yards and 12 touchdowns on the year, but he’s completing it at just a 54.9 percent clip. Bazelak’s also thrown nine interceptions to his 12 scores and has been susceptible to being taken down, sustaining 23 sacks on the year for 195 yards lost on sacks.</p>
<h3 id="6XlVCG"><strong>Dexter Williams II</strong></h3>
<p id="zNcdSI">Fellow quarterback Dexter Williams II has provided an occasional spark for IU, throwing for 148 yards and rushing for 70 yards in limited attempts in each category. Williams could draw the start on Saturday, but that remains to be seen. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">With Connor Bazelak at QB, IU’s offense had 15 yards and no first downs on three drives. With Dexter Williams in, he has a 16-yard run, a 49-yard bomb to Andison Coby and a touchdown pass to A.J. Barner.<br><br>This begs the question: why on earth was he not starting? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iufb?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iufb</a></p>— Patrick Felts (@patrickjfelts) <a href="https://twitter.com/patrickjfelts/status/1591487183294435329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2022</a>
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<h3 id="xQcZoB"><strong>Shaun Shivers and Josh Henderson</strong></h3>
<p id="fS67XM">Indiana’s lead running back Shaun Shivers posts 419 yards rushing and four scores. He’s been able to break it open for a 47-yard score in a season where he averages 3.7 per carry. IU truly does it by committee, though, featuring Josh Henderson quite a bit also. Henderson has eclipsed 300 yards on 4.4 per carry for three touchdowns.</p>
<h3 id="waEpgF"><strong>Pregame Trends</strong></h3>
<p id="IqKqno">MSU opened as a 12.5-point favorite, but the line now sits at MSU (-10), <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/football/87637?wpcid=163240&wpcn=Inarticle&wpscn=CFB&wpsrc=Vox">according to DraftKings</a>. The Spartans are clearly heavy favorites coming off two-straight wins for the <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/11/13/23456268/michigan-state-spartans-football-2022-takeaways-from-the-win-over-rutgers-scarlet-knights">first time since September</a>.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Last one in the Woodshed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoGreen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoGreen</a> <a href="https://t.co/lWJyEvLef8">pic.twitter.com/lWJyEvLef8</a></p>— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSU_Football/status/1592970940589412358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2022</a>
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<h3 id="ZOi8YN"><strong>Synopsis</strong></h3>
<p id="5AkxA5">Indiana has struggled this year, especially on the road. The Spartans have become galvanized in a sense following their loss to Michigan three weeks ago. There was a point earlier this year where many couldn’t see MSU favored in another matchup the rest of the season, but the past two games have proven otherwise. With a bowl berth on the line for MSU and a home crowd in East Lansing for senior day, this matchup bodes well for the Spartans vying for their sixth win on the year.</p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/11/16/23463420/get-to-know-the-michigan-state-opponent-indianaPaolo Giannandrea2022-11-03T18:00:00-05:002022-11-03T18:00:00-05:00Get To Know The Opponent: Illinois
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Illinois at Wisconsin" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZI5ycFjn5HOIsSZWq8sW3C8UBxU=/0x0:3276x2184/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71582202/usa_today_19154998.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="q55eUr"><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> continues its road stint as the Spartans travel to face No. 16-ranked Illinois at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday on the Big Ten Network. </p>
<p id="VeIPF0">Here is a bit about the Spartans’ next foe as MSU aims to earn bowl eligibility with just four games left.</p>
<p id="fImePR"><strong>School</strong>: The University of Illinois </p>
<p id="2ACGOG"><strong>Nickname</strong>: Fighting Illini </p>
<p id="PYprqK"><strong>Location</strong>: Champaign, Illinois</p>
<p id="5zjDZj"><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Bret Bielema. In his second season at Illinois, Bielema posts a 7-1 record so far this year for a combined record of 12-8 at Illinois after going 5-7 in 2021. After seven straight winning seasons at Wisconsin from 2006 through 2012, Bielema — who was once considered a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Michigan State in 2020 — went on to coach at Arkansas from 2013 through 2017 before ultimately returning to familiar Big Ten West territory in 2021.</p>
<p id="PKlHLK"><strong>Series History</strong>: Michigan State leads the series with a 26-19-2 record in the matchup dating back to 1955.</p>
<h2 id="GJ0NEE"><strong>Things and Players to Watch</strong></h2>
<p id="MdYleG">Illinois comes into the contest sporting the No. 1 defense in both yardage and points allowed, edging <a href="https://www.obnug.com">Boise State</a> and Michigan for the top spot as the Illini have allowed just 224.5 yards and about 8.9 points per game. For reference, MSU ranks 109th in total defense, allowing 424.9 yards per game. The Illini have won six straight games after falling to Indiana by three points in their second game of the season. </p>
<h3 id="OIUvQo"><strong>Tommy DeVito</strong></h3>
<p id="HvCfBP">The senior quarterback, after transferring from Syracuse prior to this season, has enjoyed an efficient campaign so far, posting over 1,500 yards on 72.5 percent passing. He has taken good care of the ball, too, throwing just two interceptions compared to his 12 touchdowns. </p>
<h3 id="ubUfCS"><strong>Chase Brown</strong></h3>
<p id="uiMoVU">The Spartans don’t get a break with the opponent’s ground game in this one either. In fact, running back Chase Brown <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/individual/469">leads the nation</a> with 1,208 rushing yards. This total isn’t earned by just brute force either, as the junior tailback has been extremely efficient, rushing for 5.4 yards per attempt.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/chasebrown____?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chasebrown____</a> <br>1,208 yards rushing - national leader<br>36 carries of 10+ yards - national leader<a href="https://twitter.com/Sydbrown___?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sydbrown___</a> <br>3 interceptions<br>34 tackles <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Illini?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Illini</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HTTO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HTTO</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/famILLy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#famILLy</a> <a href="https://t.co/SORmyhQhKQ">pic.twitter.com/SORmyhQhKQ</a></p>— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/status/1588244712523468800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2022</a>
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<p id="lqTy5Q">The Spartans’ defense, while holding up better than most expected <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/11/1/23434822/notes-quotes-michigan-state-spartans-recovering-after-rivalry-loss-moving-forward-to-illinois">against Michigan</a>, allowing 29 points, faces another balanced attack paired with a stiff defense.</p>
<h2 id="GztG7Q"><strong>Josh McCray</strong></h2>
