Jonathan Smith: Michigan State football must fix offensive mistakes
After a lackluster debut win as Michigan State football’s head coach, Jonathan Smith said the Spartans must fix offensive issues heading to Maryland.
Michigan State Athletics
Michigan State football did just enough in Week 1 of the 2024 college football season to escape with a victory to begin the Jonathan Smith era.
The Spartans (1-0) will face stiffer competition this week as they head on the road to open Big Ten Conference play against Maryland (1-0) on Saturday in College Park, Maryland. While Michigan State leads the all-time series between the two programs 10-4, the Terrapins have won two straight, including a 31-9 victory in East Lansing in 2023.
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MSU escaped with a 16-10 victory over FAU, in which quarterback Aidan Chiles struggled in his East Lansing debut with a 10-for-24 performance passing with two interceptions. Running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams finished with nine rushes for 101 yards and a touchdown to help Smith win in his Spartans‘ coaching debut.
Meanwhile, Maryland is coming off a 50-7 victory over UConn in Week 1. Terrapins quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 311 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory, while Tai Felton caught seven passes for 178 yards and both passing TDs from Edwards.
Watch Michigan State vs. Maryland live on Fubo (free trial)
Follow along for live updates from the Big Ten opener between Michigan State football and Maryland, including everything to know for the Saturday afternoon contest:
This section will be updated when the game begins.
TEAMS | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F |
MICHIGAN STATE | 7 | ― | ― | ― | ― |
MARYLAND | 14 | ― | ― | ― | ― |
4:22 p.m.: Maryland holds a 14-7 lead over Michigan State after one quarter. The Spartans have 76 total yards to the Terrapins’ 99. The biggest difference in the first quarter was the interception thrown by Aidan Chiles to give Maryland a short field to take the lead.
4:17 p.m.: Aidan Chiles throws his third interception of the season when Glendon Miller picks off a pass on third-and-9. Miller returns it to the MSU 17-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Billy Edwards scores on a keeper from seven yards out to put Maryland back on top. There are 47 seconds left in the first quarter, with Maryland leading 14-7.
4:10 p.m.: The Spartans allow one first down but force a punt from Maryland. MSU will start on its own 19 after a 44-yard punt. There is 2:27 left in the first quarter.
4:02 p.m.: Aidan Chiles leads Michigan State down the field for a touchdown drive to respond to the scoring drive from Maryland. Chiles hits Montorie Foster Jr. for a 9-yard touchdown pass to even the score on the eight-play, 84-yard drive, which takes 3:07 off the clock.
Nate Carter picks up a 30-yard gain on the drive as one of the bigger plays. A 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty on the Terrapins also aids the Spartans on the drive.
The Spartans initially line up to go for two, but ultimately kick the extra point to tie it at 7-7.
3:51 p.m.: Tai Felton scores on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Billy Edwards Jr. to open the scoring for Maryland. The scoring drive:14 plays for 75 yards and took 6:30 off the clock.
Edwards Jr. makes a nifty shovel throw to Dylan Wade for a third-and-8 conversion, one of four third-down conversions on the Terrpains’ drive. On the drive, Edwards misses a couple of open deep throws to Kaden Prather and Tai Felton. Both players get open and are overthrown — something to keep note of. On another deep throw to Prather, a defensive pass interference is called against Charles Brantley.
3:40 p.m.: Michigan State won the toss and deferred to the second half. Maryland will receive the ball first. Jonathan Kim’s kick went for a touchback.
3:22 p.m.: Starting right guard Kristian Phillips, receiver Alante Brown, safeties Dillon Tatum and Khalil Majeed, defensive tackle Ben Roberts and defensive end Avery Dunn are unavailable for the game for the Spartans. Dunn was the only player who also missed last week’s game.
2:17 p.m.: Michigan State football’s X account (formerly Twitter) shared photos of MSU players on the field ahead of the matchup against Maryland on the road.
1:13 p.m.: Linebacker Wayne Matthews III is named as an honorary game captain, returning to his home state. Matthews attended Charles Herbert Flowers High in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He transferred to MSU from Old Dominion in January.
The Big Ten opener between Michigan State and Maryland will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network during Week 2 of the 2024 college football season. Jason Ross Jr. and Anthony Herron will call the game from Byrd Stadium, and Kylen Mills will report from the sidelines. Steaming options for this game include Fox Sports with a cable provider or Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press: Maryland 21, MSU 17
“The loss of MSU safety Dillon Tatum proves to be a critical one, and Terps quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and receiver Tai Felton give the Spartans’ secondary a Big Ten baptism to the forward pass that Florida Atlantic couldn’t. MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles shows more poise and the offensive line looks improved, but it isn’t enough to pull off a road win against the confident Terrapins.”
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday at noon:
This section will be updated.
*denotes Big Ten game
*denotes Big Ten game
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