3 takeaways from Michigan State football's ugly win over Purdue
A questionable spot on a late third-down run followed by a seemingly stuffed quarterback sneak on the following play with two minutes left ended up signaling the end of Purdue's comeback effort against Michigan State football on Friday night. The Spartans hung on for a 24-17 win.
Michigan State built a 24-3 lead in the first half and it looked like it was going to be headed toward blowout territory, but Purdue would not go away.
The Boilermakers made things interesting in the second half, scoring once in the third and once in the fourth quarter while holding Michigan State scoreless. Getting out-scored 14-0 in the second half is disappointing, but it's nothing new for this team. It's been horrendous in the second half all season long and that continued on Friday.
With the win, Michigan State is 5-6 and just one win away from a bowl berth.
What did we learn from this victory over Purdue?
1. It might be time to move on from Brian Lindgren
While I was disappointed in Joe Rossi's defense in the second half, he at least made some adjustments late and brought some much-needed pressure in big-time situations.
Brian Lindgren, on the other hand, was horrible in the final 30 minutes.
The first-year offensive coordinator has been bad in the second half all season long and getting blanked by a 1-9 team in the second half of a must-win game should be the nail in the coffin. Jonathan Smith may give him another chance to start the 2025 season, but his leash needs to be about as long as Allen Iverson's Pistons career.
2. Aidan Chiles continues to make good decisions
For a second straight game, Aidan Chiles remained clean in terms of turnovers. He didn't throw a pick nor did he fumble the ball. OK, he did throw an interception, but it turned out the guy he was throwing to was interfered with and it was called back.
Chiles looks like a better version of himself and outside of the stale play-calling in the second half and the fact that he was running for his life again, he was solid.
The sophomore quarterback was 15-for-31 with 159 yards and two touchdowns with no picks and 26 rushing yards. Over the past two weeks now, Chiles has over 400 yards with four touchdowns and no picks. Progress is being made, decision-making-wise.
3. The secondary keeps getting picked on
If you were looking to bet on passing yards for Purdue's Hudson Card ahead of this game, you would've been faced with an over/under well under 200 yards. And yet he looked like 2019 LSU Joe Burrow, at times, on Friday night. He finished with 342 yards and a touchdown on 26-of-47 completions.
With a handful of guys out for the season, teams have been picking on the secondary week in and week out and it was disheartening to see Ed Woods on the wrong side of some of these plays.
Fortunately, it held on just long enough to secure the win because a dropped sure-touchdown by Jahmal Edrine could've given Purdue this game. Injuries have taken a serious toll on this defensive backfield.