Michigan State’s offense is heading into its first Big Ten road test with plenty to clean up and not much margin for error.
Through four games, the Spartans have put up 30, 35, 10 and 13 points, good for 88 total and an average of 22 points per game. That number leaves MSU 110th nationally and last in the Big Ten, and the picture looks even rougher when the competition gets stronger. Against Power Four opponents, the Spartans are averaging just 11.5 points per game versus Notre Dame and Nebraska.
“The biggest thing that we're working to address is to eliminate the negative plays and protect the football,” offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said at Tuesday's press conference. “And if we do that, then we'll have opportunities to win the games. And if we don't, we won't.”
Turnovers have become part of the problem. MSU gave the ball away only once, on a fumble, during its 2-0 start, but has turned it over five more times since then, including four interceptions. The Spartans’ six total turnovers are tied with Michigan and Wisconsin for the second most in the Big Ten.
The sack total has been even more damaging. MSU allowed five sacks in its first two games, then gave up 10 more over the next two, including six against Nebraska. The Spartans’ 15 sacks allowed are the fourth most in the nation.
That burden falls on both the quarterback and the offensive line, and sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has owned his part of it.
“When you play quarterback, you can't second-guess yourself,” Milivojevic said. “That's when bad plays like sacks and sack fumbles happen, when you're about to throw.”
The passing game has been stuck in neutral, too. MSU is averaging 200.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 105th nationally and last in the Big Ten. Part of that comes from the way the Spartans are built offensively, with 153 rushing attempts and 106 passes, but the staff still wants more efficiency and less forcing the issue.
“Take what the defense gives you,” head coach Pat Fitzgerald said Monday about his quarterbacks. “We're trying to make plays, instead of playing within the framework.”
MSU’s run-heavy approach has not produced matching results. The Spartans are running on 59.1% of their plays, yet they average only 122.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks 114th nationally and fourth-worst in the Big Ten.
Those numbers are inflated by the way sacks are counted, since the NCAA includes them in rushing totals. Milivojevic has minus 100 rushing yards this season, and without those sacks, MSU would be averaging 132.3 rushing yards per game.
The challenge only gets tougher without graduate running back Cam Edwards, the team’s leader in all-purpose yards, who is out for the season. That leaves the backfield in the hands of others, with graduate running back Jaziun Patterson looking like the new starter after carrying 16 times against Nebraska once Edwards went down.
“Part of the next man up opportunity is to be ready for the opportunity when it presents itself,” Fitzgerald said. “And I think Jazz (Patterson), I think Marv (Marvis Parrish), I think that whole room is being very well coached. And I think they're all ready for whatever opportunities present themselves.”
Saturday offers a stiff test for an offense still searching for rhythm. Wisconsin has started conference play strongly on defense, even with 41 points allowed to Notre Dame in Week 1. The Badgers rank 28th nationally in total defense, giving up 275.3 yards per game, and are 22nd in passing defense at 163.8 yards allowed per game.
Wisconsin is coming off a road upset of No. 13 Penn State, a game in which it held the Nittany Lions to 20 points and shut down quarterback Rocco Becht, who went 12 of 29 for 114 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.
It will also be a familiar matchup for Sheridan, who is facing Wisconsin’s defense for the third straight year after his former stop, Alabama, played the Badgers in each of the past two seasons.
“I think there’s a confidence in them executing the scheme,” Sheridan said. “You can just see the evolution of the defense, the development of the players, the continuity there on the staff, and putting the players in positions to be successful.”
MSU (2-2) visits Wisconsin (3-1) for its first Big Ten road game of the season. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3rd at Camp Randall Stadium, and the game will air on Big Ten Network.
In Other News...
Michigan State May Finally Have A New Answer For Its Stalled Offense
Four weeks into Pat Fitzgeralds tenure, Michigan State is still searching for a cleaner offensive rhythm, and the strain has started to show on the other side of the ball as well. The Spartans have not found enough consistency to take pressure off a defense that has been asked to carry too much, so the staff is looking for ways to get more out of the roster it already has.
One possible piece is tight end Carson Gulker, the Ferris State transfer who has drawn notice for his athleticism and versatility. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said Gulker may be in line for more playing time as Michigan State tries to be more efficient with its personnel, though his blocking still needs work before he can become a major factor. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Still Has A Real Path To A Wisconsin Upset
Michigan State heads into its matchup with Wisconsin still looking for answers after a rough stretch, and Pat Fitzgerald knows the margin for error is thin. The Badgers have already shown they can beat a quality opponent, knocking off Penn State and landing just outside the AP Top 25, which makes this a tricky spot for a Spartan team trying to steady itself.
There are still reasons to think Michigan State can make this interesting if it cleans up its own issues and gets help from a few key areas. The Spartans will be leaning more on Jaz Patterson with Cam Edwards injured, and Patterson has already shown he can be productive against Wisconsin, giving Michigan State at least one familiar piece to build around as it tries to find the kind of opening that could turn this into an upset. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Enters Wisconsin With Its Offense Suddenly Under Pressure
Michigan State heads into Wisconsin with its offense facing a new layer of uncertainty after the loss to Nebraska and the season-ending knee injury to leading rusher Cam Edwards. The Spartans have already had to navigate an up-and-down stretch, and now the challenge becomes even more immediate against a Wisconsin team coming off its largest comeback win in two decades against Penn State, a result that has given the Badgers fresh momentum at home.
For Michigan State, the timing is especially tricky because the backfield picture has shifted so suddenly, forcing the staff to reshuffle around Edwards absence. Wisconsins recent surge adds another test, and both coaches have acknowledged the stakes of where each team stands entering the matchup. The Spartans are trying to steady an offense under pressure, while the Badgers are leaning into a strong response after a dramatic victory that changed the tone around their season. [Read more 🡒]