Michigan State Football looks to build off their rejuvenating win last weekend

Game Preview: Michigan State Spartans (2-0) look to fend off Prairie View A&M Panthers (1-1) as they square off at Spartan Stadium.

Aiden Chiles, Tanner Miller, and Montorie Foster Jr. Celebrate Touchdown Photo Credit: Lansing State Journal

East Lansing — The Spartans pulled off a shocking 27-24 victory against Maryland last week, with sixth-year kicker Jonathan Kim’s last-second 37-yard field goal securing the win and allowing Michigan State to leave SECU Stadium 1-0 in Big Ten play.

Now, they’ll look to build on the excitement and take down Prairie View A&M, aiming to remain undefeated. A victory Saturday afternoon would mark the Spartans’ first 3-0 start since 2021, when they were led by current Seattle Seahawk Kenneth Walker III.

The Prairie View A&M Panthers will be seeking to pull off an upset and improve to 2-1. A Panthers victory would leave Spartan Stadium stunned, in what seems to be a David vs. Goliath matchup.

The Panthers opened the season with a 27-9 loss to Texas Southern at home but bounced back the following week with a 37-31 road victory over Northwestern State. Now, they’ll turn their focus to what appears to be their toughest matchup of the year.

Key players for Michigan State include one of the youngest QB-WR duos in college football: Aiden Chiles and Nick Marsh. Chiles threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s comeback win, while Marsh accounted for 194 of those yards and caught one touchdown. Despite Chiles being 19 and Marsh only 17, they’ve already shown they are playmakers. However, Chiles will need to reduce his interceptions, something he’ll hope to improve against a weaker defense.

It would also be encouraging for Nate Carter and Jack Velling to have breakout performances, as both were expected to play significant roles this season. Additionally, Michigan State’s defense will need to apply more pressure on the quarterback, as Maryland’s Billy Edwards went 26-of-34 for 253 yards and was sacked only once last week.

For the Panthers, quarterback Cameron Peters will be a key player. He’ll need to focus on ball security, avoiding unnecessary risks and ensuring the Panthers don’t squander possessions by turning the ball over to Michigan State.

The Panthers’ defense must also apply pressure on Chiles, who has a tendency to throw interceptions. If they can force him into making quick decisions, they may capitalize on his inexperience.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The game kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, where Michigan State will aim to avoid a major upset.

Source:

ESPN