<p id="3DI1KK">The sophomore running back sustained a leg injury in Illinois’ first win of the season versus Wyoming. <a href="https://twitter.com/MihirChavan_">Mihir Chavan</a> of the <a href="https://www.thechampaignroom.com">Champaign Room</a> expects McCray to <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/11/3/23438553/5-questions-with-the-champaign-room-are-the-fighting-illini-for-real-michigan-state-illinois">present the latter piece of a nice on-two punch for Illinois</a>. McCray has broken off splash plays when healthy and could prove detrimental for a Michigan State defense that could spend even more time on the field that it did last week.</p>
<h3 id="AD0cf2"><strong>Synopsis</strong></h3>
<p id="5ntm4N">This is probably the soundest Illinois team Michigan State has faced in years. Facing a solid offense and following the <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/11/1/23435684/michigan-state-spartans-football-suspends-another-four-players-for-postgame-incident-at-michigan">suspension of multiple players</a> on the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans’ offense will likely have to keep up in order to have a shot in this game. </p>
<p id="EIZEjC">In <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/31/23419565/film-room-michigan-state-spartans-versus-michigan-wolverines">Michigan State’s rivalry matchup</a> with Michigan last week, the Spartans attempted to do the same, but they scored just seven points. This week, MSU faces a more formidable defense in Illinois. Sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman was the sole bright spot on offense last week, going for 155 yards and and the Spartans’ only touchdown. MSU may look to him once again to carry the load.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://twitter.com/keoncoleman6?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@keoncoleman6</a> is on the rise<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RELENTLESS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RELENTLESS</a> <a href="https://t.co/QCZ4rOu1pz">pic.twitter.com/QCZ4rOu1pz</a></p>— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSU_Football/status/1587525596342427650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2022</a>
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<p id="tLNsoa">This one won’t get any easier for Michigan State. Illinois could very well cover the 17-point spread in a comfortable victory in front of its home crowd.</p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/11/3/23439633/get-to-know-the-opponent-illinois-fighting-illini-michigan-state-spartansPaolo Giannandrea2022-10-19T15:45:00-05:002022-10-19T15:45:00-05:00Michigan State Football: Coming back to Earth, getting hopes up during bye week
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<img alt="Syndication: Detroit Free Press" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tlCQtfQjn2aLvyiJqGcxhWLdpgY=/0x0:2400x1600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71517713/usa_today_17078660.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>What does MSU have going for it? What are the challenges heading into rivalry week?</p> <p id="VyKZUo">Nearly every exclamation I heard around East Lansing Saturday went something to the tune of “Get to the bye week. Regain some momentum and get healthy before heading to Ann Arbor to play the Michigan Wolverines.”</p>
<p id="o74BSr">The <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State Spartans</a> seemingly accomplished all of these with a<a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/15/23406364/michigan-state-spartans-defeat-wisconsin-badgers-in-double-overtime-ends-four-game-losing-streak"> double overtime win over Wisconsin</a>. MSU got key defensive pieces back, <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/17/23407946/film-room-wisconsin-badgers-vs-michigan-state-spartans-big-ten-victory">redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne got in sync</a> with his targets for 265 yards and two touchdowns, and it felt like the <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/16/23406658/notes-quotes-michigan-state-spartans-finally-shows-resilience-in-victory-over-wisconsin-badgers">locker room regained the morale</a> it ceded during a four-game skid.</p>
<h3 id="bfTzu8"><strong>Tangible Advantages</strong></h3>
<p id="8TQLMA">Rivalry week has started — much earlier than usual.</p>
<p id="pN41Au">Michigan and <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> will meet in two weeks as each comes off of a bye for the first time in the series’ history.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">For the first time in their 115th meetings, MSU and Michigan both will play each other coming out of a bye week. Kickoff is 12 days away, about 290 long hours from now. <a href="https://t.co/h6uWd7oJ8Y">https://t.co/h6uWd7oJ8Y</a></p>— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrissolari/status/1582115596010803200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2022</a>
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<p id="NCjKD0">Debates of 2021 Kenneth Walker or 2022 Blake Corum’s superiority have sprung up. Iconic moments of the rivalry are being resurfaced. Buddies from the opposing school have already become a temporary enemy. The vitriol is in full effect, yet we still have to wait until Oct. 29. </p>
<p id="gf3ATh">But the bye week might be the only tangible advantage MSU has heading into Ann Arbor. </p>
<p id="6BwnBh">Fifth-year senior safety Xavier Henderson and redshirt senior defensive tackle Jacob Slade returned from injury last Saturday and made obvious how sorely they were missed. Henderson resumed his on-field captaincy and orchestrated constant adjustments in the defensive backfield. The resulting 131 passing yards ceded were the lowest a Mel Tucker-coached Michigan State team has allowed. Slade’s presence in the middle complemented redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Simeon Barrow en route to a sack and helped to keep a solid Wisconsin rush attack at bay (152 total yards).</p>
<p id="sFPJwg">Perhaps most notably, senior linebacker <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/18/23411289/michigan-state-spartans-jacoby-windmon-named-bronko-nagurski-national-defensive-player-of-the-week">Jacoby Windmon</a> returned to his natural linebacker position and his Week-One self, recording 11 tackles, intercepting a pass and forcing a fumble in double overtime that set MSU up for the win.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Saturday night <a href="https://twitter.com/JW1NDMON?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JW1NDMON</a> became the first MSU player with 10+ Tackles, a TFL, an INT & a FF since <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBach35?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBach35</a> October 7, 2017 @ Michigan. Both were named B10 DPOW<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBTJordan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBTJordan</a> <a href="https://t.co/fZBm7G7Lcb">pic.twitter.com/fZBm7G7Lcb</a></p>— John (@FromEastLansing) <a href="https://twitter.com/FromEastLansing/status/1582361179510296576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2022</a>
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<p id="8wcTww">The Spartans still missed a myriad of contributors on defense against Wisconsin, though. Senior safety Kendell Brooks, whose contributions anchored the defense in Henderson’s absence, did not dress. Senior defensive end Khris Bogle failed to play once again after exiting against Minnesota with an injury. Freshman safety Jaden Mangham missed the contest after sustaining a head/neck injury against <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a>. Junior defensive end Jeff Pietrowski Jr. also did not appear. Redshirt sophomore cornerback Marqui Lowery Jr. has been out for a few weeks. There are more injuries the team is dealing with as well. </p>
