Saturday, October 18
Bloomington, Ind.
3:30 PM
Michigan State University
at
Indiana
Spartans Travel to No. 3 Indiana in Battle for Old Brass Spittoon
10/14/2025 4:56:00 PM | Football
Game 7: Michigan State (3-3, 0-3 B1G) at No. 3/3 Indiana (6-0, 3-0 B1G)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 18
Kickoff:Â 3:36 p.m.Â
Location:Â Bloomington, Ind.
Stadium:Â Memorial Stadium (56,626)
Surface: FieldTurf
Game Notes: MSUÂ | Indiana
â–ºBROADCAST INFORMATION
TV/Streaming/Mobile: Peacock
Announcers: Dan Hicks (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst), Zora Stephenson (sidelines)
Live Stats:Â msuspartans.com | Live Stats
Radio:Â Spartan Media Network |Â Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play:Â George Blaha
Analyst:Â Jehuu Caulcrick
Sidelines:Â Tre Mosley
Broadcast Hosts:Â Will Tieman, Dalton Shetler
Website/Mobile:Â msuspartans.com/watch, MSU Spartans app, Tune In radio
Flagship Stations:Â Lansing:Â WMMQÂ (94.9 FM)/WJIMÂ (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids:Â WBFXÂ (101.3 FM)
Affiliates:Â 21 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite:Â SiriusXM Ch. 381 | SiriusXM App
Pregame Show:Â Begins at 2 p.m.
â–ºSERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series:Â MSU leads, 50-19-2
Series in Bloomington:Â MSU leads, 24-10-1
Series in Big Ten Games: MSU leads, 47-16-1
Last Meeting: IU 47, MSU 10 (2024 in East Lansing)
Current Series Streak: 1 by IU
â–ºHEAD COACHES
MSU Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
MSU Record: 8-10 (second year)
Overall Record: 42-45 (eighth year)
Record vs. Indiana: 0-1
Indiana Head Coach: Curt Cignetti
IU Record: 17-2 (second year)
Overall Record: 136-37 (15th year)
Record vs. MSU: 1-0
â–ºSPARTANS, HOOSIERS FACE OFF FOR OLD BRASS SPITTOONÂ
• Michigan State travels to Bloomington to face No. 3/3 Indiana on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Stadium. The game will be streamed live on Peacock with Dan Hicks (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst) and Zora Stephenson (sidelines) on the call.
• MSU went 3-0 to open the season with home nonconference victories against Western Michigan, Boston College and Youngstown State, but has lost its first three Big Ten games. The Spartans fell on the road at No. 25 USC (Sept. 20) and Nebraska (Oct. 4) before losing to UCLA last Saturday in East Lansing.
• Following its 30-20 win at No. 3/2 Oregon last Saturday, Indiana (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) moved up to No. 3 in this week's AP Poll, the highest ranking in program history. The Hoosiers also own a Top 10 win over No. 9 Illinois at home on Sept. 20.Â
• Saturday's game marks the 72nd meeting between Michigan State and Indiana. The Spartans lead the all-time series against the Hoosiers, 50-19-2, including a 24-10-1 record in Bloomington.Â
• IU beat MSU in East Lansing last season on Nov. 2, 47-10, but Michigan State has won 12 of the past 16 games in the series. The Spartans won the last matchup in Bloomington, 24-21, on Nov. 18, 2023.
