Michigan State needs a win against Rutgers on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich., to become bowl eligible for the first time in three years.
“This is an important game for multiple reasons — our last home game, the last home game for some of our seniors, the opportunity to keep this group together for … another month if you can have success this Saturday,” said first-year Spartans coach Jonathan Smith. “All of that should add to their motivation.”
The Spartans (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten) snapped a three-game losing streak last weekend, holding on for a 24-17 win over Purdue to put them in a position for a postseason berth.
Aidan Chiles, who has passed for 2,265 yards and 12 touchdowns, has not thrown any interceptions in his last two starts after tossing 11 in his first nine games.
“A tremendous athlete,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said of Chiles. “Really, a quarterback that you can see is just getting better and better each week. We recruited him. We’re very familiar with him. We really wanted him. He ended up going to Oregon State and now he’s at Michigan State, but somebody that we really thought was an excellent player.”
The Scarlet Knights (6-5, 3-4) are trying to rebound from a crushing 38-31 loss to then-No. 25 Illinois. Rutgers gave up a 40-yard, game-winning touchdown pass with four seconds left.
Schiano expects to see the best from Michigan State.
“I think it’s a huge challenge going on the road, playing a team that’s certainly motivated with bowl aspirations but I don’t worry about the other team,” Schiano said. “I learn about the other team. We use it to educate ourselves, but our team has overcome adversity all season and they will overcome it again.”
With game-time temperatures expected in the low 30s, the Scarlet Knights will likely need to rely on the run game led by Kyle Monangai, whose 122 rushing yards against Illinois gave him 1,150 for the season.
A win Saturday would give Rutgers its best regular season finish since 2014.
“We’ve had a lot of things that can test your will, test your focus,” Schiano said. “I think our guys have done a very good job. Here’s another opportunity.”
