Michigan State’s win over Michigan changed the mood around the program in a hurry, and now the Spartans get a chance to see if that feeling can last.
At 3-6 overall and 1-5 in Big Ten play, MSU still has plenty of work left. But after beating Michigan, the Spartans head into a Week 11 matchup with Washington carrying a little more life than they had a week ago. The Huskies are 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the league, and they come in looking like a beatable opponent.
The injury picture is cleaner at quarterback than it was last week. Alessio Milivojevic played through a thumb injury on his throwing hand against Michigan and carried a “questionable” tag all week, but he is not on the availability report this week. The main question is whether the wrap stays on his thumb and whether it affects him at all.
MSU will be without Rodney Bullard Jr., who appears to have suffered a lower-body or hip injury early in the Michigan game. Bryson Williams is expected to handle most of the work at X receiver.
Running back Jaziun Patterson is also “doubtful” with an undisclosed injury that has kept him out the last two games. If he can return, that would matter, but Brandon Tullis - the RB5 - made a strong case for more work with his performance in the Big House.
On the other side, Washington’s defense is solid but not overwhelming. The Huskies rank in the 60s nationally in total defense, rushing defense, and passing defense, and they allow 21.9 points per game, which ranks 45th.
That gives Michigan State a real opening, especially if the Spartans can do better in the red zone than they did earlier this season. Fifteen points on five field goals was enough against Michigan, but that likely won’t cut it here.
Cam Fancher could be part of that answer if he’s available. He was a key piece of MSU’s plan near the goal line earlier in the year before suffering a leg injury at Wisconsin, and he is questionable for Saturday.
Washington’s biggest defensive threat is safety Alex McLaughlin. He has three interceptions, including a pick-six, and he leads the Huskies with 64 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks. Two weeks ago, after that pick-six helped seal Washington’s win at Nebraska, he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
The challenge for Michigan State’s defense is even bigger. The Spartans did a good job bothering Tommy Carr last week, but Demond Williams Jr. is a different kind of test.
He’s more experienced and dangerous when he’s rolling. Williams showed up as “questionable” on Wednesday’s initial availability report, then was upgraded to “probable” the next day.
Elijah Brown is the backup.
Washington wants to throw it around. Jedd Fisch’s team averages 265.1 passing yards per game, which ranks 27th nationally, while the Huskies run for just 99.3 yards per game, 131st in the country. That means Michigan State’s secondary and pass rush will be under the microscope.
Chris Lawson and Dezmen Roebuck are the main receiving threats. Lawson is seventh in the Big Ten with 727 receiving yards on 49 catches. Roebuck has the most receptions on the team with 57, and his production has come more in the short-to-intermediate game, where he’s piled up 539 receiving yards.
MSU may have some help coming back in the secondary, too. Tyran Chappell, the team’s best corner, played a little against Michigan.
Tre Bell and Charles Brantley are questionable for Saturday. Devin Vaught is out, but Aveon Grose has handled the boundary-side safety spot reasonably well.
Even so, Vaught’s run-game instincts are hard to replace.
Ben Roberts is another major name to watch. He is questionable as well, and his status matters a great deal.
After getting hurt at UCLA and leaving the locker room on crutches and in a wheelchair, his season looked over. Roberts has been Michigan State’s best player this year, and whether he suits up changes the feel of the matchup.
This one is tough to sort out. Michigan State’s win over Michigan may have been the breakthrough the program needed, but it’s fair to wonder whether the Spartans can match that level of focus again, or whether the kind of messy game plan that worked last week can be repeated.
Washington has also played better on the road than at home, with wins at Purdue and Nebraska and a close loss at now-No. 18 USC.
The Huskies have more talent and a better roster, but Michigan State has already pushed teams like Northwestern and Illinois close. The call here is that the Michigan win really was a turning point, and that the Spartans find a way again. Liam Boyd ends it with a game-winning field goal at or just before the buzzer.
In Other News...
FAA Grounding Suddenly Puts One Michigan Team In A Tough Spot
The Federal Aviation Administrations grounding of flights across the U.S. has created an unexpected wrinkle for several Michigan sports teams, but Michigan State football is the one suddenly facing the most uncertainty. With Washington still in Seattle, the Spartans upcoming game against the Huskies is now in doubt, turning what should have been a routine week of preparation into a travel problem with real scheduling implications.
Around the state, other teams have already managed to get where they need to be or are sitting tight without immediate travel concerns, including the University of Michigan football and basketball teams, the Detroit Lions, Pistons and Red Wings. For Michigan State, though, the situation is more precarious because the opponents departure remains unresolved, leaving the Spartans waiting to see whether the matchup can stay on track. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Lets Another Big Ten Title Slip Away Late
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Grace Millers nine saves helped keep Purdue alive through the pressure, and the Boilermakers made the most of their chances when it mattered most. Even in defeat, Michigan State had two players recognized for their work over the weekend, with Bella Najera and Renee Watson earning spots on the All-Tournament Team. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Blowout Raised A Bigger Question Fans Still Feel
Michigan States 106-72 rout of Northern Iowa had the kind of offensive pop that can make a November box score look like a statement. The Spartans buried a program-record 18 three-pointers, and freshman Jasiah Jervis added another encouraging sign for the rotation with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, giving the staff a glimpse of how much scoring punch this roster can generate when the shots are falling.
Still, the blowout did not settle the most obvious question hanging over the team. The center spot remains unsettled, with Anton Bonke, Ethan Taylor and McCulloch all getting run but none separating as the clear answer yet. For a team that just flashed so much perimeter firepower, the next layer of growth may depend on whether Michigan State can find a dependable presence in the middle before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]