• Since 1950, the winner of the Michigan State-Indiana game has been presented the Old Brass Spittoon. The brass spittoon came from one of Michigan's earliest trading posts and is widely believed to be more than 200 years old. Legend has it that the spittoon was around when both institutions were founded – Indiana in 1820 and MAC in 1855. The trophy was initiated by the junior and senior classes and student council at Michigan State, and soon accepted by the Indiana Student Senate. Since 1950, Michigan State leads the series, 50-16-1.Â
â–ºNICK MARSH LEADS TEAM IN RECEPTIONS, TD CATCHESÂ Â Â Â Â
• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh leads the Spartans with 29 receptions for 340 yards (56.7 ypg; 11.7 avg.), including a team-best four touchdown catches. Marsh had a season-high seven receptions for 77 yards against UCLA with a 5-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter. The Detroit, Michigan, native ranks among the Big Ten leaders in TD catches (tied for seventh with four), receptions (tied for 10th with 29; 4.8 pg) and receiving yards (20th with 56.7 pg).Â
â–ºJUNIOR QB AIDAN CHILES RANKS AMONG BIG TEN LEADERS IN TOTAL OFFENSEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Junior Aidan Chiles has started 18 consecutive games at quarterback for the Spartans. Now in his second season at MSU, Chiles is completing 61 percent of his passes (87-of-142) for 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns against three interceptions. Chiles had his 10-game streak of at least one passing TD snapped at Nebraska. He currently ranks among the Big Ten leaders in points responsible for per game (seventh with 14.3 ppg), passing touchdowns (10th with nine), passing efficiency (10th with 138.2 rating), rushing TDs (10th with five) and total offense (15th with 200.8 ypg).
• Chiles has also proven to be a running threat and ranks second on the team in rushing with 186 yards on 58 carries with a team-high five scores (31.0 ypg); he has 12 carries of 10-plus yards (tied for second among Big Ten QBs) and has run for 23 first downs (tied for third among Big Ten QBs).Â
â–ºOMARI KELLY PROVING TO BE A PRODUCTIVE ALL-AROUND THREAT FOR MSUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly, who is in his first season at MSU after transferring from Middle Tennessee State, leads the team in receiving yards (347; 57.8 ypg) and all-purpose yards (470; 78.3 ypg). He is also second with 24 receptions. Kelly ranks 19th in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (57.8) and tied for 18th in receptions per game (4.0), while also ranking second in the Big Ten in punt returns (19.7 avg.).
â–ºMATT GULBIN ANCHORING THE OFFENSIVE LINEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Graduate senior center Matt Gulbin, a Wake Forest transfer who joined the program in 2025, has taken every snap on offense this season for the Spartans (396). He is graded the second-best center in the FBS by Pro Football Focus (80.5). Gulbin is currently on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the nation's best center.
â–ºMAKHI FRAZIER LEADS GROUND GAME IN FIRST YEAR AS STARTERÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Sophomore running back Makhi Frazier leads the team and ranks 11th in the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 63.8 yards per game (4.4 per carry) with two touchdowns. In his first collegiate start, Frazier ran for 103 yards and a touchdown against Western Michigan, then followed up with 81 yards on 17 carries in Week 2 against Boston College. In the Big Ten opener at USC, Frazier had 61 yards on 14 carries.
â–ºRED ZONE EFFICIENCYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State has scored on 22 of its 23 trips to the red zone this season, good for a .957 percentage, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 14th in the FBS. The Spartans have scored 18 touchdowns in the red zone, including 11 rushing TDs, along with four field goals. MSU's TD percentage in the red zone (.783) ranks first in the Big Ten and 10th in the FBS.
â–ºJORDAN HALL LEADS TEAM, RANKS AMONG BIG TEN LEADERS IN TACKLESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Junior co-captain linebacker Jordan Hall leads the team and ranks tied for ninth in the Big Ten with 45 tackles (7.5 pg). He recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including nine solo stops, in the win over Boston College on Sept. 6 to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. Hall had his first career interception to go along with eight tackles at Nebraska on Oct. 4.
â–ºPRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN RYAN ECKLEY A WEAPON ON SPECIAL TEAMSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley, a Ray Guy Award candidate and preseason All-American, led the Big Ten in punting in 2024 with his 47.9-yard average and was a second-team all-conference selection.Â
• Eckley has showed why he is one of the best punters in the nation in the first six games of the season. Although he doesn't meet the NCAA stat minimums, Eckley would rank No. 1 in the FBS with his 51.4-yard punting average. He also ranks first in the Big Ten in 50-yard plus punts (12) and second with nine punts inside the 20. Eckley has dropped six punts inside the opponents' 10-yard line, including three at the 1 and one at the 2.
