After back-to-back losses to former PAC-12 teams, the Hawkeyes return home to take on a familiar Big Ten foe as they play host to the Michigan State Spartans. While Iowa and MSU have squared off each of the last
two years, this year’s Spartan bunch is a bit different than the one we saw a season ago.
In the words of the wise and sage-like Big Tom Callahan, you can get a good look at a t-bone by sticking your head up a bull’s rear end, but wouldn’t you rather take the butcher’s word for it?
So rather than sticking our head up anyone’s rear end, we’re asking our friends over at The Only Colors for the inside info on the Michigan State Spartans. This week, we were joined by Oren Basse of TOC for a quick Q&A ahead of Iowa’s matchup with MSU.
Here’s a look at our conversation.
BHGP: We’re officially in year two of the Jonathan Smith era in East Lansing. The Spartans finished 5-7 a season ago but have really struggled once getting into Big Ten play this season. Can you give us a sense of expectations for this team ahead of the season, general views on the job Smith has done thus far and the temperature of the program moving forward?
TOC: The big thing that we were hearing from offseason reports was that the offense was going to be much better than last year. Star WR Nick Marsh was taking his game to another level, and skill position players from the transfer portal were going to help give MSU a full arsenal of weapons. We knew the defense would still have issues, but we expected our offense to be able to win us some games. Getting to a bowl felt very much on the table. In my preseason article, I said these Spartans would go 7-5. I forgot to factor in my personal opinion of Jonathan Smith as a coach, that being someone who doesn’t inspire and motivate his team and does not develop talent properly. That opinion has only been reinforced in 2025, and I would say that the majority of Spartan fans are ready for another coaching change.
BHGP: A year ago, the Spartan offense gave Iowa fits to the tune of 32 points – the most any team not named Ohio State has scored on the Hawkeyes since the Big Ten Championship game back in 2021. But Michigan State is averaging just 24 points per game and hasn’t topped that 32 point mark in a Big Ten game this season. What’s changed with the offense vs last year and how do you expect the Spartans to attack Phil Parker’s defense on Saturday?
TOC: Let me start with what did not change. Our quarterback, Aidan Chiles, still had massive accuracy issues and also was often too slow to sense pressure in the pocket. So all those weapons we had on the team were not able to be taken advantage of as the QB could not make the throws. It only took Coach Smith 8 games to realize that it was not going to improve, and a new quarterback was put in, Alessio Milivojevic. The redshirt freshman threw for over 300 yards in his first game as starter, the first such game for MSU on the year. But it was still a loss.
The MSU running game may catch lightning in a bottle once or twice a game, but the offensive line is not consistent enough to allow us to rely on that part of the offense. So Alessio is going to have to be sharp to help get the ball downfield.
BHGP: On the other side of the ball, Joe Rossi’s defense was carved up early in Big Ten play this season, but seems to potentially be settling in some, giving up just 23 points in OT to Minnesota and 28 points to Penn State a week ago. What should Hawkeye fans expect to see schematically on Saturday against this Iowa offense that is always looking to establish the run? Anyone to call out as a potential x-factor for the defense?
TOC: I am in no way saying that this is a good matchup for MSU, but a team that is better at the run than the pass is the better option. The Spartan secondary, even in our usual nickel formation, is not shutting down anyone’s passing game. The front six, on the other hand, and particularly the two main LBs – Wayne Matthews III and Jordan Hall – has really shown some improvement in the last few weeks. This largely coincides with Rossi’s recent decision to coach from the sidelines rather than the booth. The defensive line shuffles through a lot of guys, but the linebacker level regularly runs out Matthews and Hall. Those two are the leading tacklers on this team and are also responsible for 5 of the 10 turnovers the defense has forced this year.
BHGP: OK, it’s Iowa so we have to talk special teams. Punter Ryan Eckley seems to be having a solid season, averaging more than 40 yards per punt on the year. Talk dirty to the fans about the punting game. And then just taking a look at freshman kicker Martin Connington, he seems relatively reliable on the whole, but has just one FG make from beyond 40 yards on the season. If things come down to it, how confident are you in him hitting a game-winner?
TOC: Technically, your statement that Eckley is averaging over 40 yards per punt is true. The exact number is 49.6, and that is on 38 punts. In the NFL this year, there are only 4 punters with a better average than that. More amazing, even with all that distance, he has only had one touchback this year; he is a wizard at pinning the ball in the shadow of the goal line.
Regarding the kicker, Connington, yeah, he is 1-4 from 40+. I don’t know if I am confident in him hitting a game winner, but I am very confident that MSU won’t have an opportunity to kick a winning field goal.
BHGP: Alright, prediction time. FanDuel Sportsbook has Iowa as 16.5-point favorites in this one with an over/under at 42.5 total points. How do you see this one playing out, what has to go right for the Spartans to pull off the upset and what’s your final score prediction?
TOC As a betting man, I would say go ahead and take Iowa to cover. And I’d go with the over as well. It is Senior Day at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The only way MSU is winning this is if the entire Hawkeye roster becomes so overcome with emotion that they are unable to get their heads into the game. But that probably won’t happen. Let’s call it 35-17 Iowa.
So there you have it, the Hawkeyes get a much needed win on senior day to close out their home slate in style. Here’s hoping Oren knows his stuff and Iowa rolls into Black Friday with some momentum.
Thanks again to Oren Basse from The Only Colors for taking the time to talk Iowa vs MSU with us. Be sure to take a look at their other content from this week previewing the matchup. That includes my answers to his questions on the other end of this back and forth.
Go Hawks!
