Michigan State football: What we learned vs. Ohio State, what to watch at No. 6 Oregon

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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Michigan State Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith walks the sidelines during the fourth quarter the NCAA football game against Ohio State University at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Buckeyes won 38-7.

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

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws a pass during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins as the Bruins host the Ducks Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif.

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…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-learned-vs-215903364.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-09-29 21:59:03

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