<p id="hTgVzL">Point being, for MSU, and specifically its defense, the bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. </p>
<p id="8xK64o">Other than that, while competent pass coverage has been hard to come by, sophomore cornerback Charles Brantley has been a bright spot for the defense, continuing to work against the opponent’s toughest assignment. The Florida native recorded a crucial sack as he came flying in on Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz in the second half. </p>
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<cite>Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK</cite>
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<p id="ythPPi">Brantley headlines a group of underclassmen defensive players attempting to plug the many holes of this Michigan State defense. Freshman safety Dillon Tatum nearly had a pick, and freshman defensive end Zion Young manned a still shorthanded line throughout the contest against the Badgers.</p>
<p id="L9g7S2">A defense as young as MSU’s has become due to the injuries could realize more upside with continued reps and a much-needed week off. </p>
<h3 id="ScOrmq"><strong>Obvious Obstacles</strong></h3>
<p id="8Mjio3">Michigan holds advantages seemingly everywhere else, including the nation’s No. 7 scoring offense (42.7 points per game) and the No. 9 rush offense (241.7 yards per game). Michigan State does hold a slight advantage in the passing game at 242.9 yards per game over Michigan’s 231.9. </p>
<p id="Sa4Kbm">While strength of schedule might have cautioned some to take Michigan’s offensive numbers with a grain of salt, the Wolverines made a statement Saturday, as Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum each eclipsed 150 yards in a top-10 victory over Penn State, which posted the nation’s fifth-best rush defense heading into the contest. Michigan finished with 418 yards rushing. The Wolverines’ ground game is for real.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Harbaugh on prep entering the bye week: "We’re going to practice four times this week and it’s all going to be (focused on) Michigan State."</p>— Tony Garcia (@RealTonyGarcia) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealTonyGarcia/status/1582153115624620033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2022</a>
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<p id="ldqiSF">The latest installment of the rivalry will <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/17/23395298/michigan-state-football-at-michigan-set-for-7-30-p-m-kickoff-on-abc">take place under the lights</a>, and of course, in Michigan’s home stadium. All signs point to this matchup being in favor of the Wolverines by at least three scores, perhaps by even more than they were favored in a <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2020/10/31/21543661/spartans-stun-the-wolverines-to-bring-paul-bunyan-home-to-east-lansing">loss to MSU in 2020</a>. While Michigan evidently came unprepared that day, it seems UM’s coaches and players alike have honed in on the importance of the rivalry — that is usually Michigan State’s calling card in this game.</p>
<h3 id="QoYJ7r"><strong>Bye Week Conjecture</strong></h3>
<p id="a4pkHV">Michigan State has won the last two meetings, both times as the underdog, to complete a stretch of 10 victories in 14 games for the Spartans. In the last matchup, MSU used tempo against Michigan to garner penalty yardage and propel Kenneth Walker III to five scores. The year prior, offensive coordinator Jay Johnson exploited Michigan’s secondary to produce a career day for wide receiver Ricky White. </p>
<p id="PREJUe">Tucker will have to be sharper than he was at the end of regulation against Wisconsin to take down a national title hopeful. His team showed resilience and pulled out a victory, though.</p>
<p id="DOPlyR">“Obviously things have been tough this year...we never lost confidence in each other,” redshirt senior receiver Jayden Reed said <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/16/23406658/notes-quotes-michigan-state-spartans-finally-shows-resilience-in-victory-over-wisconsin-badgers">following the win</a>.</p>
<p id="10j8mZ">That’s all we asked heading into Ann Arbor. </p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/19/23412228/michigan-state-spartans-football-coming-back-to-earth-getting-hopes-up-during-bye-weekPaolo Giannandrea2022-10-13T18:00:00-05:002022-10-13T18:00:00-05:00Get to Know the Opponent: Wisconsin
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Wisconsin at Northwestern" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/64eJvZ9ozCROkOHv7Wjpom9_xQY=/0x0:4486x2991/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71492300/usa_today_19201364.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="nty5yw"><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> (2-4) looks to tally the win column for the first time since the second week of the season as it prepares to face <a href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com">Wisconsin</a> (3-3) on Saturday in East Lansing. Wisconsin comes into Spartan Stadium following a 42-7 victory over Northwestern, while MSU looks to defend its home turf after failing to do so against <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a> in a <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/10/23395123/film-room-ohio-state-buckeyes-vs-michigan-state-spartans">49-20 defeat</a>.</p>
<p id="UhVT6q"><strong>School: </strong>University of Wisconsin</p>
<p id="vJe76v"><strong>Nickname: </strong>Badgers</p>
<p id="XULFwD"><strong>Location: </strong>Madison, Wisconsin</p>
<p id="Fd1rZv"><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Jim Leonhard takes over as the interim head coach after the Badgers fired Paul Chryst, who finished with a 67-26 record in his eighth season.</p>
<p id="RDuLO1"><strong>Series History:</strong> MSU leads 30-24. The last time these schools met, Wisconsin featured a stable of running backs headed by the reigning NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor en route to a 38-0 blowout win, the largest margin of victory in the series’ history. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MSU v. Wisconsin History: <br><br>➡️MSU leads all-time series 30-24<br>➡️Last meeting: '19, MSU lost 38-0, the largest margin of defeat by either team<br>➡️MSU is 17-7 against UW in EL<br>➡️This is the first time since '09 that both teams are unranked in this game<br>➡️Spread is currently MSU +7.5 <a href="https://t.co/nkmjzOuRNj">pic.twitter.com/nkmjzOuRNj</a></p>— Anthony (@TheRealSharty) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealSharty/status/1580526718795726848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2022</a>
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<h3 id="AEmgOK"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></h3>
<p id="K3kLzx">Wisconsin junior quarterback <strong>Graham Mertz</strong>, while underperforming thus far in his career with respect to his recruiting profile, holds career highs in completion percentage (64.3 percent) and touchdown throws (13) after only six games this year. He just shredded Northwestern for 299 yards and five touchdowns last week. </p>
