Michigan State football hosts Youngstown State at Spartan Stadium on Saturday afternoon, closing the non-conference portion of its 2025 schedule with a chance to begin 3-0 and enter Big Ten play undefeated for the first time since 2021 (outside of the 2020 season that only consisted of conference play).
The Spartans passed their biggest non-conference test with a thrilling 42-40 double-overtime win over Boston College this past Saturday, improving to 2-0 and avenging a loss from last season while displaying plenty of growth as a team.
Still, there are things to watch as MSU looks for a strong close to this portion of the schedule.
Here are three things I'd like to see on Saturday that would assure a Spartan victory.
1. Dominant play on both sides of the ball for four quarters
This seems vague, so let's get into some particulars. In the season opener against Western Michigan, Michigan State clearly looked like the superior team in the first half, but the play in the second half was lackluster, and made a solid win look more challenging than it was.
The response in Week 2 was good, considering it led to a massive win. While the Spartans were outplayed in the first half due to Boston College's passing game and their own turnovers and numerous missed tackles, they ultimately adjusted to allow just six points in the second half and make the winning plays they needed.
Still, the pass defense and some of the protection along the offensive line have made opposing players look too good at times throughout the past two weeks, and playing wire-to-wire and looking like a dominantly superior team (as it should) for all four quarters against an FCS school would be a small sign of progress, even though it should be the expectation.
2. Fewer/no missed tackles
It's nearly impossible to have no missed tackles in a college football game, so the fair expectation would be to have "fewer".
Bad angles and missed tackles were the source of many big plays against Boston College last weekend, particularly in the passing game and on Turbo Richard's touchdown run in the second overtime.
Jonathan Smith has stated that Youngstown and its offense present several challenges for the MSU defense, so getting ball carriers to the ground and wreaking havoc will be crucial. Plus, as a final tune-up game before entering Big Ten play, it would bode well for the defense's confidence before facing some more electrifying offenses later in the season.
Youngstown quarterback Beau Brungard is a true dual-threat, running for almost 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns last season in addition to 2,141 yards and 12 scores through the air. He also has two receivers who may be in contention for FCS All-American selections as the season goes on.
3. Playing as many (healthy) players as possible
This would probably be a good game to sit some guys who are nursing injuries so that they can be as close to 100 percent when conference play starts next week, but Jonathan Smith has stated that won't necessarily be their approach.
Regardless, in games like this, it's great to see as many players as possible get in on the action.
As fans, we like it because it usually means we're winning by a wide margin and we get to see some guys play who we usually don't. But it also has other advantages for the team and the players themselves.
The players get a real taste of college football, possibly even for the first time. Even though it's not against an FBS opponent, the experience gives them some of the reps they need to adjust to the new level, show what they can do, and carve out their respective roles to contribute down the line. It also gives the coaches an idea of what they have on the bench in terms of depth and future contributors.
All of that would be good to see and more than likely point to the Spartans entering Big Ten play at 3-0 with a huge road matchup with USC looming on Sept. 20.