EAST LANSING – Looking back at Michigan State football’s 38-7 loss to No. 3 Ohio State and looking ahead to the Spartans’ first Big Ten trip to No. 6 Oregon.
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Matchup: Michigan State (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) at No. 6 Oregon (4-0, 1-0)
Kickoff: 9 p.m. Friday; Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon.
TV/radio: Fox, WJR-AM (760).
Line: Ducks by 24½.
Know the foe
Welcome to the Big Ten, Oregon. The Ducks struggled at home in two nonconference games to start the year, surviving their season-opener against Idaho of the Football Championship Subdivision (24-14) and hanging on against Boise State, 37-34, in Week 2. They have recovered the past two weeks with a pair of big road wins, 49-14 against MSU coach Jonathan Smith’s alma mater Oregon State and then 34-13 on Saturday at UCLA in the Ducks’ first official Big Ten game. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel went 31-for-41 for 278 yards with three touchdowns and an interception against the Bruins, while running back Jordan James had 103 rushing yards and another score. Coach Dan Lanning’s team has plenty of balance, with the offense averaging 454.0 yards (34th nationally) and the defense giving up just 266.8 (16th). The Ducks’ 154.8 passing yards allowed rank 15th, and their pass efficiency defense (90.95) is sixth-best. But like MSU, Oregon has struggled to get opponents out of the end zone and is tied for 117th in red-zone defense and ranks 37th in scoring defense (18.8 points). MSU split two thrilling nonconference matchups with the Ducks in 2014 (46-27 in Eugene) and 2015 (31-28 in East Lansing). Oregon took a less-than-epic Redbox Bowl meeting in 2018 (7-6 in Santa Clara, California) that is the difference in the seven all-time meetings between the teams, with each home team winning three times.
Chris Solari’s 3 things we learned
Continued problems: MSU’s biggest issues the past two weeks have been turning the ball over and an inability to finish drives in the red zone. After Aidan Chiles threw two interceptions in Boston College territory and the offense settled for three field goals in a 23-19 loss to the Eagles, the Spartans fumbled twice inside Ohio State’s 20 and got stuffed at the Buckeyes’ 20 on fourth-and-1 for a turnover on downs in the first four series Saturday. They did score on a 12-yard TD pass from Chiles to Jaron Glover, a one-play drive after an OSU turnover, but MSU did not get back into Buckeyes territory until taking over on downs with just over a minute to play in the game and the outcome decided. MSU is tied for 123rd out of 133 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in red zone offense at 66.7% success, and the Spartans’ 13 turnovers so far this season are tied for third-most in the country – their five fumbles are tied for ninth-most, and their eight interceptions are tied for third-most. MSU’s 21.8 points a game rank 104th in the FBS.
Out of line: The Spartans’ offensive line, already on to their third starting right guard, dealt with another injury entering the OSU game. Redshirt freshman Stanton Ramil, who made his first career start at Boston College, went through warmups and dressed but did not play. That thrust true freshman Rakeem Johnson into the starting lineup at left tackle for his first career start, and he was spelled by another true freshman in Rustin Young. Senior Brandon Baldwin, who started 18 games at left tackle the past three seasons, including the first three this year, got his second start at right guard as the Spartans gave up four sacks. The 10 sacks MSU has allowed this season are tied for 39th-most in the FBS, and the Spartans’ 132.4 rushing yards per game – after managing just 47 against the Buckeyes – ranks 97th in the FBS.
Third and long: MSU’s continued defensive issues with getting off the field hit a zenith against OSU. The Buckeyes’ starters converted 6 of 12 third-down attempts in the first three quarters, including three times on their first touchdown drive that ended with a 3-yard scoring pass on fourth down. OSU also scored its final touchdown of the first half on a third-and-10 play with its backup QB Devin Brown in the game, a 17-yard strike to freshman Jeremiah Smith who made a one-handed grab in the end zone. MSU’s defense ranks 99th in the FBS in allowing a 41.7% third-down conversion rate and tied for 71st in giving up 54.5% of opponents’ fourth-down conversion attempts. The Spartans’ 89 first downs allowed rank 80th in the nation.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football: What we learned/ what to watch at Oregon