• Eckley has a career punting average of 47.9 yards per punt (119 punts for 5,705 yards), which would rank No. 1 in school history (current record: Bryce Baringer, 46.0 avg.). That average also ranks No. 1 among current active players in the FBS.
• Michigan State also ranks No. 6 in punt returns (19.7 avg.) and No. 8 in the FBS in net punting (39.9 avg.).
â–ºSTAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – So. Makhi Frazier (87 carries for 383 yards, 4.4 avg., 2 TDs, 63.8 ypg)
Passing – Jr. Aidan Chiles (87-of-142, .613, 1,019 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs, 169.8 ypg)
Receiving – So. Nick Marsh (29 receptions for 340 yards, 11.7 avg., 4 TDs, 56.7 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. LB Jordan Hall (45 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 2.0 sacks for 8 yards, 1 FF, 1 INT)
Indiana:
Rushing – R-Sr. Roman Hemby (84 carries for 421 yards, 5.0 avg., 2 TDs, 70.2 ypg)
Passing – R-Jr. Fernando Mendoza (109-of-153, .712, 1,423 yards, 17 TDs, 2 INTs, 237.2 ypg)
Receiving – Sr. Elijah Sarratt (39 receptions for 533 yards, 13.7 avg., 7 TDs, 88.8 ypg)
Tackles – Sr. LB Aidan Fisher (39 tackles, 5.0 TFLs for 15 yards, 2.0 sacks for 11 yards)
â–ºSERIES NOTESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Saturday's game marks the 72nd meeting between Michigan State and Indiana. The Spartans lead the all-time series against the Hoosiers, 50-19-2, including a 24-10-1 record in Bloomington.Â
• IU beat MSU in East Lansing last season on Nov. 2, 47-10, but Michigan State has won 12 of the past 16 games in the series. The Spartans won the last matchup in Bloomington, 24-21, on Nov. 18, 2023.
• Since 1950, the winner of the Michigan State-Indiana game has been presented the Old Brass Spittoon. The brass spittoon came from one of Michigan's earliest trading posts and is widely believed to be more than 200 years old. Legend has it that the spittoon was around when both institutions were founded – Indiana in 1820 and MAC in 1855. The trophy was initiated by the junior and senior classes and student council at Michigan State, and soon accepted by the Indiana Student Senate. Since 1950, Michigan State leads the series, 50-16-1.Â
â–ºA GLANCE AT NO. 3/3 INDIANA (6-0, 3-0 BIG TEN)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• The Hoosiers improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in B1G action after a 30-20 win at No. 3/2 Oregon for IU's first-ever win on the road against a top-five team; it was also Indiana's first over a top-five team since beating then-No. 3 Purdue, 19-14, in 1967 in Bloomington. Indiana's win also snapped Oregon's 23-game regular-season winning streak and 18-game home winning streak, as the Hoosiers dealt the Ducks their first Big Ten regular-season loss.
• IU amassed 326 yards of total offense with 111 yards rushing and 215 yards passing. The Hoosier defense held the Ducks to 267 yards of total offense, with just 81 yards on the ground and 186 through the air, including racking up six sacks. Indiana's defense held Oregon to its fewest yards of total offense under head coach Dan Lanning and fewest yards since 2021 when it had 221 vs. Utah.
• Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for 215 yards on 20-of-31 passing with one TD and one INT, adding six carries for 31 rushing yards. Mendoza was recognized as part of the Week 7 Davey O'Brien Award Great 8 list. He leads the conference and ranks fourth in the country in passing TDs (17), while ranking third in the B1G and fourth in FBS in passing efficiency (183.4), as well as ninth in the league and 43rd in the nation in passing yards per game (237.2). Mendoza is 109-for-153 passing with 1,423 yards with 17 TDs and two INTs.
• Senior wideout Elijah Sarratt was targeted 13 times with eight catches for 121 yards and one TD, coming on an 8-yard pass from Mendoza with 6:23 left in the game that gave IU the lead for good. Sarratt leads the B1G and ranks seventh in the FBS in receiving TDs (7), as well as third in the conference and 13th in the country in receiving yards/game (88.8), along with fourth in the league and 13th in the nation in receptions/game (6.5). He has 39 catches for 533 yards on the season.
