Opponent Check: Michigan State
Inside Nebraska’s Opponent Check series rolls on. Today, it’s the Michigan State Spartans’ turn.
Michigan State will come to Lincoln on Saturday, Oct. 4. The kick-off time for this one has yet to be set.
Both teams will be coming off a bye week following tough matchups. Nebraska hosts Michigan Sept. 20 while Michigan State plays USC in Los Angeles that same day.
The Spartans’ three non-conference games this season include Western Michigan, Boston College and Youngstown State. Those are all at home, so Michigan State will likely have either a 3-1 or 2-2 record when it travels to Lincoln.
The tilt against Boston College will be an early measuring-stick game for the Spartans, who lost to the Eagles 23-19 in Boston last year.
In the last six games between these two programs, Michigan State is 4-2 and has won the last two each by a field goal.
Previous Opponent Checks:
Week 1 Aug. 28: Cincinnati
Week 2 Sept. 6: Akron
Week 3 Sept. 13: Houston Christian
Week 4 Sept. 20: Michigan
Week 5 Sept. 27: BYE
Jonathan Smith enters Year 2 at Michigan State
Head coach Jonathan Smith returns for his second season in East Lansing after a 2024 debut that resulted in a 5-7 overall record with a 3-6 mark in Big Ten play.
After starting 3-0 with wins over Florida Atlantic, Maryland and Prairie View A&M, the Spartans struggled from mid-September on. They won just two of their last nine games in a schedule that included Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. The season ended on a whimper and no bowl game following a 41-14 loss to Rutgers in East Lansing.
Before being hired by Michigan State, Smith spent six years at Oregon State and went 34-35 in total. Smith slowly kept building and eventually turned the Beavers into winners. After a two-win campaign in his first season in 2018, Oregon State won five game in 2019, seven in 2021 and 10 in 2022 before taking a bit of a dip in 2023 with eight wins.
Michigan State doesn’t play Ohio State, Oregon or Illinois in 2025, but does play USC, Indiana, Michigan and Penn State. The Spartans’ November includes winnable games against Minnesota, Iowa — which they beat last season — and Maryland. So, the Spartans appear to have a more doable schedule than last year.
At least six wins and a bowl appearance should be the expectation for Smith in 2025.
What Michigan State’s offense must replace
Michigan State’s offense struggled in 2024, averaging 19.3 points per game (15th in Big Ten, 123rd in country). The unit, led by offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, only mustered 333.4 total yards per game (13th, 110th) and converted 38.31% of its third downs (14th, 87th).
Of the 17 offensive players who played at least 100 snaps last season, eight return while nine have departed the program. One of those returners is the starting quarterback, junior Aidan Chiles. We’ll touch on him later.
Michigan State must replace all three interior positions of its offensive line. It does return the starters on the edge in left tackle Stanton Ramil and right tackle Ashton Lepo.
The Spartans lose their top two running backs in Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams (649 yards, 2 TDs) and Nate Carter (499 yards, 5 TDs). Two of the three leading receivers in terms of catches, Montorie Foster Jr (46 catches, 588 yards, 3 TDs) and Aziah Johnson (16 catches, 276 yards, 2 TDs), have also departed the program.
But the best wideout, Nick Marsh, returns. The Spartans also return one of the best receiving tight ends in the Big Ten in Jack Velling. More on both of these guys later.
What Michigan State’s defense must replace
Michigan State’s defense, led by the excellent coordinator Joe Rossi, allowed an average of 26.1 points (15th, 77th) and 332 total yards (10th, 34th) per game. The Spartans’ rush and pass defense both ranked in the top 50 nationally.
Of the 23 defensive players who saw at least 100 snaps last fall, 13 return while 11 have left the program. Six of the top seven players in terms of snap count are gone, as are six of the top 10-tacklers.
Michigan State must replace its top four players in terms of sacks and top two in interceptions.
The quarterback: Aidan Chiles
Chiles is back for his second season as Michigan State’s quarterback and third in college football.
The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Californian followed Smith to Michigan State from Oregon State, where he spent his true freshman season in 2023.
Chiles’ 2024 season didn’t meet expectations. He completed 59.4% of his passes for 2,415 yards and 13 touchdowns against 11 interceptions — the same ratio as Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola. A dual-threat, Chiles was also the third-leading rusher in the team with 225 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Chiles’ best game is probably his win over Iowa at home. That night he completed 73.3% of his passes for 256 yards and one touchdown against one interception. He also used his legs to hurt a stout Iowa defense, rushing for 51 yards.
Chiles was just a second-year player and first-time starter in 2024. The expectation is for him to make a jump in Year 2 now that he has a year of Big Ten experience and continuity on the coaching staff. His OC, Lindgren, returns. Lindgren was also Smith and Chiles’ OC at Oregon State in 2023.
Top returning players to know
The 6-3, 200-pound Marsh had a stellar true freshman season at Michigan State in 2024.
