Michigan State football: What we learned vs. Illinois, what to watch vs. Purdue

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Looking back at Michigan State football’s 38-16 loss at Illinois and looking ahead to the Spartans’ short week and visit from Purdue.

Matchup: Michigan State (4-6, 2-5 Big Ten) vs. Purdue (1-9, 0-7)

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing

TV/radio: Fox, WJR-AM (760).

Line: Spartans by 14½.

Know the foe

Nov 16, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Kobe King (41) narrowly misses a sack against Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Hudson Card (1) during the second quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

The Boilermakers have struggled mightily under second-year coach Ryan Walters, losing nine straight since opening with a 49-0 win over lower-division Indiana State on Aug. 31. Purdue enters the season’s penultimate game tied for 128th out of 133 Football Bowl Subdivision programs at just 17.2 points scored per game after getting shut out in two of its last four games – losing to No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State by a combined 129-10. Twice in the past month-plus, though, the Boilermakers took opponents to overtime before falling, including a 50-49 shootout at Illinois and a 26-20 crushing home defeat to Northwestern. The Nittany Lions spoiled Purdue’s home finale Saturday, 49-10. Quarterback Hudson Card was 11-for-20 for 151 yards with no interceptions or TDs, while backup Ryan Browne threw a TD pass in the fourth quarter. The Boilermakers are at or near the bottom of almost every category nationally – they are 122nd in total offense (318.6 yards) and 128th in first downs (151), 121st in total defense (455.7 yards allowed) and 132nd in pass efficiency defense, and 118th in third-down conversions on offense (33.6) and 130th in third-down defense (48.8%). Card completes 59.7% of his passes and averages…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-learned-vs-204238941.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-11-17 20:42:38

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Check Also

Bill Belichick to North Carolina reaction: Why college football, NFL figures either love — or hate — hire

The multi-day melodrama that played out between Bill Belichick and North Carolina blunted a bit …