(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Aidan Chiles, WR Nick Marsh, TE Jack Veiling, OT Ashton Lepo, OT Stanton Ramil, LB Jordan Hall, LB Wayne Matthews III, CB Chance Rucker, FS Malik Spencer, SS Nikai Martinez, and PT Ryan Eckley.
Key Players Departing:
RB/KR Kay’ron Lynch-Adams, RB Nate Carter, WR/PR Montorie Foster Jr., OC Tanner Miller, OG Brandon Baldwin, OG Luke Newman, DE Khris Bogle, DE Anthony Jones, DT D’Quan Douse, LB Cal Haladay, LB Jordan Turner, CB Charles Brantley, CB Ed Woods, NB Angelo Grose, and PK Jonathan Kim.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: CB Joshua Eaton (Texas State transfer), OT Conner Moore (Montana State transfer), DL Derrick Simmons (Frankenmuth, Michigan), and LB Charles White (Orchard Lake, Michigan).
3 Star Recruits: WR Omari Kelly (Middle Tennessee transfer), CB Aydan West (Gaithersburg, Maryland), RB Jace Clarizio (East Lansing, Michigan), EDGE David Santiago (Air Force transfer), EDGE Anelu Lafaele (Wisconsin transfer), and RB Elijah Tau-Tolliver (Sacramento State transfer).
2024 Results:
G01 FLORIDA ATLANTIC W 16-10
G02 @ Maryland W 27-24
G03 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M W 40-0
G04 @ Boston College L 19-23
G05 #3 OHIO STATE L 7-38
G06 @ #6 Oregon L 10-31
G07 IOWA W 32-20
G08 @ Michigan L 17-24
G09 #13 INDIANA L 10-47
G10 @ Illinois L 16-38
G11 PURDUE W 24-17
G12 RUTGERS L 14-41
Misc. Team Information:
2024 Record: 5-7 (14th in Big Ten)
Home: 4-3
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 3-6
Non-B10: 2-1
Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
Michigan State: 5-7
Bowls: 1-1
Career: 39-42
(Photo Credit: USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Aidan Chiles (192-323, 2415 yards, 59.4%, 7.5 avg., 13 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing: Aidan Chiles (97 car., 225 yards, 2.3 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Nick Marsh (41 rec., 649 yards, 15.8 avg., 3 TD)
TDs Scored: Aidan Chiles/Nick Marsh (3)
Sacks: Anthony Jones (2)
Tackles: Nikai Martinez (51)
Tackles For Loss: Anthony Jones (4)
Interceptions: Nikai Martinez (2)
Pass Deflections: Jordan Hall/Nikai Martinez/Malik Spencer (2)
Forced Fumbles: Malik Spencer (1)
Kick Returns: Alante Brown (3 ret., 80 yards, 26.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Tank Ahmetbasic (0-0 fg/fga.,0%, 1-1 xp/xpa., 1 point)
Punting: Ryan Eckley (43 punts, 2060 yards, 47.9 avg., 6 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 2 Aidan Chiles (JR/TR)
RB: 4 Elijah Tau-Tolliver (RS SR/TR)
WR: 6 Nick Marsh (SO)
WR: 1 Omari Kelly (SR/TR)
WR: 13 Chrishon McCray (RS JR/TR)
TE: 12 Jack Velling (SR/TR)
LT: 65 Stanton Ramil (RS SO)
LG: 71 Kristian Phillips (RS SO)
OC: 51 Matt Gulbin (RS SR/TR)
RG: 60 Luka Vincic (RS JR/TR)
RT: 58 Conner Moore (RS JR/TR)
KR: 13 Chrishon McCray (RS JR/TR)
PK: 40 Tarik Ahmetbasic (RS SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 9 Jalen Thompson (JR)
DT: 91 Alex VanSumeren (RS JR)
DT: 16 Grady Kelly (RS SR/TR)
DE: 41 David Santiago (RS SO/TR)
LB: 10 Wayne Matthews III (RS SR/TR)
LB: 5 Jordan Hall (JR)
NB: 3 Jeremiah Hughes (JR/TR)
CB: 25 Chance Rucker (JR)
CB: 7 Joshua Eaton (RS SR/TR)
FS: 43 Malik Spencer (SR)
SS: 1 Nikai Martinez (SR/TR)
PR: 1 Omari Kelly (SR/TR)
PT: 96 Ryan Eckley (RS JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/30 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | Michigan State leads the series 15-2. The Spartans are 4-0 since 2015, and they won (35-13) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
09/06 BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES | Michigan State trails the series 1-5-1. The Spartans lost (19-23) last season’s meeting, and they lost (21-24) the prior meeting in 2007.
09/13 YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS | Michigan State leads the series 3-0. The Spartans won (42-14) the last meeting in 2021, and they won (55-17) the prior meeting in 2013.
09/20 @ USC Trojans | The series is tied 4-4. The Spartans won (17-16) the last meeting in 1990, and they won (20-17) the prior meeting in 1987.
10/04 @ Nebraska Cornhuskers | Michigan State trails the series 4-9. The Spartans are 2-2 since 2015, and they won (23-20) the last meeting in 2023.
10/11 UCLA BRUINS | The series is tied 3-3. The Spartans lost (14-56) the last meeting in 1974, and they lost (21-34) the prior meeting in 1973.
10/18 @ Indiana Hoosiers | Michigan State leads the series 50-19-2. The Spartans are 6-4 since 2015, and their last series win (24-21) was in 2023.
10/25 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES | Michigan State trails the series 38-74-5. The Spartans are 4-6 since 2015, and their last series win (37-33) was in 2021.
11/01 @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | Michigan State leads the series 30-19. The Spartans lost (12-27) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost 7-34) the prior meeting in 2022.
11/15 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS | Michigan State trails the series 18-19-1. The Spartans are 4-5 since 2015, and they lost (0-42) the last meeting in 2023.
11/22 @ Iowa Hawkeyes | Michigan State trails the series 23-25-2. The Spartans are 3-2 since 2015, and their last series loss (16-26) was in 2023.
11/29 MARYLAND TERRAPINS | Michigan State leads the series 11-4. The Spartans are 6-3 since 2015, and their last series loss (9-31) was in 2023.
Predictions:
Home: 5-2
Road: 0-5
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 2-7
Non-B10: 3-0
Overall: 5-7 (15th in B10)
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