EAST LANSING — Of all the consternation over Aidan Chiles’ continuing interception issue, coach Jonathan Smith feels his young quarterback could use a little help from his friends.
Particularly when it comes to Michigan State football’s struggling ground game.
“We could help him out a ton by running the ball more effectively, efficiently,” Smith said Monday in his weekly news conference. “Not getting into some of these situations where it’s third-and-10 again and asking him to get us out of that.
“So it’s a group effort to avoid the negative plays and try to keep them out of a situation where it’s all on him.”
Easier said than done, especially with No. 3 Ohio State visiting Spartan Stadium on Saturday (7 p.m., Peacock) in a rivalry that has been one-sided for the past eight years.
Michigan State Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith watches from the sideline during the first half against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium, Sept. 21, 2024 in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
During an eight-game win streak dating back to 2016, the Buckeyes have outscored the Spartans, 320-77 — including 205-42 the past four years.
But equally as alarming for MSU (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) going into this primetime showdown is how much Ohio State (3-0, 0-0) has neutered the Spartans’ rushing attack that, during the height of Mark Dantonio’s tenure. allowed them to go blow-for-blow with the Buckeyes in big games in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Since 2016, MSU is averaging 80 rushing yards to the Buckeyes’ 243 in their meetings. Take out the 2016 game, when the Spartans ran for 207 yards, and the disparity is far greater — 61.9 on the ground at 2.4 yards per attempt for MSU to OSU’s 245.7 rushing yards and 5.6 a carry.
Through four games this season, the Spartans average 153.8 yards rushing, 75th in the nation. Starting junior…
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