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First Look: Michigan State

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Aidan Chiles
Photo by Nick King, Lansing State Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Here’s an early look at Purdue’s penultimate opponent of the 2024 season, the Michigan State Spartans:

Date/Time: Friday, November 22, 8 p.m. E.T.

Location: Spartan Stadium

Surface: Natural Grass

Capacity: 75,005 (tickets)

Weather: Early forecast shows a high of 42, low of 35, cloudy skies and strong breeze

2024 schedules/records: Purdue 1-9 (0-7 Big Ten), Michigan State 4-6 (2-5 Big Ten)

Series notes: Michigan State leads the all-time series 36-29-3, though recent history between the two is limited. These two last met in November 2021, when the No. 3 Spartans entered Ross-Ade unbeaten. Purdue emerged with a 40-29 victory, setting off a field rush at Ross-Ade Stadium. This was Purdue’s second top-three win of the year. The Boilermakers last traveled to East Lansing in 2018, fresh off an upset victory of Ohio State. While the Spartans played backup quarterback Rocky Lombardi, they strolled past Purdue 23-13. This will mark the first meeting in the series for both Ryan Walters and Jonathan Smith.

TV: FOX

Early line: Michigan State -13.5

STORYLINES TO WATCH

Cold November

Purdue will face winter conditions for the first time on Friday night, with wind chills below freezing. But the cold will extend beyond the field. After nine straight losses, the Purdue faithful’s patience is thin. With two games remaining, questions remain about the coaching staff’s future. Will Purdue retain Walters and start fresh with new assistants? Will Purdue completely restart? Do the last two results change anything? Though Michigan State hasn’t impressed in 2024, Purdue enters as a sizable underdog, likely to lose its tenth game in a row.

Defensive struggles

The Boilermaker defense continues to struggle. Opponents average 38.9 points per game against Purdue, as seven of the 10 foes have reached 35 points. Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles presents tremendous arm talent, albeit with some youthful inexperience. Purdue’s defense has generated just five takeaways in 10 games.

National broadcast

Once again, Purdue will appear on a national broadcast this week, the fifth appearance of the season. The results haven’t been pretty. In national broadcast games, Purdue loses by an average of 44.5 points per game. While the new Big Ten television deal offers more prime viewership opportunities, it’s not gone as Purdue hoped.

Ryan Walters on the Spartans

“From a defensive perspective, I have a lot of respect for their defensive coordinator (Joe Rossi) and what he has done. They play sound and are disruptive up front. Their defensive ends are athletic and they try not to give up explosive plays. Offensively, it runs through their quarterback (Aidan Chiles), there is a lot of potential there. Coach (John Smith) has done a lot with that there, and you see (Chiles) having improved this year. He is an extremely talented kid.”

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