Michigan State found a brutal new way to lose Saturday, and it came in the final minute.
The Spartans had the game lined up at 21-21, got the ball back after Northwestern’s failed fake punt deep in its own territory, and looked poised to finish it off. Instead, a blocked field goal blew up the chance at a win, and Northwestern - with Aidan Chiles leading the way - sprinted right back down the field for the game-winning kick with two seconds left.
It was the second straight game Michigan State lost on the final play. Another gut punch. Another one that leaves you shaking your head at how this team keeps finding heartbreak in new forms, even while clearly getting better.
There were plenty of encouraging signs before the ending, starting with Ben Roberts.
The interior defensive lineman was a wrecking ball all afternoon. Northwestern tried to steer away from him, but that didn’t matter much.
Runs up the middle went nowhere, and when Chiles dropped back, Roberts was in his face. He finished with eight tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks.
For an interior defender, that’s ridiculous. The “Big Worm” was everywhere.
Michigan State’s defense overall was sharp for most of the day, too. The Spartans brought pressure, got tackles for loss, and gang-tackled with purpose, all while missing both starting linebackers and cornerbacks. Down four key defenders, they still played what was probably their best game of the season.
For nearly the entire afternoon, they had Chiles under control.
Then came the final drive.
Chiles, though, got the last word. After spending the first three quarters under heavy pressure from Michigan State’s defensive line, he settled in and delivered when Northwestern needed it most. He led the Wildcats on a quick march with no timeouts and put them in range for the winning field goal.
That was the version of Chiles Michigan State had only seen in flashes in East Lansing - the one who showed signs of being a future NFL quarterback against Iowa and Boston College, but not with much consistency. This time, it showed up when it counted.
Tip of the cap. That was an impressive drive.
Still, for Michigan State, the ending doesn’t erase how hard the defense fought or how dominant Roberts was for most of the game. It just makes the loss sting that much more.
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 2 Encouraging Signs In A Brutal Northwestern Loss
For much of Saturday, Michigan State had enough going on to make the loss sting even more. The Spartans hung with No. 25 Northwestern deep into a close game, and there were real signs that the program is starting to sort out some problems. The defense generated multiple sacks, with Anelu Lafaele, Ben Roberts and Eli Coenen all getting in on the pressure, while Coenen also came through with a blocked field goal that kept the game within reach.
The offense also showed a little more life under Nick Sheridan, whose playcalling helped Michigan State move the ball more consistently than it has at times this season. Even with limited talent, the Spartans found enough rhythm to stay alive into the final stretch before the game turned on a blocked potential go-ahead kick and a late Northwestern field goal. It was still a brutal loss, but for a team trying to find traction, the performances on both sides offered a small bit of encouragement to carry forward. [Read more 🡒]