Michigan Football: Michigan State Numbers to Know
Offense
The Spartans rank 29th in the nation in scoring offense at 34.3 points per game, however, that number drops to 28 points per game when looking at just Big Ten play.
It’s no secret that Michigan State’s offense, like Michigan’s, revolves around the running game. That rushing attack logs a stout 200.4 yards per game, with stud junior running back Kenneth Walker III accounting for 142.4 of those by himself.
Unfortunately for the Wolverines, the Spartans present a well-balanced offense, so they can’t just stack the box to stop Walker III.
Led by sophomore quarterback Payton Thorne, MSU boasts the nation’s 50th ranked passing attack at 251.3 yards per contest, including 218.5 per game in conference play.
Because of that balance, the Spartans rack up 451.7 total yards per game offensively, good enough for 26th in the nation.
Digging deeper we turn to the Spartans’ performance in the red zone.
Michigan State has scored on 25 of its 29 red zone opportunities, an 86.2% rate that ranks 58th nationally, including 17 touchdowns and 8 field goals.
Next, let’s take a look at their efficiency converting on third and fourth downs.
On third down, Michigan State really struggles as they convert just 34.9% of the time, which ranks 107th in the country.
MSU has only gone for it on fourth down six times this season, converting three of those attempts.
Now to the offensive line, how might they handle the vaunted Wolverines pass rush and stout run defense?
The Spartan O-line ranks t-67th in tackles for loss allowed per game at 4.86, but 26th nationally allowing just 1.43 sacks per game.
Michigan State also has an average time of possession of roughly 26 minutes per game, a surprisingly low number for such a successful run-first offense, which checks in at 119th in the country.
Overall, the Spartans have an offense predicated on establishing the run and passing off of that concept, however, they struggle to convert third downs and sustain long drives which could make things tough against a stingy Michigan football defense.