<p id="YjUeR1">Sophomore running back <strong>Braelon Allen</strong> comes off a freshman season eclipsing 1,200 yards and has continued his solid performance this year, running for 634 and six scores, exactly on pace to match his freshman totals of 1,268 with 12 scores. He comes off 135 yards against Northwestern.</p>
<p id="9ecq2l">Mertz’s increased competence numbers-wise suggests Wisconsin will showcase more versatility than in past years, as the Badgers are traditionally viewed as a “ground and pound” unit. Wisconsin could <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/27/23374269/why-michigan-state-spartans-second-straight-loss-was-predicable-after-just-two-series">follow in Minnesota’s footsteps</a>, which, without its best wide receiver, came into Spartan Stadium and discarded its reputation as a run-first team in the first half to jump to and early advantage and never look back. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">G-MONEYYYYY <a href="https://t.co/eqDtuaD00X">pic.twitter.com/eqDtuaD00X</a></p>— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/BadgerFootball/status/1580247025815539712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2022</a>
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<h3 id="K9fkFd"><strong>Pregame Trends</strong></h3>
<p id="tJBnwH">Wisconsin opened as a five-point favorite and is now listed as an even heavier road favorite now (-7.5). This is pretty telling considering the Spartans’ desperation status, as they seemingly need a victory for a chance at a postseason berth, and have home field advantage on homecoming weekend.</p>
<h3 id="ojEb0O"><strong>Synopsis</strong></h3>
<p id="Tn6iIL">The numbers don’t lie, but Michigan State needs this one. The Spartans will capitalize on possibly the best home field influence MSU will see for the remainder of this season and extend hope for a bowl bid. </p>
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https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/10/13/23403549/getting-to-know-the-opponent-wisconsin-badgers-michigan-state-spartansPaolo Giannandrea2022-09-28T11:00:00-05:002022-09-28T11:00:00-05:00Get To Know The Opponent: Maryland
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Maryland at Michigan" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/L72eLhF-IRDZifTDJaTatA0o_ko=/0x0:3223x2149/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71426268/usa_today_19106535.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="uv0sTj"><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> (2-2) looks to end its two-game skid in College Park against Maryland (3-1) on Saturday in its second game of conference play.</p>
<p id="NLj4jd"><strong>School</strong>: University of Maryland</p>
<p id="ii9zU9"><strong>Nickname: </strong>Terrapins</p>
<p id="QG5fUY"><strong>Location</strong>: College Park, Maryland</p>
<p id="tJME3H"><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Michael Locksley</p>
<p id="xIURLV"><strong>Series History: </strong>MSU leads 10-2. The Spartans have won the <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/27/23373319/spartan-football-playback-michigan-state-versus-maryland-2018">last four meetings</a>, including a 40-21 home victory last season.</p>
<p id="0YFcNN">Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa lived up to his family legacy and billing as a recruit in a breakout season in 2021, setting school records in three categories, including passing yards with 3,860, and tying the school’s record for passing touchdowns with 26.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Locksley says Taulia Tagovailoa and Rakim Jarrett will be "game-day decisions." Says he doesn't want to divulge too much information, but they're progressing well.</p>— Emily Giambalvo (@EmilyGiam) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmilyGiam/status/1574793296710451205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2022</a>
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<p id="JLHS0p">Tagovailoa suffered a hit against Michigan last week that prompted a short exit from a contest in which Maryland enjoyed a brief lead before eventually falling 34-27, leaving his status ahead of Saturday unknown. Wide receiver Rakim Jarrett is also a “game-day decision” for this weekend’s game. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Taulia Tagovailoa and Maryland are hanging with Michigan, but the QB gets hurt on this play <a href="https://t.co/jQRDcKcRXV">pic.twitter.com/jQRDcKcRXV</a></p>— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) <a href="https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/1573738320051445761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
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<p id="1YyECI">The junior signal-caller would pose another formidable matchup for a struggling MSU defense, especially with his ability to make plays with his legs, as he was efficient on the ground against Michigan for 20 yards on four rushes. So far in 2022, Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,102 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. </p>
<h3 id="Mqp3Sb"><strong>Pregame Trends</strong></h3>
<p id="ZhIX3T">Following two straight weeks of prophecy from Las Vegas’ sportsbooks, in which the Spartans settled around three-point underdogs versus Washington and Minnesota, Michigan State opened as a seven-point underdog this week, according to <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/football/87637?wpcid=163240&wpcn=Inarticle&wpscn=CFB&wpsrc=Vox">DraftKings</a>. Maryland (-7.5) is clearly considered a strong home favorite this weekend as each side looks to rebound from a loss.</p>
<h3 id="S13OBL"><strong>Synopsis</strong></h3>
<p id="ILnhFW">Maryland’s passing attack has been solid this year with Tagovailoa under center, recording nearly 300 yards through the air per game. Michigan State have <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/25/23371526/michigan-state-spartans-football-2022-takeaways-from-the-loss-to-minnesota">struggled defensively</a>, especially when defending the pass, allowing an average of 332.5 yards in its last two games. While his status is up in the air, it seems Tagovailoa will be ready to play, even if he is less than 100 percent. If Tagovailoa is ready to go, MSU will likely struggle in pass coverage once again, and likely continue to play from behind, which will be an even tougher task to overcome on the road.</p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/28/23376089/get-to-know-the-opponent-maryland-terrapins-michigan-state-spartansPaolo Giannandrea2022-09-27T19:45:00-05:002022-09-27T19:45:00-05:00Why Michigan State’s second-straight loss was predicable after just two series
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<img alt="Minnesota v Michigan State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oDRTlN1bc7zxhg7823_PtrA7O3c=/0x0:5400x3600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71423891/1427007145.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>“There’s really nothing that happens out there that shocks me, just because I’ve just seen too much football,” Mel Tucker said. </p> <p id="HpjCwQ">Following an 11-win season for <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> in head coach Mel Tucker’s second season, you could’ve expected some recession, some setbacks, but a 2-2 start would’ve come as a surprise.</p>
