And putting Michigan to bed
Following a disappointing and frustrating loss at Michigan last week, there is no letup in difficulty for MSU Football this week as they return home to face the 8-0 Indiana Hoosiers.
Before getting to Indiana, however, I wanted to offer some final thoughts about the Michigan game and specifically some of the criticisms of the coaching staff. If you’re just here for the IU preview, scroll down past the picture of their head coach, Curt Cignetti.
These are among the coaching-related questions that many had after the UM game that seem valid:
1. Why does the team continue to struggle in the red zone on offense? What have you tried to do to fix it? What are you going to do going forward to fix it? I don’t think any coach would come out and say what they’re going to do to fix it and share that information with every future opponent but I guess you’d look for some assurance that they are continuing to take a hard look at this.
2. Why no deep ball attempts against a Michigan secondary without their best cover corner, especially when MSU has had previous success in this area? It also seems like the strong running game would have opened up some opportunities here. If protecting Chiles long enough to get off a downfield throw was a concern, why not put in max protection and let Marsh, Foster, or Glover see if they can win a one-on-one battle?
3. Why no answer for Alex Orji running the ball? You said you had prepared for it. When he comes in, you know it’s a run but each time Orji came in and ran, it was a big gain.
In my view at least, and I know there are disagreements, these criticisms are less valid.
1. Being aggressive at the end of the first half with a 7-6 lead. Yes, the Chiles fumble and the 3 UM points that followed were a killer. But I don’t fault the decision to try to score here, especially after MSU left at least 3 off the board on their first drive. Following Michigan’s first touchdown, the Spartans got the ball and ran it for a first down. I think most coaches will say that if you get that first first down, then you’ll speed up and try to get into scoring position. Michigan had just scored, would get the ball to start the second half, and I don’t fault Smith for being aggressive and trying to get some momentum back here.
2. The onside kick. Smith has made some other high risk, high reward decisions on fourth downs this year. With calls like this, it seems like you’re going to be heavily criticized when it doesn’t work but called a genius if it’s successful. The onside kick doesn’t have a high success rate, but it’s more likely to work when it’s not obvious to the receiving team that it’s going to happen. Kim had just kicked a field goal to get MSU to within 16-10 so perhaps Smith saw this as a chance to take a risk in an attempt to build some more momentum. If it doesn’t work, you’re saying you trust your defense to get a stop and that’s what happened, as the Spartan D got a three and out.
3. Smith’s demeanor. He’s not Dan Campbell or Tom Izzo or Nick Saban. If he were to try to be something he’s not, he would likely fail, in my view at least. I learned this the hard way early in my coaching career. The athletes will see right through it and know you’re faking. Also, if you get out of character by yelling and screaming in a moment when things aren’t going your way, the athletes could take that as a sign of urgency or . . . panic. It can be a fine line and more likely to lean towards panic if it’s out of character.
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
I do think there is something to be said for Smith’s understanding of the rivalry going into the game, as some readers have commented. I also, like others, think he gets it now. I was at his press conference in Oregon and watched his media appearances at Michigan and then his weekly press appearance on Monday. There is a marked difference. He has never, as far as I know, shown to be an emotionally demonstrable person but, to me anyway, he appeared to be pissed off and seething in his post-game presser at Michigan. I didn’t get any sense of this listening to him in person at Oregon a few weeks ago. If this is really the case, it was obviously a bit too late for this year’s Michigan game but it will be interesting to see what happens next year.
Finally, on Michigan, I wrote a bit about the insufferable nature of that athletic department last week but tried to refrain from comments regarding their fan base since I don’t think I’m in a spot to judge. However, one thing I do hear about every year is how this is “Sparty’s Super Bowl” and it really doesn’t mean that much to Michigan. Well Michigan fans (who I’m sure are avid readers of this site – sarcasm), this year, it was YOUR Super Bowl.
You came in with the same record as MSU. Lose to the Spartans, and you’re staring at 5-7, at best. While not like Florida State, it’s already been a pretty stunning fall from grace, whether you want to admit it or not. Even with the win against MSU, unless you can somehow get by Oregon, Indiana, and Ohio State, you’re probably still competing for a very low-level bowl with . . . Michigan State.
So, this game was your season and the 100,000 plus in Michigan Stadium knew it. Was that really a scene of people that didn’t care on Saturday night?
A lot of the exhausting, ugly toxicity that has come to define this game might be at least somewhat alleviated if Michigan could somehow, collectively, just say something like: “We value the rivalry with Michigan State and this game is important to us.” Or, failing that, at least take responsibility for something, like your role in yet another post game fight.
But I’m not holding my breath on either. On to Indiana.
