The 2025 Michigan State football season is off to an interesting start. The Spartans are 3-0 with a win over Boston College, but there are some fans who believe the undefeated start is a mirage.
Sure, struggling defensively against Youngstown State and then watching Boston College lose to a really bad Stanford team raised some questions, but Michigan State has taken care of each team on its schedule to this point in the season, and USC awaits in Week 4.
Michigan State has improved in some key statistical categories, while still struggling in others a quarter of the way through the regular season.
Here are three key stats that are worth keeping an eye on.
1. Aidan Chiles 6:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio
Last season through three games, Aidan Chiles had a 1:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. This year, it's drastically better. Chiles has six touchdowns to just one interception through three games, and that one pick was a tipped pass to a defensive lineman. It wasn't completely his fault, and it wasn't because of a bad throw. Pressure just got to him too quickly.
Seeing him improve his decision-making and protect the ball better has been a pleasant sight, but he needs to keep that up. If he does, Michigan State will be going bowling.
2. Turnover ratio (-1)
This is the one negative statistic that I don't think has been talked about enough through the first three games. Michigan State holds a negative turnover ratio through three games, forcing three while giving away four. The Spartans have lost three fumbles and have thrown an interception while picking off two passes and recovering one fumble.
That's just not going to cut it moving forward. Teams with negative turnover ratios usually don't compete late in the season.
3. Points per game (37.3)
While this ranks just 45th in the country, it's drastically better than what the Spartans did a year ago. In fact, the 37.3 points per game is nearly double what the Spartans put out last season. They averaged just 19.3 points per game in 2024, which was good for 123rd nationally. As you already know, that led to a lot of struggles and turmoil throughout the year.
If Michigan State can flirt with 30 points per game throughout the season, we might be looking at a team that can jump up and surprise some people.