<p id="szdWcU">But in the past two weeks, Michigan State <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/25/23371895/michigan-state-drops-out-of-coaches-poll">dropped out of the polls</a> from No. 11 nationally after enduring consecutive losses by a <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/25/23370574/notes-quotes-michigan-state-spartans-players-search-for-answers-following-loss-to-minnesota">combined score of 73-35</a>, the <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/22/23356844/spartan-reacts-michigan-state-fans-dejected-after-loss">former of the defeats</a> coming as the initial reality check and the latter confirming that neither loss was a fluke.</p>
<p id="22xN9E">“There’s really nothing that happens out there that shocks me, just because I’ve just seen too much football,” Tucker said following the loss to Minnesota Saturday.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tucker: “There’s really nothing that happens out there that shocks me, just because I’ve seen too much football.”</p>— The Only Colors (@TheOnlyColors) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOnlyColors/status/1573815850498461696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
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<p id="ynC0XK">Though a wholistic lens, it’s a bit more understandable. The Spartans lost a running back in Kenneth Walker III whose importance I’d argue continues to prove greater with time, as he made house calls out of seemingly broken plays. Couple this with injuries to Xavier Henderson and <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/5/23338035/michigan-state-spartans-linebacker-darius-snow-out-for-season">Darius Snow</a>, and MSU’s secondary, which ranked dead-last a year ago and appears to be trending that way again, may give its predecessor a run for its money.</p>
<p id="e1dyiV">Maybe this is what Tucker was alluding to postgame. </p>
<p id="88FNBu">What was surprising, though, was the seemingly innovative Tucker, along with offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, opting for routes that produced just five yards per reception during a first half in which the Spartans endured a three-score deficit. </p>
<p id="1zlRSl">Known to prefer the run, Minnesota came out firing on its first drive without its best receiver (Chris Autman-Bell), displaying adaptability in throwing the ball on three of its first four plays, and opting for an even split of run and pass en route to an easy score. </p>
<div id="8BJJdw">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A telling quote from Jacoby Windmon on defensive scheme: "We expected them to run, they came out with another game plan. But we've got to execute whatever they do."</p>— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattcharboneau/status/1573831424012009472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2022</a>
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<p id="v7p3kI">MSU, on the other hand, countered with two rushes for a total of four yards and a short completion for three more yards for a three-and-out. Minnesota marched to a score again, and the Spartans also repeated for an empty one-series possession.</p>
<p id="iWCSh4">“I think it’s a rhythm thing,” redshirt junior receiver Tre Mosley said. “If we can’t get in a rhythm, it’s hard to call deep shots, because defenses are sitting back and they’re allowing us to catch things underneath, but they’re playing over the top.”</p>
<p id="J9vXBw">This is where Tucker’s thoughts postgame become ever-more telling. The Spartans no longer reserve the luxury to get in rhythm with a dynamic running game. Although it was clear MSU’s offensive line was producing average results at best, the Spartans continued to line up as if they remained the superior unit on the field, and that the run game would produce enough to make a game of a three-score deficit.</p>
<p id="9hetrC">It felt like an expression of futility, that the Spartans do not have the talent in place yet, much like Tucker expressed after a loss to <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a> last year. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mel Tucker at the podium: “We’re not good enough on either side of the ball not to play complementary football. We’re not good enough to leave it to one side or the other.”</p>— The Only Colors (@TheOnlyColors) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOnlyColors/status/1573813679040200704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
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<p id="3ELxEw">“We’re not good enough on either side of the ball to not play complimentary football,” Tucker continued.</p>
<p id="cFxKmo">MSU still had ample opportunity to get back into the contest, but the bits of momentum produced on offense were eventually curtailed by a turnover or a route run harmlessly shy of the line to gain.</p>
<p id="E7HtDO">This notion came to a head as the first half waned away. The Spartans, still down 17-0 with under five minutes to play, had the chance to mitigate the deficit significantly. On third-and-10 at its own 45-yard-line, Michigan State opted for a three-yard curl to sophomore receiver Keon Coleman in what seemed like four-down territory. Instead, the Spartans trotted out the punt team to boot away the ball and — considering MSU’s defensive struggles — their chances in the contest.</p>
<p id="bfZAaE">Michigan State (2-2) lines up for a consecutive “<a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/26/23373436/spartan-reacts-will-michigan-state-spartans-reach-bowl-game">gut check</a>” contest as it travels to College Park to face Maryland (3-1) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.</p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/27/23374269/why-michigan-state-spartans-second-straight-loss-was-predicable-after-just-two-seriesPaolo Giannandrea2022-09-25T08:30:00-05:002022-09-25T08:30:00-05:00Notes & Quotes: Michigan State players searching for answers
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<img alt="Syndication: Lansing State Journal" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JimI8lF3lGjNHVVXnCniyEMI6QU=/0x0:2000x1333/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71412799/usa_today_19109815.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>“After a loss like that, there’s really not much to say,” Payton Thorne said. </p> <p id="WCBqgd"><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne entered Spartan Stadium’s media room, perused the lights and cameras awaiting him, and exhaled.</p>
<p id="HYOeV0">He settled and prepared to answer for himself and his team after suffering a<a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/24/23370339/michigan-state-spartans-completely-dominated-by-the-minnesota-golden-gophers-34-7"> 34-7 blowout loss to Minnesota</a> at home. As <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/24/23370524/notes-quotes-michigan-state-spartans-mel-tucker-says-im-really-not-happy-with-what-im-seeing">head coach Mel Tucker</a> noted that it’s easy to “fly off the handle” after losses like the one his Spartans endured Saturday night, he largely deferred to watching film to explain MSU’s miscues. Thorne followed suit.</p>
<p id="NPEIme">As Thorne aptly put in the postgame press conference, “After a game like this, there’s not really much to say.” </p>
<h3 id="cfgtGT"><strong>Moving forward</strong></h3>
<p id="yF0NyI">As Thorne attempted to provide some substance in an otherwise empty showing for the Spartans, he was asked on the team’s outlook on moving forward after being doubled-up in two-straight losses by a combined score of 73-35.</p>
<p id="slhdJV">“Good teams and teams that are families — they come together during tough times and they move forward together,” Thorne said. </p>