• Redshirt senior running back Roman Hemby had 19 carries for 70 yards with two TDs, scoring on a 3-yard rush in the first quarter and a 2-yard scoring scamper in the third quarter. Hemby is eighth in the league and 60th in the nation in rushing yards/game (70.2), with 84 carries for 421 yards with two TDs.Â
• Redshirt senior linebacker Aiden Fisher and sophomore linebacker Rolijah Hardy had 13 tackles apiece. Fisher spearheads the Hoosier defense with a team-leading 39 total tackles, adding 5.0 TFLs and 2.5 sacks.
• Indiana is second in the B1G and fourth in the FBS in both scoring offense (44.8 ppg) and scoring defense (11.3 ppg).
• The Hoosier offense is second in the B1G and eighth in the FBS in total offense (502.8 ypg), while leading the league and ranking ninth in the nation in rushing offense (241.7 ypg) and also ranks seventh in the conference and 40th in the country in passing offense (261.2 ypg).
• IU's defense is tops in the league and fourth in the nation in total defense (229.0 ypg), ranking fourth in the conference and 12th in the country in rushing defense (86.8 ypg) and third in the B1G and sixth in the FBS in passing yards allowed (142.2 ypg).
• Redshirt junior linebacker Isaiah Jones leads the B1G and ranks tied for fourth in the FBS in both total tackles for loss (10.0) and tackles for loss/game (1.67). He is also third in the B1G and 23rd in the FBS in sacks/game (0.75) with 4.5 total sacks, with 32 total tackles.
• Redshirt senior defensive back Louis Moore is second in the B1G and tied for third in the FBS in interceptions (4), adding 37 tackles with 1.5 TFL.
• Redshirt sophomore placekicker Nicolas Radicic is 7-of-7 on field goals and 35-of-35 on PATs, one of two kickers in the B1G with a perfect field goal percentage, and also tops the conference in PATs made and made/game (5.8), ranking tied for sixth in the league in scoring (9.3 ppg). Redshirt senior Brendan Franke kicked a 58-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the first half for the longest field goal by a Hoosier in a road or neutral-site game.
• Hoosier head coach Curt Cignetti is in his second season at IU, posting a 17-2 mark. Cignetti is in his 15th season as a collegiate head coach, amassing a 136-37 ledger.
LAST TIME OUT: UCLA 38, MSU 13
 ►GAME RECAP                     Â
Michigan State fell to UCLA on Homecoming, 38-13, before a crowd of 72,109 last Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic completed 8-of-18 passes for 100 yards and sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh caught seven passes for 77 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore running back Makhi Frazier had 12 carries for 58 yards. Junior quarterback Aidan Chiles finished the day completing 8-of-17 passes for 66 yards and a 2-yard rushing touchdown.
Junior linebacker Jordan Hall led the defensive unit with seven tackles, while redshirt junior defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren had six tackles, including a half sack and a tackle for loss. Redshirt senior defensive back Armorion Smith added six tackles and redshirt sophomore edge David Santiago finished with five tackles.
â–ºSCORING SUMMARYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Michigan State got off to a good start, forcing a UCLA three-and-out and then scoring on its first possession with a 10-play, 59-yard drive capped by a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Aidan Chiles, his fifth rushing TD of the season.
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The Bruins (2-4, 2-1 Big Ten) got on the board on their second series with a 47-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani.
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MSU came up short on fourth down on its second possession, giving UCLA good field position at the Spartan 34-yard line. The Bruins took advantage with a quick touchdown while taking just 1:39 off the clock as Jalen Berger fielded a direct snap and raced 16 yards into the end zone to make it 10-7 UCLA.
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The Bruins went up 17-7 at the 10:17 mark in the second quarter on Berger's second TD of the game, this time on a 3-yard reception from Nico Iamaleava. UCLA extended its lead to 24-7 as Iamaleava connected with Titus Mokiao-Atimalala on a 12-yard touchdown with 4:09 left in the half.
