Free Press sports writer Chris Solari rates Michigan State football on a scale of A to F after the Spartans’ 38-28 win over Maryland on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Ford Field in Detroit.

Offense: B

While there were drives that stalled and sputtered, MSU played one of its most complete games under coach Jonathan Smith, relative to the competition. The offensive line – on to its nation-high seventh different starting group and 11th new starter – delivered a sack-free performance for the first time in two seasons against an FBS opponent under position coach Jim Michalczik, and the program’s first game without a sack allowe since Nov. 18, 2023, at Indiana. That allowed quarterback Alessio Milivojevic to throw for 292 yards and a career-best four touchdowns, spreading the ball to eight different receivers. And it allowed the Spartans’ running backs to pick up 161 yards combined as holes opened all game.

WAIT AND SEE: Limbo continues for Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith

Defense: C

MSU needed to steady the ship once the Terps turned to quarterback Malik Washington to throw and throw and throw some more, 61 passes in Maryland’s 77 offensive plays. The freshman delivered with 459 passing yards, much of it coming over the middle to exploit season-long coverage issues there, as the Spartans bent time and again. But when a big play was needed most, junior captain Jordan Hall delivered two big ones – hitting Washington on a third-down throw and then combining with cornerback Aydan West for a sack to force a turnover on downs the next play. Defensive back Aveon Grose, making his first start as a Spartan, sealed it with an interception after that. But MSU was abysmal on third down before then, allowing the Terps to go 9-for-16.

Special teams: A

That A stands for Alante Brown. After missing nine games with a broken foot, the sixth-year senior kick returner touched the ball once in his final game – and returned a third-quarter kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in his last touch as a college player. Punter Ryan Eckley continued his strong season by pinning Maryland inside the 20 on four of his five punts and averaged 47.6 yards, while kicker Martin Connington delivered a short field goal. And after coverage busts a week earlier at Iowa proved costly, the Spartans shored things up to prevent any Saturday.

The Michigan State Spartans have gone through a rollercoaster of emotions this season, and there have been bright spots accompanied by dark places almost every week.

Unfortunately for the team, though, there has been one unit that has consistently underperformed and let the team down every week, that being the offensive line.

They may have lost one of their starters in Luka Vincic at the beginning of the season, but they still have had plenty of room to prove that they are a capable unit, full of young talent and veterans alike.

So, with only one game left in the season against the Maryland Terapins, what will it take for the offensive line to prove that they can be good for next season and be reliable for freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic?

Allow Two Or Less Sacks

Make Room For The Running Backs To Do Their Job

Thrive Without The Tight Ends

MSU’s offensive line is on its last chance to prove itself to be a capable unit and not allow an immense amount of sacks, but if it can, then Spartan fans might have more to hope for come next year.

On this episode of the Testudo Talk Podcast, hosts Matt Germack, Ryan Alonardo and Nolan Rogalski recap Maryland men’s basketball’s showing in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas and preview Maryland football’s season finale against Michigan State in Detroit.

Listen to the episode here. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere else you get your podcasts.