Looking ahead to Michigan State football’s home game with Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Fast facts
Matchup: Michigan State (3-6, 0-6 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (3-6, 0-6).
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing.
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TV/radio: CBS, WJR-AM (760).
Line: Nittany Lions by 7.
Michigan State football vs Minnesota availability report
MSU – Out: DE Anelu Lafaele (left leg, season), LB Brady Pretzlaff (shoulder, season), OG Luka Vincic (left knee, season), DB Andrew Brinson IV (left arm, season), DB Caleb Gash (arm, season). Doubtful: DT Ben Roberts (lower body), S Justin Denson Jr. (personal). Questionable: RB Makhi Frazier (undisclosed), WR Chrishon McCray (undisclosed), DT Ru’Quan Buckley (undisclosed), T Stanton Ramil (lower body), OG Kristian Phillips (right leg), KR Alante Brown (lower body), DB Ade Willie (undisclosed), DB NiJhay Burt (undisclosed), TE Brennan Parachek (undisclosed), TE Jayden Savoury (undisclosed), LB Marcus Pulliam (undisclosed), DB Deuce Edwards (undisclosed), DT Mikeshun Beeler (undisclosed), DB Jeremiah Hughes (undisclosed), WR Braylon Collier (undisclosed), RB Jace Clarizio (calf), TE Jaxon Wilson (undisclosed), K Tarik Ahmetbasic (undisclosed), LS Kaden Schickel (left leg). Probable: LB Jordan Hall (hip).
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Penn State – Out: QB Drew Allar (ankle, season). Questionable: QB Jaxon Smolik (undisclosed), QB Bekkem Kritza (undisclosed), WR Josiah Brown (undisclosed), WR Kaden Saunders (undisclosed), WR Peter Gonzalez (undisclosed), OL Brady O’Hara (undisclosed), OG Liam Horan (undisclosed), DL Max Granville (undisclosed), DL Mason Robinson (undisclosed), DL Kaleb Artis (undisclosed), DL Jordan Mayer (undisclosed), DL Owen Wafle (undisclosed), DL Sam Siafa (undisclosed), DL Chaz Coleman (undisclosed), DB Donte Nastasi (undisclosed), LB Kari Jackson (undisclosed), LB Tony Rojas (undisclosed), LB Jackson Pryts (undisclosed), LB Bobby Mears (undisclosed).
Scouting report
Nov 1, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Alessio Milivojevic (11) calls a play against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
When MSU has the ball: The Spartans’ shift to Alessio Milivojevic at quarterback got off to a rocky beginning with six first-half sacks in a 23-20 overtime loss at Minnesota on Nov. 1. But MSU’s retooled, injury-limited offensive line started blocking better after halftime. The redshirt freshman finished 20-for-28 for 311 yards passing with a TD as the offense produced a season-best 467 yards, 337 of them in the second half. With starter Makhi Frazier out, Elijah Tau-Toliver ran for 127 yards on 11 carries and Brandon Tullis added 51 yards on 14 attempts with a go-ahead fourth-quarter TD.
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How many injured players MSU gets back will be critical against a PSU defense that is aggressive despite a downturn from a year ago and ranks 36th in total defense (325.8 yards per game) and 15th against the pass (172.1). They Nittany Lions have allowed 153.7 rushing yards and rank 82nd in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
It is still up in the air if Milivojevic or junior Aidan Chiles will start. By allowing 30 sacks, the Spartans are 103rd in rushing (125.8). MSU averages 25.6 points a game (81st) and 347.7 total yards (99th) while converting just 37.5% of its third downs (88th).
Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) breaks a tackle as Michigan State Spartans linebacker Jordan Hall (5) gives chase in the fourth quarter of a game at Ford Field on November 24, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) Mike Mulholland, Getty Images
When PSU has the ball: Joe Rossi’s defense has made strides the past two games, though penalties proved costly again for the second straight game as the Gophers used them to march down the field in the waning minutes for a tying field goal. The Spartans are 69th in total defense, allowing 371.3 total yards, and 66th against the run (144.3). However, the 31.4 points allowed ranks 114th, and they have struggled to generate both turnovers and sacks. Opponents are converting 44.3% of their third downs, which is 119th nationally.