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UCLA scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to go up 38-7.
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Nick Marsh caught his fourth TD pass of the season on a 5-yard reception from Alessio Milivojevic at the 13:09 mark in the fourth quarter.
â–ºOFFENSIVE NOTESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State scored on its opening possession for the fifth time in the six games . . . the Spartans had scored a TD on their first drive of the first four games of the season, before not scoring on their opening drive in game five of the season at Nebraska (10/4/25).
• Junior quarterback Aidan Chiles scored a rushing TD for the third straight game, the longest streak of his career after three career streaks of back-to-back games . . . it was Chiles' team-leading fifth rushing TD of the season, with all five coming in the last four games, after registering his first career multi-rushing TD outing last week at Nebraska . . . Chiles now has 14 total TDs on the season, throwing for nine and rushing for five .
• Chiles was 8-of-17 passing for 66 yards and six rushing for 9 yards and the TD, before leaving early in the second half with an injury.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic was 8-of-18 passing for 100 yards, all new career highs, passing for a TD for the second game in a row.
• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh snared a season-high seven passes for 77 yards, the second-most of the season behind his top mark of the season of 94 yards vs. Youngstown State (9/13/25).
• Marsh now has a catch in all 17 of his games as a Spartan, including multiple receptions in the last 16 games, after one catch in his collegiate debut.
• Marsh caught his fourth TD catch of the season and first since tallying two in game two vs. Boston College (9/6/25).
• Saturday's seven catches marked Marsh's fifth game with four or more catches as part of his 11th career game with four or more receptions . . . the 77 yards marked his third game this season with 50+ yards and eighth of his career.Â
â–ºDEFENSIVE NOTESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State had five players on defense make their first starts of the season, including three of those five making their first starts of their collegiate careers . . . freshman defensive back Aydan West, redshirt sophomore defensive back Chance Rucker, graduate defensive back Dontavius Nash, redshirt freshman defensive lineman Kekai Burnett and graduate defensive lineman Ru'Quan Buckley all made their first starts of the 2025 season.
• West and Burnett were both making the first starts of their collegiate careers, as they are in their first and second years, respectively, as Spartans . . . Buckley also made the first start of his collegiate career, as he did not start any games during his nine games played during his three years at Nebraska (2021-23) and his 12 games last season in his first as a Spartan.
• Rucker made his 10th start of his college career as a Spartan after eight in 2023 and one in 2024.
• Nash made his first start as a Spartan; it was the 10th of his collegiate career after nine in his two years at East Carolina with three in 2023 and six in 2024.
• Junior linebacker Jordan Hall led the Spartan defense in tackles for the second straight game, notching seven stops..
• Hall has now led MSU's defense in tackles in four of the six games this season, also topping the team in the Boston College contest (9/13/25) and the season opener vs. Western Michigan (8/29/25).
• Hall has posted seven or more tackles in four of the five complete games played.Â
• Redshirt junior defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren notched his season-high six stops for the second time in the last three games, matching his season and career-best . . . VanSumeren has logged four or more tackles in each of the last three games with four last week vs. Nebraska, as part of four outings with four or more stops after five in the season opener vs. Western Michigan (8/29/25).
• VanSumeren added 0.5 sack on a 0.5 tackle for loss, as he has posted at least 0.5 TFL in the last two games and three of the six games this season.
• Redshirt senior defensive back Armorion Smith posted six tackles, marking the second-highest of the season behind his career-best of eight stops vs. Boston College (9/6/25).
â–ºSPECIAL TEAMS NOTESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Ray Guy Award Watch List member redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley punted three times for a 45.0 ypp average with a long of 48 yards, marking his first game this season with an average under 50 yards out of the five games in which he punted more than once, as well as only the second time without a punt of 50-plus yards.
• Redshirt freshman Martin Connington missed a PAT for the first time this season after making the previous 14 of the season, going 13-of-13 entering Saturday and making the first extra point on MSU's opening TD, but then missing the PAT on MSU's fourth-quarter score . . . Connington did not attempt a field goal for the second straight game after making 5-of-6 on the season.
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