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
The Hoosiers come to East Lansing as one of college football’s biggest surprises this year, with an 8-0 record, 5-0 in the Big Ten, and yet to trail on the scoreboard at any point. They have won every game by at least 14 points, including beating Washington 31-17 last week without their starting quarterback. Their most impressive win is probably a 56-7 thrashing of a Nebraska team that just gave Ohio State all it could handle. I was a little skeptical of IU a few weeks ago due to their schedule, but not any more. Along with their undefeated record, Indiana also ranks in the top 10 nationally in total offense, total defense, scoring offense, and scoring defense.
Indiana Coaching
The Hoosiers are led by first year head coach Curt Cignetti who, prior to ripping off an 8-0 start, was probably best known for his “I win, Google me” comment at Big Ten media days. Cignetti comes to Bloomington from James Madison University where he went 52-9 in five years with the Dukes, including 19-4 in 2022 and 2023 after JMU transitioned from the FCS to the FBS. Several James Madison players followed Cignetti to Indiana, where they are contributing to a winning culture and proving they can play at the Power 4 level.
Cignetti served on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama as recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2007-2010. His first head coaching job was at Indiana University, PA from 2011-2016. He then spent two years at Elon before moving to James Madison.
Hoosiers offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan (no relation to the former NFL coach of the same name or to current 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan) also came with Cignetti from James Madison. Shanahan served in the same role at JMU, as offensive coordinator and coaching the wide receivers. He played at Pitt and ranks among the Panthers top 10 in receiving yards and catches. After some time in the Canadian Football League, Shanahan began his coaching career as a GA at Pitt before stops with Cignetti at Indiana University, PA and Elon before JMU.
Defensive Coordinator Bryant James also has a long history with Cignetti as a member of his staff at Indiana University, PA, Elon, and JMU. His first experience as a coordinator came at James Madison. Prior to Indiana, James spent one year in the Big Ten as a GA at Ohio State in 2013.
Indiana Offense
Indiana’s offense ranks second, behind only Miami, in points per game at 46.5. The Hoosiers are sixth in total offense and first in the Big Ten at 487.6 yards per game. They are strong in both the pass (287 ypg) and run games (200.6).
Fifth year senior and Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke leads the Hoosiers offense. He was the 2022 MAC Offensive Player of the year despite missing the last two games of the season due to injury. Rourke followed that up with a second team All-MAC performance in 2023 before transferring to IU. This year, he’s already thrown for 1941 yards and completed nearly 75% of his passes.
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Rourke missed Indiana’s last win against Washington after having two screws put in the thumb on his throwing hand but indications are that he will attempt to play against MSU. If Rourke can’t go, Tayven Jackson, who led the win against Washington, will be under center for the Hoosiers.
Elijah Sarratt, a junior and another JMU transfer, has been Rourke’s top target this year with 33 catches, including 3 touchdowns, while averaging nearly 18 yards per catch. On the ground, fifth year senior and Wake Forest transfer, Justice Ellison leads the way for Indiana with 637 yards on 6.2 yards per carry.
Indiana Defense
The Hoosier defense is also performing at a high level, allowing only 14.1 points per game. This is good for 7th in the country and behind only Ohio State in the Big Ten. Indiana only gives up 269.5 (183.4 in the air and only 86.1 on the ground) yards per game – fifth in the country and third in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Penn State.
Haines uses a base 4-3 scheme with a hybrid linebacker/safety rover. Several transfers from James Madison are key contributors on defense for the Hoosiers this year including Shawn Asbury II, who plays the rover position. Linebackers Aiden Fischer and Jalin Walker, safety Terry Jones Jr., and defensive lineman James Carpenter all came with Cignetti and James from James Madison.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
As impressive as Indiana has been, they haven’t faced a schedule like Michigan State’s. No Ohio State yet or Oregon. Their toughest road game has probably been at UCLA – a 42-13 win. The trip to East Lansing may be their biggest challenge yet, especially if:
– MSU can continue their run game success from the last two games to sustain some long drives and keep IU’s offense off the field.
– The Spartans can finally figure something out with their red zone woes and finish drives in the end zone. I’m not sure the field goals against Iowa will get it done here.
– The Spartan fans regroup from last weekend, show up in force to support their team, and make it a hostile environment that the Hoosiers haven’t seen yet.
With the basketball previews this week, we didn’t get out a Spartan Sports roundup. However, we did want to mention that Women’s Soccer finished their regular season at 12-1-5 overall and 7-1-3 in the Big Ten. This earned MSU the #4 seed in the Big Ten tournament where they will take the field against #5 seed Rutgers in the quarterfinals at 4:30 PM Saturday in St. Paul, MN. The game can be seen on Big Ten +. The Spartans and Scarlet Knights tied 1-1 back on September 29 in DeMartin Stadium in their only meeting of the year.