Prior to the start of the season I didn’t have high hopes for my alma mater’s football team.
I looked at the 2024 season for Michigan State — with a new head coach and staff, new quarterback and new pieces all over — like a gap year. The program is coming off a scandal involving former coach Mel Tucker. The team lost several players to the transfer portal.
And, on its face, the schedule was a bear.
With a conference game and a road non-conference tilt in the first four weeks, I hoped for a 3-1 start. That’s important because late September through October looked like hell for the Spartans, with Ohio State, Oregon, Iowa and Michigan on the schedule for four straight games.
November looked much more manageable, and I’d hoped for at least six wins. Not to celebrate going to some lower-tier bowl game, but for the players to get the handful of extra practices that come with a bowl invite.
As the season has started, though, my expectations have changed.
MSU battled back to win 27-24 at Maryland on Sept. 7 to move to 2-0. Sophomore quarterback Aiden Chiles followed up a clunker in the opener with 24 of 39 passing for 363 yards with three touchdowns. Chiles threw three interceptions, too, but kept letting it fly. Chiles’ favorite target in the win over Maryland was freshman Nick Marsh, who finished the game with 8 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown in a show-stealing performance.
The defense hasn’t been perfect, with numerous boneheaded penalties through two weeks, but the group has shown resolve in allowing a shade over 7 points in each second half.
The schedule is still tough, and October could still prove to be a gauntlet, but there’s hope.
Ohio State has embarrassed us for years. That could still continue, with the Buckeyes bringing their $20 million team to East Lansing later this month.
Oregon has serious issues with its offensive line. The Ducks have already allowed more sacks this season than they did in all of 2022 and 2023.
Offensively, Iowa is still Iowa. The Hawkeyes blew a 13-0 lead to Iowa State on Saturday and lost 20-19.
Michigan has a serious quarterback problem, with Davis Warren and Alex Orji averaging less than 6 yards an attempt so far.
I’d be shocked if MSU ran the table during this stretch. I’d also be shocked if the team were routed in the four games.
No, I don’t see MSU having a special season this year. I do feel bad about overlooking Indiana, Illinois, Purdue and Rutgers, but that’s what fans do. Six wins was (for me) the goal, but I had Maryland marked as a loss going into the season.
This season, and likely the next few, will be a rollercoaster.
Rollercoasters are fun, though.
