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V-Cast: What we learned about Michigan State at Big Ten Media Days '25

On3 imageby: Paul Konyndyk07/25/25PKonyndyk
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LAS VEGAS – After interviews with Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith and players Jordan Hall, Nick Marsh, and Stanton Ramil at Big Ten Media Days, SpartanMag staffers Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk checked in from Mandalay Bay with news, notes, and analysis in the latest SpartanMag V-Cast.

V-CAST TOPICS

Tough Schedule: Michigan State coaches and players believe that they have made significant progress between last year and this. Given the level of competition in the Big Ten, even with significant progress the Spartans may be hard pressed to improve upon their 5-7 record in year one under Jonathan Smtih. Getting to the 6-6 would likely require the Spartans to go unbeaten in non-conference play, while winning at least one road game against a difficult slate that includes games at Southern Cal, Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. If the Spartans are going to gain bowl eligibility they will have to earn it the hard way.

The outlook at running back: Smith indicated at Big Ten Media Days that he liked the potential in his tailback room, while also acknowledging a lack of experience beyond Tau-Toliver, who has played several years of FCS football. Which tailback ultimately emerges as the lead back for Michigan State remains to be seen. It does not appear, however, that the Spartans are in a better spot talent-wise at tailback than they were a year ago with Nathan Carter and Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams as the 1-2 punch in the Spartan backfield. With a potentially less talented backfield, it is critical for Michigan State to make significant gains in the overall run operation. That means the Spartans need to be better on the offensive line and show improvement in run blocking at the tight end position. Quarterback Aidan Chiles also needs to do his part in making good pre-snap reads and corresponding adjustments at the line of scrimmage.

Where is Michigan State better entering the 2025 season? The Spartans believe that they will be better at several positions this season than they were a year ago. Michigan State should be better at quarterback simply because Chiles has a year’s worth of experience to draw from. Wide receiver and tight end are two positions where the Spartans should also be better at than they were a year ago. Nick Marsh is proven commodity at wideout and the Spartans did as well in the transfer portal at wide receiver as they’ve done at any position during Smith’s first two recruiting classes. The defensive front seven is another area of potential improvement given player development at linebacker and on the interior defensive line. The biggest question mark ahead of training camp is pass rush, and will likely continue to be so until proven otherwise.

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