Illinois at Michigan State: How to Watch
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WHO: Illinois Fighting Illini (2-3, 0-2) at Michigan State Spartans (2-3, 0-2)
WHERE: Spartan Stadium — East Lansing, MI
WHEN: Saturday, October 10 at 3:30 p.m. ET
WATCH: FS1
A battle of two 2-3 teams that remain winless in conference play.
It might not be the award-winning television matchup that many hoped for before the season, but it is the best opportunity yet for either team to pick up its first Big Ten victory.
A dogfight is sure to ensue.
Neither team can afford to quit or pout. Two rough conference games to start the season will not define either of these teams, but both understand just how important this game is for the morale of their respective rosters.
The early weather forecast is calling for a beautiful fall day in East Lansing, with temperatures expected to reach the 70s. Both teams will enter Saturday having lost their first two conference matchups, and only one will walk away one step closer to bowl eligibility.
Michigan State
The Spartans have now laid two eggs in a row to kick off conference play, getting outscored 62-16 over losses to Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Both opponents scored 31 points while holding Michigan State's offense to putrid performances.
As a whole, the Spartans' offense ranks dead last in the Big Ten in both scoring and total yards. Michigan State ranks 15th out of 18 Big Ten teams in both rushing and passing.
After scoring 65 points over their first two games, the Spartans have managed just 26 points over their last three. Combined, they have scored fewer points in their last three games than they did in either of their first two.
It shows just how far Michigan State still has to go offensively.
Without star running back Cam Edwards on the field, the Spartans couldn't even muster a touchdown last week against Wisconsin.
Illinois has allowed the second-most passing yards and has faced the second-most plays in the Big Ten, which could turn Saturday into an Alessio Milivojevic legacy game if Michigan State wants to defend home field.
Illinois
A struggling Fighting Illini team will do everything it can to salvage a season that has not gone the way it had hoped.
Their only two wins, like Michigan State's, have come against weaker competition in UAB and Southern Illinois. Their three losses have come against Duke, Ohio State and Purdue.
Illinois' offense has shown some life, scoring 63 points in its three losses compared to Michigan State's 26. However, the Fighting Illini defense has been out of sync.
Last week, Purdue handled the Illinois defense with ease through the first half and finished with 24 points in a seven-point victory.
The Fighting Illini did everything they could to mount a massive comeback and nearly pulled within two points, but a holding penalty negated a touchdown on a drive that ultimately ended with Illinois turning the ball over on downs.
Overall
It's going to be fun to watch these two teams do battle.
Both are on the brink of a tumultuous season, with Saturday offering a chance to either change the narrative or continue skirting by on the edge of their seats.
Neither team is great, but neither is quite as bad as it has been made out to be.
It should be a beautiful Saturday in East Lansing, and Michigan State will have a chance to finally get back on track in Big Ten play.
Make sure to tune in to FS1 at 3:30 p.m. ET to catch all the action.
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