Before each Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes' upcoming opponent.
Michigan State
Spartans
This week, Ohio State hosts Michigan State in a primetime NBC matchup that lacks the usual luster considering the Spartans have nosedived following the firing of Mel Tucker following sexual misconduct allegations and enter the contest 3-6.
To help break down the matchup, we're joined by Matt Wenzel of MLive, who discusses what's gone wrong for the Spartans on the field so far, but also provides insight into where the future of the program could be headed.
Obviously, Michigan State has been through no shortage of turmoil this season both with the dismal on-field play and the firing of Mel Tucker in September. It’s a loaded question with a lot of potential answers, but what exactly in your estimation has gone so wrong for Michigan State that it is staring a potential three- or four-win season in the face two years removed after going 11-2?
Matt Wenzel: There’s a lot to unpack here but let’s start with that 2021 season. Michigan State overachieved and a big reason was having the best running back in the nation emerge in Kenneth Walker III. When the Walter Camp Player of the Year (he absolutely should have been a Heisman finalist invited to New York) is in the backfield, that covers up a lot of problems. He also boosted a passing attack that included a trio of NFL receivers in Jalen Nailor, Jayden Reed and now-Florida State star Keon Coleman. The Spartans were also 5-0 in games decided by 10 points or less and that magic never lasts.
Since then, losing key playmakers to the NFL or transfer, a slew of injuries and suspensions have all played factors in the decline to the 8-13 record following the Peach Bowl victory. Tucker kept hammering the portal for talent but was not able to hit the lottery again and the same in-game issues have lingered. This year’s team has one of the toughest schedules in the nation and the Spartans didn’t help themselves by blowing fourth-quarter leads at Iowa and Rutgers.
So, what day should we mark on our calendar for the Urban Meyer introductory press conference? Kidding aside, what candidates do you think Michigan State will have interest in and which are the most likely fit for the job?
Wenzel: Given how Tucker’s tenure ended, a coach without much (or any) baggage should absolutely be a priority and Meyer would be the complete opposite of that. And for all his talk about running a meat and potatoes program and a hatred for flair, Tucker was the $95-million man wearing clothes that fit the salary with a flashy social media presence. He finished with one winning season and a 20-14 record.
The on-field success Mark Dantonio had will be incredibly difficult to replicate for another Michigan State coach but athletic director Alan Haller has a unique background in making the hire. He was a standout defensive back for the Spartans who played in the NFL, spent more than a decade in law enforcement and was part of the committee that picked Dantonio. Aside from the social media chatter about Meyer, Haller has kept the search very quiet. Duke’s Mike Elko and Kansas’ Lance Leipold would be among those who seem to fit, if they could be pried away.
Whoever MSU ends up hiring, what do they have to fix first to get this team in bowl contention next season?
Wenzel: For starters, Haller needs to have a new coach locked up right about the time the regular season ends. It will be a critical time to salvage a 2024 recruiting class that now includes only nine players with the early signing period from Dec. 20 to 22.
Acquiring talent, however, takes a backseat to retaining it. Whoever is Michigan State’s next coach needs to quickly evaluate the roster and decide which players they must put the full-court press on to stay in East Lansing with their vision for the program. Although the Spartans have declined the last two seasons on the field, there’s a good amount of talent on the roster. In that group are veterans with eligibility remaining and those from the previous two recruiting classes, including true freshmen and sophomores now starting and a pair of former four-star quarterbacks.
I suppose we can actually talk about the upcoming game as well. With Michigan State’s offense ranking 123rd nationally in scoring offense and 113th in total offense, is there any path to moving the ball on Saturday against Ohio State’s defense?
Wenzel: In short, it doesn’t look good. Michigan State hasn’t had consistent quarterback play and already used a trio of players at the position in Noah Kim (first five starts) and Katin Houser (last four starts) while true freshman Sam Leavitt has appeared in four games total and threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass in each of the last two.
Leavitt will burn a redshirt if he plays another snap this season and it remains unclear if he will be available moving forward or shut it down for the fall. Kim hasn’t played since being benched and wasn’t in uniform for the last two games while dealing with what interim coach Harlon Barnett said is an injury. That means the Spartans could head to Columbus with only one healthy scholarship quarterback, which would obviously be far from ideal.
Michigan State doesn’t have an established game-breaking receiver and the running game has mostly struggled against Power Five competition. Nathan Carter, a transfer from UConn, provided a spark early in the season but it has been tough sledding in the Big Ten as the workhorse in a very shorthanded backfield.
While Michigan State is middle of the road nationally in a decent amount of defensive categories, Ohio State’s offense has had its own issues. How can the Spartans slow down OSU offensively?
Wenzel: I’m sure they aren’t disappointed it won’t be C.J. Stroud/Justin Fields (and down the list) at quarterback for the Buckeyes, although Kyle McCord is obviously talented. Attempting to slow down Ohio State will start in the run game against TreVeyon Henderson and Michigan State has been decent in that area when not worn down by a huge negative time of possession (see the fourth quarter at Minnesota).
So, to stick with the usual cliches, be stout against the run, keep the Buckeyes off schedule and force turnovers. A year after ranking last in the nation with only two interceptions, the Spartans have nine through nine games and have recovered six fumbles. Bringing consistent pressure on McCord would also be an obvious priority and the Spartans tied a season high with seven sacks last week against Nebraska. However, that was after they had only eight sacks in the previous six games combined.
Who are some playmakers on offense and defense Ohio State fans should look out for on Saturday?
Wenzel: Offensively, it will start with Houser, who had a strong first career start at Rutgers but hasn’t effectively moved the offense since. He went nine quarters without leading a touchdown drive before throwing for a score last week. The availability of Leavitt, who has provided a spark with his arm and legs, is also worth watching. Montorie Foster leads the team in receiving and Barnett said starting tight end Maliq Carr will return Saturday after missing the last two games. Carter is the one to watch in the backfield.
Defensively, the Spartans have some players up front of note, including standout tackle Simeon Barrow, while true freshman end Jalen Thompson (who had an Ohio State offer) has emerged the last couple games and posted two sacks and a forced fumble last week. Michigan State has a pair of veteran linebackers in Cal Haladay and Aaron Brule and true freshman Jordan Hall looks like a future All-Big Ten performer, if he sticks with the program. Michigan State has a young but promising secondary that includes a pair of sophomore starters at safety in Jaden Mangham (four interceptions) and Malik Spencer along with sophomore cornerback Dillon Tatum and true freshman Chance Rucker.
The Buckeyes have won the last seven meetings in this series, and Saturday will be a rare night game in November at Ohio Stadium. How do you see this contest playing out and give us a score prediction if you have one.
Wenzel: Michigan State’s resolve amid adversity the last two months is admirable but it’s incredibly difficult to see a realistic path to victory Saturday night. I don’t think Ohio State will steamroll the Spartans in a similar fashion as recent years but the Buckeyes will be too tough to move the ball on for an anemic offense. Ohio State 34, Michigan State 3
