Live Game Thread: Michigan State at No. 3 Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. --- It has been a very tough start to the Big Ten schedule for Michigan State, who sit at 3-3 overall, but is 0-3 during conference play. Things are not getting any easier, too, as the Spartans are now prepping for a daunting task against No. 3 Indiana (6-0, 3-0) on the road.

It is a game featuring two programs going two very different directions. IU seems primed to get to a second College Football Playoff in as many seasons under head coach Curt Cignetti. If the red-hot Hoosiers blow out MSU, the calls from the Spartans' fanbase for head coach Jonathan Smith's firing are only going to get louder and louder.

How We Got Here

Michigan State's head coach Jonathan Smith jogs back to the sideline before the game against Youngstown State on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Spartans were able to get to 3-0 to start the season, but in hindsight, it was not exactly a difficult task. All three non-conference games were in East Lansing, and two of those games were against the MAC's Western Michigan and FCS school Youngstown State.

MSU's "premier" non-conference game was against Boston College. The Spartans were able to pull that one out in double overtime, but, headed into Saturday, BC has not won a game since and is 1-5.

Michigan State's first two Big Ten games were one of moral victories, rather than actual ones. The Spartans opened the conference slate at USC and played a largely competitive game, but still ultimately lost by 14. After a bye week, MSU went to Nebraska and actually led at one point in the third quarter, but the Spartans then surrendered 24 consecutive points to let the Cornhuskers pull away.

Aidan Chile — Oct 11, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh (6) runs after catching the ball in the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images | Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images

That led to the crescendo of the season so far, the UCLA game. The Bruins entered 1-4 with an interim-laden coaching staff, and it was Michigan State's homecoming game. All of that did not matter a bit, as the Bruins dominated the game nearly the entire time, winning 38-13.

Now, it's time for that team to lick its wounds and take on a legitimate national championship contender. The Hoosiers solidified that status last Saturday when they went into Eugene and took down then-No. 3 Oregon on the road. This is also IU's homecoming game, and its first home game since it crushed Illinois 63-10 on Sept. 20.

Live Updates

Sep 27, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) warms up at Kinnick Stadium before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

First Half

Indiana won the coin toss and elected to defer.

First Quarter

FIELD GOAL, MICHIGAN STATE: Martin Connington's 38-yard field goal is good to give MSU a 3-0 lead.

TOUCHDOWN, INDIANA: Fernando Mendoza's pass to EJ Williams Jr. gets the Hoosiers on the board from 13 yards out. 7-3, IU.

END OF Q1: Indiana 7, Michigan State 3

Second Quarter

TOUCHDOWN, MICHIGAN STATE: Aidan Chiles throws a pass to Nick Marsh for a 15-yard touchdown. 10-7, MSU.

TOUCHDOWN, INDIANA: Mendoza goes to Elijah Sarratt for a 24-yard score. 14-10, Hoosiers.

TOUCHDOWN, INDIANA: Kaelon Black runs right up the middle for a 29-yard touchdown. That makes it 21-10, IU.

Half: Indiana 21, Michigan State 10

Second Half

WEATHER DELAY: Due to lightning in the nearby area, the game was placed under a weather delay during halftime.

Third Quarter

TOUCHDOWN, INDIANA: Mendoza goes deep to Cooper for a 48-yard score, IU's fourth touchdown in as many drives. 28-10, Hoosiers.

MISSED FIELD GOAL: Martin Connington's 50-yard attempt goes wide to the right.

TOUCHDOWN, INDIANA: Mendoza goes deep again, this time for Sarratt again for a 27-yard TD. 35-10, IU.

THREE AND OUT: Back-to-back holding penalties kill MSU's next drive.

End of Q3: Indiana 35, Michigan State 10

Fourth Quarter

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: MSU gets its first stop of the game, as IU's throw to the endzone on fourth down is caught, but ruled out of bounds.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: The Spartans do not convert on fourth-and-13 from IU's 23-yard line, as Chiles is sacked.

FIELD GOAL, INDIANA: Nicolas Radicic's 31-yard attempt is good. 38-10, Hoosiers.

FIELD GOAL, MICHIGAN STATE: Martin Connington makes a 34-yard field goal to make it 38-13 with 33 seconds left.

Final: Indiana 38, Michigan State 13

Indiana's Donaven McCulley celebrates with the Old Brass Spittoon trophy after beating Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

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