Michigan State grades vs Maryland: Jonathan Smith embraces his gambler

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.

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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.

Coaching: B

MSU could have packed it in weeks ago, but Smith and his staff continued to maximize the fight internally and finally got a win to end an eight-game losing streak. Offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren dialed up a strong plan to keep Milivojevic moving the chains and away from pressure. Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi’s group found enough moxie in the fourth quarter to finally stop the Terrapins. And Smith remained true to himself while showing a bit of a gambler, going for it on fourth-and-7 at the Terps’ 10 after the 2-minute timeout and coming out with a touchdown that put the game away.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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