Michigan State-Iowa Recap

After watching, digesting, and absorbing the stat lines, higlights, and indeed, Saturday's game itself, one has to wonder where the Michigan State team of these past 2 months was in Iowa City. In a truly absymal performance, MSU displayed few,  if any, of the qualities that propelled them to success over the first eight weeks. They were outrushed by 131 yards, turned the ball over three times, and faced a 30-point halfitme deficit, most definitely un-State like numbers.

But,watching the game delivered more definitive notes about their play than any box score ever could. Almost from the start, the Spartans looked sluggish, slow, and uninspired. The fact that the defense was gashed mercilessly during a game-opening,12-play, 80 yard Hawkeye TD drive speaks to this fact. Following an ill-timed 3-and-out and an Iowa field goal, one might have expected the Kirk Cousins-led offensive unit to settle in, put together a drive, and turn the gears towards an eventual comeback. But, in uncharacteristic fashion, Cousins threw a poorly-placed ball for what was officially only his second pick of the season. Thanks to an Iowa lateral, this play led to the first direct points off a turnover for the Spartans this year.

Even after enduring a shocking 17-point first quarter on defense, a glimmer of hope still shined for the feisty Spartans.  After all, MSU had shown the ability to come back from such a deficit just last week, right? Yet, the classic Spartan fire that has become such a part of this year never ignited. Michigan State could only trade punts back and forth before scoring their only points in the fourth quarter. Coach Dantonio and his team will undoubtedly bounce back, despite this setback. Dantonio himself noted that football is a tough game, and "when you get hit in the mouth, you've got to get back up".

Today's game certainly qualifies as a shot to the Spartans' jaw, and maybe their collective psyche. Now,MSU will have to respond against Minnesota next week, and in the meantime, endure national criticism from experts and doubters alike. But, this group will bounce back, and next week, as always, they'll keep playing.

--Beau