<p id="Rbg8A3">Thorne posted two interceptions and a fumble, the latter coming inside Minnesota’s 10-yard-line as Michigan State put together its first drive into the red zone early in the second half. He finished with a final stat line of 17-for-24 for 132 yards with the three turnovers and no scores.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Payton Thorne: “We weren’t good enough through the air… That starts with me.”</p>— The Only Colors (@TheOnlyColors) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOnlyColors/status/1573810268060225536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
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<p id="U7BG0C">“We didn’t do enough will the ball tonight when we had it,” Thorne continued. “We needed to do better job on third down. We weren’t good enough through the air. We need to get the ball in the end zone. That starts with me.”</p>
<h3 id="mE8Co0"><strong>Slow Start(s)</strong></h3>
<p id="wCuT1D">Although Michigan State found itself in another three-score deficit early on, the Spartans had ample opportunities to claw back into the contest. </p>
<p id="rpYBF8">Where last week Washington jumped to a three-score lead before MSU answered with points, Minnesota did the same, but the Spartans could only move the ball into the red zone before turning it over. Michigan State found its only points late in the fourth quarter, after the game was already decided, when backup quarterback Noah Kim connected with true freshman wide receiver Germie Bernard on a 27-yard-yard score in garbage time. </p>
<p id="gEnFzi">“It feels like we’ve done some things well here and there, but all of it clicking at once, it hasn’t really felt like that,” Thorne said of the offense. “It feels like every time we’re rolling, there’s a little setback… Obviously that first drive of the second half, we’re rolling, we’re rolling, we’re rolling, and then fumble.” </p>
<p id="zSwAOS">Michigan State senior linebacker/defensive end Jacoby Windmon also spoke to the media following the loss. </p>
<p id="dtRtGp">“It kind of reminded me of last week,” Windmon said of MSU’s start. “But that’s in the past, and we were expected to come out here and play better ball this week.”</p>
<p id="DAl5q9">Windmon forced a fumble in a defensive effort that saw the Spartans cede 286 passing yards to Tanner Morgan, allowing the Gophers quarterback to rush for 27 more on three attempts in instances where MSU again lost contain in critical spots. Mohamed Ibrahim led Minnesota with 103 yards rushing and a touchdown.</p>
<div id="yeCrCe">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A telling quote from Jacoby Windmon on defensive scheme: "We expected them to run, they came out with another game plan. But we've got to execute whatever they do."</p>— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattcharboneau/status/1573831424012009472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2022</a>
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<p id="RnyEOf">On Michigan State’s aforementioned drive that brought the Spartans deep into Minnesota territory before the fumble, MSU completed a pass on three of its first four plays run on first down, two of which moved the chains. It seemed to mirror the week prior as MSU refrained from throwing the ball beyond the sticks until it found itself down three scores.</p>
<p id="FxGq9R">“I think it’s a rhythm thing, redshirt junior wide receiver Tre Mosley said. ‘If we can’t get in a rhythm, it’s hard to call deep shots, because defenses are sitting back and they’re allowing us to catch things underneath, but they’re playing over the top.</p>
<p id="VPhgPE">“It’s definitely hard to stay warm and be ready to go out there when the opposing team is managing the ball so well,” Mosley continued. “You still have to stay focused.”</p>
<h3 id="ToA3Oc"><strong>Redefined Goals</strong></h3>
<p id="vHKCwc">Retaining focus will likely be increasingly difficult after suffering two losses through four games, which historically eliminates teams from contention in the College Football Playoff. </p>
<div id="TyvVxf">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MSU's defense allowed 508 total yards to Minnesota, the sixth time giving up 500+ and 15th time allowing 400+ in 24 games under coordinator Scottie Hazelton. Spartans gave up 503 at Washington last week.</p>— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrissolari/status/1573835391978721280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2022</a>
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<p id="0fpI5F">When greeted by reporters, Windmon described his attitude following the game as “day by day.”</p>
<p id="x71EEI">Through Michigan State’s first two contests, Windmon recorded 5.5 sacks and appeared to be the answer the Spartans sought to create pressure on the quarterback. Of course, the <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/22/23356844/spartan-reacts-michigan-state-fans-dejected-after-loss">last two weeks</a> resemble each other also, as Windmon failed to record a sack in each contest, and MSU struggled to generate pressure or get off the field on third downs.</p>
<p id="0HgHWb">Mosley mentioned that MSU’s Big Ten aspirations are still in front of the team following last week’s loss to Washington, which they still are, but those aspirations took a hit following a loss in the Spartans’ first conference game.</p>
<p id="Qjk4XK">“It takes maturity and experience to know that it was a bad day, but don’t throw everything down the drain because of one bad day,” Mosley said. “You still have to keep your head up.”</p>
<p id="TdX0XE">Mosley finished the game with three catches for 28 yards. Redshirt junior Cade McDonald led the Spartans with 31 receiving yards on three catches, while sophomore Keon Coleman (25 yards) and redshirt senior Jayden Reed (21 yards) led MSU in receptions with four each. </p>
<p id="CcuAR6">Senior safety Kendell Brooks summed it up in the tweet below, saying Minnesota didn’t do anything “special,” but MSU still wasn’t able to stop the Gophers. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kendell Brooks: “They didn’t do anything special. We just got to get off the field on third down.”</p>— The Only Colors (@TheOnlyColors) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOnlyColors/status/1573819719068549120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2022</a>
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<p id="itTgSi">When asked about vocal leaders in the locker room, Mosley quickly pointed them out. </p>
<p id="U2lv75">“Myself, and Jayden (Reed), of course, Xavier Henderson, Jacoby Windmon,” Mosley said. “We have a lot of guys who are local leaders, so it goes a long way. It shows that guys care.</p>
<p id="hYT3sm">“Football season is a long roller coaster ride,” Mosley continued. “There’s going to be some ups, there’s going to be some downs. But keeping sight on what our end goal is the only way you can get through tough times like this.”</p>
<p id="NcE6CS">Michigan State (2-2) will prepare to visit College Park to face Maryland (3-1) Oct. 1 at 3:30 p.m.</p>
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https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/25/23370574/notes-quotes-michigan-state-spartans-players-search-for-answers-following-loss-to-minnesotaPaolo Giannandrea2022-09-18T13:20:00-05:002022-09-18T13:20:00-05:00Michigan State falls out of AP Poll top-25, No. 21 in Coaches Poll