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The Nittany Lions, like the Spartans, are battling major injury issues across the board but especially on offense. PSU is 108th in FBS at 335.7 yards per game and 107th in passing (184.7) while running for 151.0 a game (78th). The Nittany Lions are scoring 30.7 points a game overall (52nd), but they are getting outscored 184-144 in Big Ten play. They’re also getting outgained 376.7-284.8 while searching for a first league win.
Veteran senior running back Kaytron Allen ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 36th in FBS at 81.8 yards per game (736 yards on 138 carries) and is 17th nationally with 10 scores on the ground.
Know the foe
Nov 8, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Terry Smith looks on from the sideline during the second quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Unhappy valley: Not even a year ago, James Franklin guided the Nittany Lions to their first College Football Playoff appearance. He was fired on Oct. 12 after losing three straight to start Big Ten play, and PSU has extended that to a six-game losing streak with interim coach Terry Smith at the helm. Franklin was 5-5 against MSU in his 12 seasons with the Nittany Lions, in which he went 104-45 with a Big Ten title in 2016 and a Rose Bowl win after the 2022 season. Both the Spartans and PSU have lost six straight coming into Saturday.
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Close calls: After Franklin was fired, PSU lost a close road game at Iowa, 25-24, on Oct. 18. The Nittany Lions emerged from their bye week with a hellacious two-game stretch that started with a 38-14 road loss at No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 1. Then on Saturday, PSU nearly pulled off a shocking home upset before Fernando Mendoza orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard drive in 1:15 and finished it with a dramatic and acrobatic 7-yard TD catch from Omar Cooper Jr. to give No. 2 Indiana a 27-24 comeback win in State College, Pennsylvania.
Nov 8, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
QB questions: After Drew Allar suffered a broken left ankle on Oct. 11 in a loss to Northwestern, PSU has continued to battle even more injuries at the quarterback position. Ethan Grunkemeyer took over as starter, but the Nittany Lions were without backup Jaxon Smolik against the Hoosiers and No. 3 Bekkem Kritza was questionable for the game. Grunkemeyer was 22-for-31 for 219 yards against Indiana with his first touchdown pass and fourth interception since taking over for Allar. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound redshirt freshman is completing 64.4% of his throws for 457 yards in those three starts. PSU reportedly has been repping wide receiver Liam Clifford as an emergency QB.
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Two cents
Nov 26, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; A detailed view of the Land Grant Trophy as the Penn State Nittany Lion players sing their alma mater following the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Michigan State 35-16. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Land Grant revival: PSU has won the venerable Land Grant Trophy in four of the last five in the series, including a 42-0 blowout at Ford Field in Detroit to end MSU’s 2023 season and usher in the Jonathan Smith era the following day. The trophy – an audacious 76.2-pound blend of wood and metal – was the brainchild of George Perles and Joe Paterno and an made its debut Nov. 27, 1993. The Nittany Lions have won it 18 of the 28 meetings since PSU joined the Big Ten. However, the Spartans won the last meeting at Spartan Stadium in 2021.
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Final time: With MSU’s final regular-season game at Ford Field again in two weeks against Maryland, Saturday will mark the final game at Spartan Stadium for its seniors. A few of the longtime holdovers who will be in their final home appearances are linebackers Darius Snow and Sam Edwards, and safety Malik Spencer, who have spent all of their college years at MSU. The Spartans, who need to win all of their final three games to get bowl eligible for the first time since 2021, are on their longest losing streak since dropping seven straight in 2016 under Mark Dantonio.
Prediction
PSU 24, MSU 14: This comes down to whether the Spartans can sustain drives, something they have failed to do consistently all season. But the Nittany Lions have the nation’s sixth-best ball possession offense and ride Allen all day to keep MSU’s offense off the field. The Spartans take a seventh straight loss with two games remaining, all but sealing a fourth straight year and fifth time in six seasons since Dantonio retired without a bowl trip in December.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football vs Penn State scouting report, prediction