The big-body target set a true freshman school record in receiving yards (649) and receptions (41) in a single season. A local product out of Detroit, Marsh led the Spartans in receiving yards and tied for the team lead in touchdown catches with three. His 41 catches ranked second on the team.
Marsh is a rising star in the Big Ten and will be the top focus of Nebraska’s defense on Oct. 4.
Velling followed Smith from Oregon State to Michigan State. In his first year as a Spartan, Velling, a 6-5, 246-pounder, caught 36 passes for 411 yards and one touchdown.
Lindgren liked to use multiple tight end formations in 2024, which allowed Velling to be used as a pass catcher. Expect much of the same in 2025. You can close your eyes an imagine a linebacker like Javin Wright matching up with Velling, especially on third downs.
No one on Michigan State’s defense played more snaps in 2024 than Martinez, the 5-11, 194-pound safety.
Martinez was in his first season with the Spartans in 2024. He began his career at Central Florida, where he played two seasons before transferring to the Big Ten. Martinez played right away as a true freshman at UCF and was a starter in his second season.
In 2024, Martinez ranked third on the team with 51 tackles tied for second on the team with two interceptions. In a defensive back end that must replace many of its starters, Martinez is a returning leader that will help the transition.
Spencer is another returning starter in the back end of Rossi’s defense. Long and athletic, the 6-1, 192-pound Georgia native and Buford High School product has played in 26 career games with 17 starts the past three seasons.
In 2024, Spencer started the first nine games at safety and racked up 44 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. He missed the last three games with an injury.
Thompson will be the most experienced returning starter along the defensive line for Michigan State in 2024. At 6-3 and 260 pounds, Thompson is strong and can be explosive off the edge.
The former four-star recruit has started 16 consecutive games and recorded 36 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He didn’t record a sack in 2024, though. That’s something he’d like to change in 2025.
VanSumeren is the most experienced returning interior defensive lineman and the guy who the Nebraska offensive line will need to keep in check.
The 6-3, 300-pound VanSumeren started all 12 games in 2024 after missing 2023 with an injury. Last season he recorded 16 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He’ll be the leader in the middle of the defensive line.
Michigan State’s defense will need Hall to return to his 2023 form.
Two seasons ago, Hall was a star true freshman from IMG Academy. That season he played in all 12 games, started six of them, and ranked fourth on the team with 67 tackles. The 6-3, 237-pounder was a havoc creator with 7.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.
But in 2024, Hall took a step back in Rossi’s first year as DC. Hall played in 11 games, started one and had just 24 tackles, one TFL and two pass breakups.
Michigan State needs Hall to step up and play like he’s capable.
Top impact transfers to know
Burt is getting his shot at Power Four football after spending the past three seasons at FCS Eastern Illinois.
In those three seasons the 5-11, 190-pound Burt recorded 83 tackles and six interceptions. He’s a former safety who could start at corner for the Spartans.
Kelly comes to Michigan State from Florida State, where he was a reserve defensive lineman in 2024 and made 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. the 6-2,296-pounder will be expected to contribute right away as an interior defensive lineman in East Lansing.
Before his one season in Tallahassee, Kelly played in 26 games with 22 starts in three seasons at Colorado State. During that stretch he recorded 79 tackles, including 9.0 for loss with 2.5 sacks.
Smith comes to Michigan State from Texas Tech, where he spent the past four seasons.
After missing 2023 with an injury, the 6-6, 260-pound Smith played in 12 games with six starts in 2024 and made 31 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks.
Small but explosive, the 5-10, 168-pound McCray will try to provide a spark to the Michigan State pass game.
McCray comes to East Lansing from Kent State, where he spent the past three seasons. In the past two seasons on the field, he recorded a total of 81 catches for 1,315 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He was a first-team All-MAC selection in 2023 and a second-team pick in 2024.
Kelly started his career at Auburn, where he spent two seasons and caught a total of five catches for 101 yards. Looking for more opportunity, he transferred to Middle Tennessee State for the 2024 season and recorded 53 receptions for 869 yards and four touchdowns.
Now the 6-foot, 187-pound Kelly is back in Power Four football and will likely secure a spot in the receiver rotation.
When Bullard was on the field at Division II Valdosta State, he produced.
After redshirting in 2022, Bullard gained attention in 2023 while catching 43 passes for 566 yards and seven touchdowns. Then in 2024, he officially broke out with 42 receptions for 1,001 yards — that’s an impressive 23.8-yards-per-catch average — and a whopping 12 touchdowns.
The hard work has paid off. Now the 6-foot, 180-pound Bullard is getting a shot at Big Ten football.
Moore comes to Michigan State from FCS Montana State, where he played a lot of football in his three seasons.
Moore could be the Spartans’ starting left tackle this fall. The Ohio native played in 31 games for the Bobcats and has 28 consecutive starts under his belt, including 25 at left tackle and three at left guard.