MSU's Rossi on Recent Fourth-Quarter Struggles, Iowa's Offense

Joe Rossi discussed the issues his defense has had late in games recently and the challenges Iowa presents.

Michigan State Spartans defensive coordinator Joe Rossi speaks during a Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, press conference ahead of a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes | Jacob Cotsonika, Michigan State Spartans on SI

Michigan State defensive coordinator Joe Rossi spoke to the media about his unit's struggles later on in games and also previewed Iowa's offense on Wednesday.

The Spartans' defense has been playing better lately, but they couldn't get the final stop they needed to secure a win against Minnesota on Nov. 1, and were on the wrong side of a nine-minute touchdown drive against Penn State during the fourth last Saturday.

Michigan State's defensive coordinator Joe Rossi celebrates after a Spartans sack against Penn State during the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Now, MSU is preparing to face a Hawkeye team that is 116th in total offense, but can still put up a lot of points. Rossi said that that's largely because Iowa plays complementary football "probably better than anyone."

A full video of Rossi's press conference can be viewed below.

Watch Joe Rossi here:

Additionally, a partial transcript of Rossi's press conference has been provided further below.

Transcript

Michigan State's defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, center, works with the linebackers 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

Q: Looking back to last weekend, through the first three quarters, run defense seemed pretty stout, for the most part. I think [Penn State had] only had a little over 100 yards through the first three quarters. What did you think about the defensive effort overall? And I think about some of the seniors, Wayne Matthews III, Darius Snow played with a lot of effort out there.

ROSSI: Yeah, I thought they came to play. I thought there was good effort; I thought there was good physicality. I think they stepped up in some big moments --- there was some fourth-down stops.

I think after the punt --- it's not technically blocked because it went forward --- but the punt gets hit and they stood up there and there was a fourth-and-1 stop. So I thought there was a lot of good.

Obviously, at the end of the game there, when we're attempting to get the ball back for our offense, we've got to be able to get stops there and be able to get back and give it to them and give them a chance to go down and score. But the first three [quarters], there are some things that we can build on for sure.

Q: The fourth quarter as well, this is the second straight game you've really been in it. You were a stop away against Minnesota, and then Penn State rattles off, basically, all run plays on that nine-minute drive. How are you able to finish these games off and play 60 minutes of solid defense?

ROSSI: We've gotta be consistent. I think we got worn down. One's a two-minute drill, the other's a four-minute drill, so they're different circumstances --- different ways that you're attacked, different situations, I think.

Michigan State's defensive coordinator Joe Rossi watches during warmups before the football game against Western Michigan on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Keep up with all our content when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be sure to share your thoughts on Rossi's press conference when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE. Don't forget to give us a follow on X @MSUSpartansOnSI as well.