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Michigan State at Washington" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aGD6g8kakMN6O1WfchSbG1SQsjQ=/0x0:4861x3241/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71384210/usa_today_19070745.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="x2TEq6">Three Big Ten teams are ranked in the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll"><strong>Associated Press Top-25</strong></a> rankings this week. <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/"><strong>Michigan State</strong></a> fell out of the rankings from No. 11 following its<a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/17/23358679/michigan-state-spartans-passing-defense-exposed-in-39-28-loss-to-washington-huskies"> 39-28 loss to Washington</a>. Meanwhile, the Huskies makes a debut in the poll at No. 18. Three other Big Ten teams received votes, including Michigan State.</p>
<p id="8lu4XG"><strong>Full AP Results:</strong></p>
<p id="yRs1H2">1. Georgia (59 first-place votes)</p>
<p id="17uZnq">2. Alabama (3)</p>
<p id="80lNYr">3. <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com"><strong>Ohio State</strong></a> (1)</p>
<p id="9tcdOq">4. <strong>Michigan</strong></p>
<p id="beW1KK">5. Clemson</p>
<p id="R95oZA">6. Oklahoma</p>
<p id="IeeZdu">7. Southern California</p>
<p id="lUzJUo">8. Kentucky</p>
<p id="fjoFBq">9. <a href="https://www.cowboysrideforfree.com">Oklahoma State</a></p>
<p id="0DZh44">10. Arkansas</p>
<p id="KdWPSV">11. Tennessee</p>
<p id="xAlbhi">12. North Carolina State</p>
<p id="845Ctp">13. Utah</p>
<p id="pVGkNZ">14. <strong>Penn State</strong></p>
<p id="6jHZIc">15. Oregon</p>
<p id="Yz4vir">16. Mississippi</p>
<p id="Ys2H2l">17. Baylor</p>
<p id="Bb09bR">18. Washington</p>
<p id="gjVfwi">19. Brigham Young</p>
<p id="GSDsns">20. Florida</p>
<p id="Csdcbc">21. <a href="https://www.bloggersodear.com">Wake Forest</a></p>
<p id="TTY4Pi">22. Texas</p>
<p id="LCgQJD">23. <a href="https://www.goodbullhunting.com">Texas A&M</a></p>
<p id="c7Sz0U">24. Pittsburgh</p>
<p id="3TtBzY">25. Miami</p>
<p id="wJeM5e">Others Receiving Votes:</p>
<p id="3zDjlF"><strong>Michigan State 91</strong>, <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a> 85, Appalachian State 77, North Carolina 72, <a href="https://www.cougcenter.com">Washington State</a> 62, Cincinnati 52, <a href="https://www.buildingthedam.com">Oregon State</a> 49, <strong>Minnesota 48</strong>, Kansas 23, Syracuse 7, <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com">LSU</a> 6, <strong>Wisconsin 4</strong></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="mNBjxf">
<p id="0VUUZf"><strong>USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll</strong></p>
<p id="ybyp0U">The Big Ten features four teams in the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/polls/coaches-poll/"><strong>Coaches Poll top-25</strong></a> rankings. Michigan State fell 12 spots to No. 21. Two other Big Ten teams are receiving votes, while the East Division once again sports all four of the Big Ten teams ranked.</p>
<p id="SG48n6"><strong>Full Coaches Poll Results:</strong></p>
<p id="GW62kq">1. Georgia (40 first-place votes)</p>
<p id="OcN118">2. Alabama (24)</p>
<p id="sXyqz7">3. <strong>Ohio State</strong> (1)</p>
<p id="NIBLe6">4. <strong>Michigan</strong></p>
<p id="VIFIpd">5. Clemson</p>
<p id="bz4jlx">6. Oklahoma</p>
<p id="7UeTa4">7. Southern California</p>
<p id="Qp1Lg3">8. Oklahoma State</p>
<p id="Ebgeft">9. Kentucky</p>
<p id="urYUf9">10. Arkansas</p>
<p id="vmVDy3">11. North Carolina State</p>
<p id="QWmGaU">12. Tennessee</p>
<p id="1ei482">13. Mississippi </p>
<p id="Jt7s2Z">14. Utah</p>
<p id="zniIdh">15. <strong>Penn State</strong></p>
<p id="E9bNpU">16. Wake Forest</p>
<p id="tQNVUB">17. Baylor</p>
<p id="c2ju1u">18. Oregon</p>
<p id="JkGRFG">19. Texas</p>
<p id="N5IOsb">20. Texas A&M</p>
<p id="xfWHtK">21. <strong>Michigan State</strong></p>
<p id="tVGtWi">22. Florida</p>
<p id="kwfgsv">23. Brigham Young</p>
<p id="nwL4p8">24. Washington</p>
<p id="awSdqF">25. Miami</p>
<p id="kd0EQk">Schools Dropped Out:</p>
<p id="awFD9z">No. 25 Pittsburgh</p>
<p id="UHyLiT">Others Receiving Votes:</p>
<p id="gegMQM">Pittsburgh 210; Florida State 107; Appalachian State 68; Oregon State 57; Washington State 55; Cincinnati 37; Syracuse 24; <strong>Minnesota 24</strong>; <a href="https://www.widerightnattylite.com">Iowa State</a> 15; North Carolina 12; Texas Christian 7; Kansas 5; <strong>Wisconsin 4</strong>; Air Force 4; <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a> 2; <a href="https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com">Mississippi State</a> 2; Louisiana State 2; Duke 2; East Carolina 1; Coastal Carolina 1.</p>
<p id="Gy4Ilu"></p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/18/23359623/michigan-state-spartans-fall-out-of-ap-poll-top-25-no-21-in-coaches-pollPaolo Giannandrea2022-09-14T20:00:00-05:002022-09-14T20:00:00-05:00Get To Know The Opponent: Washington
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Kent State at Washington" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7tfYmKFv6PZh7-rwsRQLigIlpFE=/1x0:3492x2327/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71369236/usa_today_18986454.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="nLBWrb">No. 11/9 <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> (2-0) heads to Seattle to take on Washington (2-0) this Saturday for its first Power Five matchup of the 2022 season. This game should be a true road test and a barometer for where the Spartans stand this season, much like its <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2021/9/18/22681305/notes-quotes-mel-tucker-and-michigan-state-spartans-prepared-to-go-into-15th-round-miami-hurricanes">tilt with Miami (FL.) a year ago</a>.</p>
<p id="ZhgFXS"><strong>School: </strong>University of Washington</p>
<p id="35crEv"><strong>Nickname: </strong>Huskies</p>
<p id="dfGRnh"><strong>Location</strong>: Seattle, Washington</p>
<p id="b7SgtB"><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Kalen DeBoer (first season) comes from Fresno State after a 9-3 campaign in his second season with the Bulldogs.</p>
<p id="aky1lT"><strong>Series History: </strong>Washington leads 2-1. MSU got the best of its Saturday counterpart in 1969, but Washington has won the last two matchups, including the last meeting in 1997 in the Aloha Bowl.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Highest graded Quarterbacks under pressure from Week 1:<br><br> Michael Penix Jr: 93.2<br> Hunter Dekkers: 92.5<br> Caleb Williams: 92.1 <a href="https://t.co/gOLohodiL9">pic.twitter.com/gOLohodiL9</a></p>— PFF College (@PFF_College) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1567182587231100931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a>
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<p id="QM93gL">Many East Coast and fair-weather college football fans may not know much about the Huskies — and many also wonder why Washington (-3) is now favored to win, <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/football/87637?wpcid=163240&wpcn=Inarticle&wpscn=CFB&wpsrc=Vox">according to DraftKings</a>. </p>
<h3 id="zFFNME"><strong>Players to watch</strong></h3>
<p id="cm1d1K">Most notably, the Huskies acquired a highly-skilled transfer in Michael Penix Jr., the former dual-threat quarterback from Indiana. He’s thrown at nearly a 70 percent clip (69.7 percent through two games) for six touchdowns coming into a matchup featuring a secondary attempting to shed Michigan State’s porous reputation after posting the nation’s worst pass defense last year. Washington also posts the nation’s third-best average of 571 offensive yards per game.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This throw from Mike Penix Jr. <a href="https://t.co/jIZBpKhIHH">pic.twitter.com/jIZBpKhIHH</a></p>— Derek Peterson (@dr_petey) <a href="https://twitter.com/dr_petey/status/1568713447122034688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2022</a>
