Michigan State walked away with a brutal loss to Northwestern, but the Spartans still found a few places to hang their hat after a 24-21 finish that turned on a blocked field goal and a late collapse in the secondary.
The biggest bright spot was a pass rush that had been missing for most of the previous three games. MSU had gone without a sack in that stretch, but against No.
25 Northwestern, the Spartans got into the backfield three times in the first half alone. Two of those hits came from third-year rush end Anelu Lafaele, who made his presence felt in the kind of situations where he can be at his best.
His first sack came on a third-and-goal from the 15, a clear passing down. Lafaele got around the edge quickly and forced a fumble, though Northwestern was still able to recover it. He struck again just before halftime, ending a Wildcats one-minute drill before it could really start.
Michigan State also got a big outing from its defensive tackles, a group that has been one of the more dependable parts of the defense this season. Ben Roberts and Eli Coenen both delivered in ways the Spartans badly needed. Coenen got a sack in the first half and later blocked Northwestern’s 41-yard field goal attempt, two plays that, on an EPA basis, may have been worth 3-4 points for MSU’s defense.
Roberts was just as disruptive in the run game. He was credited with three tackles for loss and two sacks, and he kept showing up around other plays too, shrinking the Wildcats’ gains or blowing them up entirely.
On the other side of the ball, Nick Sheridan had one of his better days as Michigan State’s playcaller. That stands out because his decision on the two-point conversion against Illinois still lingers, and not in a good way.
This time, though, his offense had a better rhythm. It still wasn’t a unit that looked fully explosive, but it did move the ball with more consistency and created some occasional chances downfield.
MSU likely would have pulled this one out if Alessio Milivojevic had connected on a few more deep throws.
In Other News...
Michigan State Just Entered A Big Ten Recruiting Fight Up Front
Michigan State has added another name to its board up front, extending an offer to Illinois high school standout Ben Coleman, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound hybrid tight end and blocker whose recruiting profile has already put him on the radar of several programs. Coleman is viewed as one of the more highly rated prospects in his state and nationally, which makes this the kind of battle the Spartans have to stay active in if they want to keep pace in the Big Ten trenches.
What makes Coleman especially interesting is the way his game blends size with versatility, giving him a profile that could fit a few different offensive roles depending on how a staff wants to use him. With other schools involved and his recruitment still unfolding, Michigan State is now part of a competition that figures to keep growing as more programs press their case for one of the regions more intriguing blockers. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Needs Unsung Spartans To Step Up Vs Northwestern
Michigan State is heading into its matchup with Northwestern with the kind of lineup uncertainty that forces depth pieces into the spotlight. With injuries affecting several spots, the Spartans will need more than their headline names to hold up, and that puts added pressure on players like running back Jaziun Patterson and the offensive line tandem of Rakeem Johnson and Robert Wright Jr. in a game where every clean snap and steady assignment matters.
On the other side of the ball, the margin for error looks just as thin. Defensive end Kenny Soares Jr. and cornerbacks Jeremiah Favorite and KJ Deriso are among the players who may have to absorb bigger roles, and Michigan State needs that next wave of Spartans to look ready quickly. The challenge now is whether those unsung players can stabilize the depth chart in time to keep the matchup from turning into a test of survival. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Showed One Encouraging Sign In Another Big Ten Loss
Michigan States latest Big Ten trip brought the expected grind against top-ranked Maryland, and for long stretches the Spartans were forced to defend rather than generate much at all. The Terrapins controlled the flow in a 4-0 win, piling up the kind of shot and penalty-corner edge that usually leaves little room for an underdog to breathe.
Lola Munoz de Verger at least gave Michigan State a steadier backbone in goal, turning away nine attempts and keeping the score from getting out of hand earlier. Maryland still broke through across the second, third and fourth quarters, but the Spartans can point to their keepers performance as one of the few encouraging signs from a night that otherwise felt familiar in conference play. [Read more 🡒]