2024-10-05 12:55:08
If you got déjà vu watching Michigan State football play No. 6 Oregon just six days after losing to No. 3 Ohio State, you’re not alone.
The two games had an oddly similar feel, with the Spartans time and time again not capitalizing on their chances as their opponent slowly overpowered them in all facets, this time a 31-10 loss to the Ducks.
The Spartans’ defense made some big plays in the red zone in the first two quarters against the Ducks, intercepting veteran QB Dillon Gabriel twice in the red zone, but as the Ducks continued committing to the run game, MSU began looking overmatched. Meanwhile, the MSU offense started off with an impressive drive, but another costly Aidan Chiles fumbled wiped 7 points off the board, putting the Spartans behind the 8-ball the rest the way.
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After starting the season 3-0 with a solid win over Maryland, the Spartans are feeling the full wrath of the new Big Ten, taking on two likely College Football Playoff teams in a matter of days. But there are no excuses in college football, and the pressure will be on for Jonathan Smith and Co. to start turning the ship around.
The Spartans entered the Oregon game about as healthy as they’ve been since Week 1, most notably with freshman Nick Marsh back on the field in an expanded capacity. However, it didn’t make much of a difference against a suffocating Oregon defense, as Marsh made a 44-yard catch on the opening drive, but then disappeared as the Oregon pass rush dominated the game.
Check out a recap of the Michigan State-Oregon game on Friday night below.
North Dakota transfer quarterback Tommy Schuster entered the game for Chiles for the final drive of the game and led an 11-play drive that ended with an MSU field goal, the Spartans’ second score of the game.
After seven straight fruitless drives (not counting the knee down before half), the Spartans finally got on the board. The biggest play of the drive was a 35-yard completion to Montorie Foster Jr. that got MSU into Oregon territory. Chiles finished the drive 4-for-5 and Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams punched it in from 1 yard out for the first MSU score.
The Michigan State defense just can’t get off the field. After finishing the first half with a 12-play touchdown drive, then opening the half with nine more plays for 48 yards and a field goal, the Ducks continued the trend with a dominant 15-play, 64-yard touchdown drive that lasted more than 8 minutes.
It was capped off with a short catch by Tez Johnson for his first touchdown of the day on his 10th catch.
Aidan Chiles made some magic happen on second-and-long in the Spartans’ opening drive of the half, but Jaron Glover dropped it. Chiles escaped pressure and launched a deep pass that should’ve been caught by Glover in Oregon territory, but the pass hit Glover’s hands and dropped for an incompletion. The Spartans eventually punted it back to the Ducks, who went nine plays and 48 yards and added a 50-yard field goal to extend their lead.
When MSU got the ball back, still technically down three scores, they had a poor kick return that put them in bad field position, fumbled the end-around and then took a delay of game, which all wound up in another three-and-out and a punt.
Dillon Gabriel orchestrated a perfect two-minute drill to end the half, essentially sinking any hope the Spartans may have had of staying in the game.
The Ducks used 12 plays to march down the field against a tired MSU defense, ending the drive with a touchdown from the MSU 9-yard line on third-and-goal.
After moving the ball to the Oregon 2-yard line on the opening drive, the MSU offense had drives of 3, 3, 4 and 5 plays as it was absolutely unable to get anything going.
Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Touchdown.
The Ducks called seven straight runs to great success after Dillon Gabriel threw his second interception of the half. A tired MSU defense looked helpless as Jordan James got to 133 rushing yards on the day with A LOT of football still to play.
The MSU offense responded with a helpless-looking drive themselves, with Chiles getting sacked twice as the Spartans punted the ball right back to Oregon.
The game was slowly slipping away from the Spartans with the Ducks getting back into the red zone effortlessly. Then suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the Spartans’ defense stepped up again.
Dillon Gabriel tried to squeeze a pass into the end zone for the second time in the first half and for the second time was intercepted, this time by veteran cornerback Charles Brantley.
Brantley made a great play getting to the ball, but his momentum carried him out of bounds at the 2-yard line. Ultimately, it was a small price to pay, but the Spartans couldn’t do anything with the turnover and punted after picking up one first down.
That was not a strong showing for the Spartans’ defense. Dillon Gabriel moved the Ducks into MSU territory when he somehow connected with Traeshon Holden for a 37-yard gain while the receiver was laying on his back. After a couple more chunk plays, Gabriel scampered in for a 9-yard touchdown to give the Ducks a 7-0 lead.
So not ALL turnovers are bad, right MSU fans?
After watching MSU fumble on the 2-yard line, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel one-upped Chiles (in a bad way) by throwing a interception to Malik Spencer at the 1-yard line.
Gabriel rolled out to his left, averted pressure and tried to squeeze in a throw to the end zone, but Spencer made an incredible catch to snag the scoring chance away.
After the takeaway, Chiles and Co. saw their drive sunk by a first-down sack by former Spartan defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.
For the second straight week, Michigan State football fans will be asking “what if?”
The Michigan State offense picked up right where the defense started off, making a massive play on fourth down when Aidan Chiles found Nick Marsh on a gutsy deep pass on fourth-and-2. Marsh nearly broke the tackle, but was brought down on the 2-yard line. It was looking like a sure-fire touchdown and a Spartan lead until … another turnover. Chiles was stripped while trying to make a play, wiping a scoring chance off the board for MSU.
Jonathan Smith and Michigan State deferred to the second half on the opening kickoff and the defense delivered on the trust, forcing a three-and-out thanks to solid (but perhaps aggressive) coverage on a deep shot on the first play of the game. The Spartans got pressure on third down, hitting Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel and forcing a bad throw and a punt.
Detroit Tigers play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti is on the call from the booth, with former NFL quarterback Brock Huard doing color commentating.
INSIDER:Why this Michigan State offense doesn’t compare to Jonathan Smith’s last one at Oregon State
The Michigan State vs. Oregon game starts at 9 p.m. from Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press: Smith has the Spartans revved up early, with Aidan Chiles delivering early scores and the defense keeping the Ducks from making big plays. But in the second half, Dillon Gabriel and Co. make adjustments that get the ball moving, and Oregon’s defense — with a big game from MSU transfer Derrick Harmon — wear down the depleted MSU offensive line to send the Spartans to a third straight loss. The pick: Oregon 31, Michigan State 17
Odds provided by BetMGM as of Friday afternoon.
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