Last Saturday, MSU football lost to rival University of Michigan for the first time under Jonathan Smith. 24-17.
The Spartans entered the game with momentum and dominated the Wolverines with 135 total yards in the first quarter to just 15. 93 of his yards came in the run game, an aspect in which MSU struggled early in the season.
Between the starting ground attack in a 12-point win over Iowa on Oct. 19 and the opening showing against Michigan, MSU’s offensive line has turned a corner with its performance.
During the first game of the season, MSU lost redshirt sophomore Christian Phillips, the starting right guard, to an injury. The following week, his replacement, redshirt sophomore Gavin Broschus, was sidelined with a lower leg injury. Both injuries were season-ending, forcing the Spartans’ coaching staff to make adjustments on the fly. It went to redshirt senior Brandon Baldwin, who played left tackle for two seasons with the Spartans.
The changes proved to be a dilemma as MSU’s run game lagged behind other areas of improvement before the bye week.
“I just think there were times (the offensive line wasn’t) necessarily in sync,” assistant head coach and co-special teams coordinator Keith Bhunafah said after practice Tuesday.
Against Michigan, Baldwin combined for a strong performance with sixth-year center Tanner Miller, who created opportunities to surpass Nate Carter’s season-best with 118 rushing yards.
Earlier in the season, Bhuanafa said he told MSU’s backs to be decisive and not hesitate in holes. He said he could tell he was really starting to understand the concept and spoke with Carter after the game on Sunday.
“‘I don’t know what you ate and what you did going to the game, but let’s do the exact same thing,'” said Bhunafa.
Next up for MSU is the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers, whose defense saved them last Saturday against Washington. Indiana collected three sacks against the Huskies. Michigan State’s offensive line will go from one stretch to another.
“Indiana has a great run defense,” Bhunafa said. “The tape speaks for itself.”
The Hoosiers’ remarkable season thus far under head coach Curt Cignetti makes their next stop in East Lansing. MSU and Indiana will meet at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, November 2 at 3:30 p.m. The game will be telecast exclusively on Peacock.
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