Straight Spartans in a curve

Special Teams: C

There weren’t many opportunities for Jonathan Kim, who scored his only extra point and provided two touchbacks on kickoffs. The kick return unit observed seven touchbacks and Montorie Foster Jr. signaled a fair catch on all three of Ohio State’s punts. But punter Ryan Eckley, despite averaging 46.6 yards, picked a bad time to hit one of his worst balls of the season, a 27-yarder that put the Buckeyes near midfield late in the first half. They then scored a TD to make the deficit 24-7 at halftime.

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Coach: C

The injuries the Spartans have suffered through five games — along with a lack of depth due to inexperience and portal departures — have limited Jonathan Smith and his staff. But they managed to keep MSU fighting with a determination not seen since the Mark Dantonio era. The decision to go for a four-and-1 despite the failed score on the Spartans’ first possession showed that Smith has a little Dan Campbell in him and that he wants that to be his team’s DNA going forward. The staff corrected the penalties that were a problem in the first three games, although those have been replaced by points and turnover problems in the red zone over the last two weeks. However, as Smith said, all staff and players learn and grow as they progress, and this looks like a team that will give opponents as many fits as the mistakes give the Spartans and their coaches.

Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.

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