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    • Rank Spartans on a curve
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    Rank Spartans on a curve

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    EAST LANSING – Free Press sportswriter Chris Solari rates Michigan State football on an A to F scale after the Spartans’ 38-7 loss to No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday night.

    Violation: C

    Consider this a curve, as 190 of the Spartans’ 246 yards and their only touchdown came on the first four drives. Yes, only 56 yards in their last 28 plays. But the way MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles moved up and down the field against one of the nation’s best defenses may be the most encouraging thing in his development thus far. The mistakes remain, though: an eighth interception this season after a poor decision to force a screen, and a near-pick that was overturned before that, both thrown under duress into the middle of the field. He threw for 167 yards on 13-for-19 passing and a 12-yard TD to Jaron Glover, impressive considering his top target Nick Marsh played just one series while showcasing his game-changing talent. Chiles also fumbled in the red zone, although his face mask was grabbed and his head turned on the play before the ball came loose. There’s also the caveat of MSU’s offensive line — downing two right guards, starting a true freshman and giving snaps to another rookie at left tackle — which is still looking for consistency.

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    Defense: C

    MSU held Ohio State to a field goal on its opening drive, the first time since 2019 the Spartans kept the Buckeyes out of the end zone on their first drive. Linebacker Jordan Turner put together a monster game: nine tackles, an interception and two QB rushes. That was the extent of MSU’s pressure on OSU’s Will Howard, who went without a sack and got another rush from defensive end Anthony Jones. Howard threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and the Buckeyes ran for 185 yards and two more scores, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Still, the Spartans showed a continued ability to swarm to the ball and hit hard. Defensive backs were in position to take action in most cases, but Ohio State’s talented receivers – Emeka Egbuka (seven catches, 96 yards) and freshman star Jeremiah Smith (five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown, plus another rushing) – made NFL caliber plays all over them.

    Special teams: C

    There were not many chances for Jonathan Kim, who made his only extra point and delivered two touchbacks on the kickoff. The kick return unit looked at seven touchbacks, and Montorie Foster Jr. signaled a fair catch on all three Ohio State punts. But punter Ryan Eckley, despite averaging 46.6 yards, chose a bad time to hit one of his worst balls of the season, a 27-yarder that put the Buckeyes in midfield late in the first half. They then scored a TD to make it a 24-7 deficit at halftime.

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    Coaching: C

    The injuries the Spartans have suffered through five games – along with the lack of depth due to inexperience and defections from the portal – have limited Jonathan Smith and his staff. But they’ve managed to keep MSU fighting with a determination unseen since the Mark Dantonio era. The decision to go for a fourth-and-1 on the Spartans’ first possession, regardless of the botched outcome, showed that Smith has a bit of Dan Campbell in him, and he wants that to be his team’s DNA in the future. The staff corrected the penalties that were an issue during the first three games, though they have been replaced by red zone scoring and turnover issues over the past two weeks. However, as Smith said, the staff and its players all learn and grow as they progress, and this looks like a team that will give opponents as many fits as the mistakes give the Spartans and their coaches.

    Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.

    Subscribe to the “Spartan Speak” podcast for new episodes every week Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And check out all our podcasts and daily voting briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

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