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<p id="ANN7Hh">Former Michigan wideout Giles Jackson leads Washington with 237 all-purpose yards, proving himself as a receiver and a capable return man. As another note, current Michigan State true freshman wide receiver Germie Bernard was briefly enrolled at Washington before coming to East Lansing in January. </p>
<h3 id="qkVDOU"><strong>Pregame Trends</strong></h3>
<p id="znfTCL">Michigan State opened as the favorite (-1), but that line has now “crossed the bridge” that is seemingly seldom recrossed. This could be in part due to Spartan quarterback Payton Thorne’s looking out of sync through two games, posting a 57.7 percent completion rate, although the second-year starter began to show flashes of last year on deep balls. </p>
<p id="yqAyXW">Washington’s position as the favorite might also credit mounting injuries for MSU, as fifth-year senior safety Xavier Henderson and redshirt receiver senior Jayden Reed’s availability are unknown, along with <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/5/23338035/michigan-state-spartans-linebacker-darius-snow-out-for-season">junior linebacker Darius Snow being out for the year</a>.</p>
<p id="cazl0P">However, Washington sits <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/24/p2">outside the top-50</a> in the nation in rush yards allowed per contest with 114 yards per game. This bodes well for MSU, which has continued its emphasis of the ground game with redshirt sophomore Jalen Berger leading the charge (227 yards on 6.7 yards per carry with four touchdowns) and Jarek Broussard (135 yards on 5.4 yards per carry and two touchdowns). </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Couple notes on Washington as I continue my research<br><br>- Michael Penix hasn't been sacked once yet this year <br>- UW ranked No. 1 nationally in pass D a year ago, but lost 2 NFL DBs in the top-2 rounds. Allowing 11.6 yards/completion this yr<br>- Huskies ranked 108th in run D in '21</p>— Stephen Brooks (@StephenM_Brooks) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenM_Brooks/status/1569691590003937281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2022</a>
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<h3 id="GZvSBm"><strong>Synopsis</strong></h3>
<p id="FSqR3d">Michigan State has tangibly improved its pass rush from a year ago, currently leading the nation in sacks with 12, and transfers on the defensive line as well as the defensive backfield have seemingly improved the Spartans’ pass defense. How much it has improved remains to be seen Saturday, but expect MSU’s passing game to return to form and its running game to remain steady and control the ball, while its defense disrupts Washington’s passing attack for the first time this season.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Penix Jr against MSU:<br><br>58-80 (72.5%), 606 YD, 5 TD, 2 INT<br>Completed 20 passes in a row at one point<br><br>So far this season he is 46-66 (69.7%) for 682 YD, 6 TD, 1 INT<br><br>Am I worried? Well I'm not NOT worried... </p>— Anthony (@TheRealSharty) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealSharty/status/1569451681447919617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2022</a>
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https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/14/23354072/getting-to-know-the-opponent-washington-huskies-michigan-state-spartansPaolo Giannandrea2022-09-11T13:14:28-05:002022-09-11T13:14:28-05:00Michigan State No. 11 in AP Poll top-25 rankings, No. 9 in Coaches Poll
<figure>
<img alt="Syndication: Lansing State Journal" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0akCvirjU0u3ZUONQAV1JZFdBcU=/0x1:2000x1334/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71352889/usa_today_19023517.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>Michigan State moved up three spots in the Associated Press Poll this week.</p> <p id="lmBzVz">Four Big Ten teams are ranked in the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">Associated Press Top-25</a> rankings this week. <a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> moved up three spots to No. 11. Most notably at the top, Georgia jumped Alabama for the No. 1 spot. Three Big Ten teams also received votes.</p>
<p id="8lu4XG">Full AP Results:</p>
<p id="yRs1H2">1. Georgia (53 first-place votes)</p>
<p id="17uZnq">2. Alabama (9)</p>
<p id="80lNYr">3. <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com/"><strong>Ohio State</strong></a> (1)</p>
<p id="9tcdOq">4. <strong>Michigan</strong></p>
<p id="beW1KK">5. Clemson</p>
<p id="R95oZA">6. Oklahoma</p>
<p id="IeeZdu">7. Southern California</p>
<p id="lUzJUo">8. Oklahoma State</p>
<p id="fjoFBq">9. Kentucky</p>
<p id="0DZh44">10. Arkansas</p>
<p id="KdWPSV">11.<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com"><strong>Michigan State</strong></a></p>
<p id="xAlbhi">12. Brigham Young</p>
<p id="845Ctp">13. Miami</p>
<p id="pVGkNZ">14. Utah</p>
<p id="6jHZIc">15. Tennessee</p>
<p id="Yz4vir">16. North Carolina State</p>
<p id="Ys2H2l">17. Baylor</p>
<p id="Bb09bR">18. Florida</p>
<p id="gjVfwi">19. Wake Forest</p>
<p id="GSDsns">20. Mississippi</p>
<p id="Csdcbc">21. Texas</p>
<p id="TTY4Pi">22. <strong>Penn State</strong></p>
<p id="LCgQJD">23. Pittsburgh</p>
<p id="c7Sz0U">24. Texas A7M</p>
<p id="3TtBzY">25. Oregon</p>
<p id="wJeM5e">Others Receiving Votes:</p>
<p id="3zDjlF">Marshall 85, Cincinnati 80, Appalachian State 80, Kansas State 77, North Carolina 71, Mississippi State 43, Florida State 42, Oregon State 42, Minnesota 37, Washington State 30, Notre Dame 23, Air Force 19, Texas Tech 17, Wisconsin 7, Auburn 4, Iowa State 4, Purdue 1</p>
<p id="OkUwqd"><strong>USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll</strong></p>
<p id="ybyp0U">The Big Ten features four teams in the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/polls/coaches-poll/">Coaches Poll top-25</a> rankings. Michigan State jumped two spots to No. 9. Two other Big Ten teams are receiving votes, while the East Division sports all four of the Big Ten teams ranked.</p>
<p id="SG48n6">Full Coaches Poll Results:</p>
<p id="GW62kq">1. Alabama (39 first-place votes)</p>
<p id="OcN118">2. Georgia (25)</p>
<p id="sXyqz7">3. <strong>Ohio State</strong> (1)</p>
<p id="NIBLe6">4. Clemson</p>
<p id="VIFIpd">5. <strong>Michigan</strong></p>
<p id="bz4jlx">6. Oklahoma</p>
<p id="7UeTa4">7. Oklahoma State</p>
<p id="Qp1Lg3">8. Southern California</p>
<p id="Ebgeft"><strong>9. Michigan State</strong></p>
<p id="urYUf9">10. Kentucky</p>
<p id="vmVDy3">11. Arkansas</p>
<p id="QWmGaU">12. North Carolina State</p>
<p id="1ei482">13. Miami</p>
<p id="Jt7s2Z">14. Brigham Young</p>
<p id="zniIdh">15. Utah</p>
<p id="E9bNpU">16. Tennessee</p>
<p id="tQNVUB">17. Mississippi</p>
<p id="c2ju1u">18. Wake Forest</p>
<p id="JkGRFG">19. Baylor</p>
<p id="N5IOsb">20. Texas</p>
<p id="xfWHtK">21. Florida</p>
<p id="tVGtWi">22. Texas A&M</p>
<p id="kwfgsv">23. <strong>Penn State</strong></p>
<p id="nwL4p8">24. Oregon</p>
<p id="awSdqF">25. Pittsburgh</p>
<p id="kd0EQk">Schools Dropped Out:</p>
<p id="awFD9z">No. 9 Notre Dame; No. 18 Wisconsin.</p>
<p id="UHyLiT">Others Receiving Votes:</p>
<p id="gegMQM">Florida State 85; Cincinnati 80; Appalachian State 50; Air Force 48; Kansas State 46; Wisconsin 43; Marshall 40; Notre Dame 35; Mississippi State 31; Washington State 29; Houston 25; Texas Tech 24; Oregon State 24; Minnesota 23; Texas Christian 18; Auburn 16; North Carolina 10; Syracuse 7; Washington 6; UCLA 4; Iowa State 4.</p>
https://www.theonlycolors.com/2022/9/11/23347631/michigan-state-no-11-in-ap-poll-top-25-rankings-no-9-in-coaches-pollPaolo Giannandrea