Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State football is not as far off as we thought

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 28, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter as the Ohio State Buckeyes defeat his team at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images
Sep 28, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter as the Ohio State Buckeyes defeat his team at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images / Dale Young-Imagn Images
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Going into the locker room at halftime down 24-7 and then losing 38-7 to Ohio State was a familiar feeling for Michigan State football fans. The Spartans hadn't hung with the Buckeyes in a decade and that was also the last time they beat Ohio State.

But something felt different about Saturday's result.

While the final score was obviously lopsided, Michigan State didn't look overmatched. There was a talent gap that was obvious (Jeremiah Smith's multiple one-handed catches were proof) but the gap wasn't quite as large as we had all expected. Michigan State held its own for the most part.

Sure, the game really got away from the Spartans with a 14-0 second half from Ohio State and 28 unanswered points, but Michigan State never looked like the freshman team playing varsity.

That was a nice change over the past eight, or so, matchups where Ohio State pretty much decided the final outcome by the end of the first quarter.

Heck, you could even argue that Michigan State probably should have been leading at halftime if you look at what transpired. Malik Spencer dropped a sure interception in the end zone which led to an Ohio State touchdown on the ensuing play -- that's seven points that should've been off the board. Jack Velling and Aidan Chiles both fumbled while the Spartans were driving in the red zone (that's at least six points, like 10-plus). And the Spartans were stuffed on a fourth-and-1 while driving in OSU territory (another three points).

Realistically, Michigan State could have been leading 20-17 at the half, at least. And that would have had the nation on notice.

Instead, sloppy mistakes and turnovers deep in Ohio State territory led to a 24-7 halftime score and Michigan State just couldn't catch up in the second half.

All this game did, though, was show that Michigan State isn't that far off. The Spartans were a few avoidable mistakes away from really having Ohio State on the ropes.

Again, no moral victories here, but this team is better than we thought and it should be 4-1 on the year with a Boston College road win, at the very least. Fix these mistakes and turnover issues and this team will be a serious contender in the coming years.

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