–> Follow @Tony Liebert on Twitter
Broadcast Info:
- Date: Sat., Oct. 28
- TV channel: BTN
- Time of kickoff: 2:30 p.m. (CST)
- Betting line: Minnesota (-7) vs. Michigan State, o/u: (40.5 points)
Opponent Information (Michigan State):
- 2023 record: 2-5
- V. Central Michigan 31-7 W
- V. Richmond (FCS) 45-14 W
- @ Washington 7-41 L
- V. Maryland 9-31 L
- @ Iowa 16-26 L
- @ Rutgers 24-27 L
- V. Michigan 0-49 L
- (Interim) Head Coach: Harlon Barnett (1st year)
- Players to watch: Angelo Grose (CB), Nathan Carter (RB), Cal Haladay (LB), Nick Samac (C), Noah Kim (QB), Tre Mosley (WR)
In the most letdown spots of all letdown spots, Minnesota will host Michigan State in a mid-afternoon Big Ten tilt on Saturday afternoon. Since Mel Tucker was let go from the program on September 18, the Spartans have lost five straight games by a combined score of 56-174. After losing by six touchdowns to their biggest rivals at home a week ago, there is little to no excitement within the MSU program — only more reason why the Gophers need to be careful to not trip up in this game.
Michigan State Season Storylines:
- Mel Tucker Scandal
Any fan of Big Ten football is well aware of former Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker being fired after it was found out that he sexually harassed sexual assault advocate Brenda Tracy. For how crazy of a story it was, the fact that he was fired with cause after signing a record-breaking 10-year $95 million deal after going 11-2 in 2021. Payton Thorne, Jayden Reed and Kenneth Walker III were huge reasons why Tucker earned that contract, proving true after going 5-7 the following season. After completing only his third season as an FBS head coach, the contract came as a shock to most, after proving to be a major question mark looming over the future of the program, the Spartans now have a bigger problem with a major scandal and no head coach.
- Losing Keon Coleman and Payton Thorne to the Portal
One major reason why Tucker earned his massive contract extension was his success in the transfer portal, highlighted by adding Kenneth Walker III from Wake Forest and an overall impressive portal class in his first full offseason with the new rules. Fast forward to this offseason, the Spartans lost arguably their two best players QB Payton Thorne (Auburn) and WR Keon Coleman (Florida State) creating serious pessimism and only more questions heading into 2023 pre-scandal.
Now Michigan State has looked towards talented junior QB Noah Kim and WRs Tre Mosley and Montorie Foster Jr. to replace them. It has not gone smoothly, averaging 325.4 yards per game and only 18.9 PPG (120th in FBS). MSU has averaged 11.2 PPG since Tucker was let go and they’ve looked like one of the worst teams in the entire country… but they’re still a Big Ten program with Big Ten players and they scored more points against Iowa than the Gophers.
- Interim HC Harlon Barnett + Future of the Program
Former head coach Mark D’Antonio has reportedly been close to the program since Week 3, but DBs coach Harlon Barnett was the man promoted to interim DC after Mel Tucker was let go. Barnett joined the program with Tucker in 2020 and had previously been the co-DC from 2015-17. As a former player from 1986-89, the promotion made sense. It has not run smoothly thus far for Barnett, but he has only been a head coach for five total games.
Michigan State is now in a very interesting position as a program. The Urban Meyer rumors are only getting louder, but as the Big Ten goes through a serious transition adding the four West Coast schools, it is not a great time to go through a coaching change. Given their resources and fanbase, the Spartans will likely make a splash hire, but I am very curious to see how much of a splash it will be.
Gophers’ path to victory:
Like most games the Gophers “should” win, this game will come down to not playing down to Michigan State’s level. MSU has shown little to no ability to play up to any Big Ten opponent this season, but if this Spartans team has any strength, it is their run defense. Allowing only 115.6 rushing yards per game, they rank as the 31st-best unit in the country, making this an interesting spot for the Gophers.
As great as last week’s win was for the program, I would advise every Gopher fan to not get too ahead of themselves heading into this one. Although they might’ve not shown it, Michigan State is still a pretty talented football team and I do not expect this game to be very pretty for either side. I could see a scenario where this looks a lot like the Nebraska game. Minnesota’s defense answered a lot of questions last week, but all of the same questions remain for the offense.
This game will come down to mistakes on the offensive side of the ball. If Minnesota plays mistake-free football, I do not see how they would lose this football game. Given the total of 40.5 points, the experts expect this game to be played in the 20s and I would be relatively shocked if the winner of this game scored more than 30. The Gophers offense has shown flashes, which MSU really hasn’t so I will favor Minnesota 20-10 in a gross low-scoring affair.