Spartans Eye an Upset in Iowa City
Spartans eye an upset as they travel to Iowa for a tough Big Ten road test at Kinnick Stadium. Michigan State enters 3–7 and 0–7 in conference play, while Iowa is 3–2 at home and coming off a loss to USC.
Alright, if you’re reading this, I probably don’t need to ask if you’re a loyal Spartan football fan. At this point in the year, most of the fanbase is simply ready to see how this thing wraps up. Maybe you’re curious to see whether Alessio Milivojevic can stack week-to-week improvements. Maybe you want to know which players are still fighting, competing, and trying to help Jonathan Smith solidify his footing. Or maybe — and this is perfectly fair — you’re just interested in how this team handles adversity when the stakes are pride, development, and jobs.
Either way, the interest level in these final couple of games is fascinating. There’s still something to learn here. Young teams grow in stretches like this, and Saturday’s trip to Iowa is exactly the type of game where you find out who’s truly bought in.
📊 STAT CAPSULE
🌰 All-Time Series (Since 1953)
MSU Wins: 23
Iowa Wins: 25
Ties: 2
Last Matchup: MSU 32, Iowa 20 (10/19/2024)
Last 10 Meetings: 5-5
Largest MSU Win: 56-7 (1966)
Smallest MSU Win: 17-16 (1984)
🟢 Michigan State Spartans
2025 Record: 3-7 (0-7 Big Ten)
Last Game: 28-10 loss to Penn State
Key Performer: RB Elijah Tau-Tolliver — 152 total yards vs PSU
🟡 Iowa Hawkeyes
2025 Home Record: 3-2
Last Game: Road loss to USC
Strength: Balanced rushing attack, disciplined defense
Venue: Kinnick Stadium — one of the toughest in the Big Ten
A Look Back: The Penn State Heartbreaker
Last week’s 28–10 loss to Penn State delivered frustration, but it wasn’t without bright spots. Redshirt senior running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver ignited the night with a 57-yard touchdown on MSU’s first play from scrimmage and finished with 152 total yards. Redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic again showed toughness in his second start, completing 17 of 27 for 128 yards despite facing constant pressure.
Jonathan Smith praised his defense for keeping MSU in the game with timely third- and fourth-down stops. But he also acknowledged the offensive line’s struggles and the need to protect his young quarterback better moving forward.
The Iowa Challenge: A Rivalry with Teeth
This will be the 51st meeting between the Spartans and Hawkeyes. Iowa holds a slight 25–23–2 advantage, though MSU won last year’s matchup 32–20 in East Lansing. Winning in Iowa City, however, has been a different story — the Spartans haven’t escaped Kinnick Stadium with a win since the 2013 Big Ten Championship season.
Iowa’s profile is familiar: physical line play, stingy defense, and a style built on discipline. With a 3–2 home record and back-to-back close losses to USC and Oregon, the Hawkeyes are still a handful — and likely hungry to finish their home slate strong on Senior Day.
Keys to a Spartan Victory
1. Move the Ball — Somehow
Iowa has suffocated offenses similar to MSU recently, so the Spartans must manufacture touches any way they can. That means protecting Milivojevic long enough to build rhythm, mixing in creative looks, and taking calculated shots. Occasional big runs have popped lately — they’ll need a couple more of those, plus a wrinkle or two, to generate red-zone chances.
And I can’t say it enough, they need to find a way to get Nick Marsh the ball as much as possible. Yes, I know every team has its schemes to stop him, but they have to figure it out…trick plays, reverses, 50-50 balls, whatever it takes.
2. Keep Milivojevic Clean
He’s been sacked 12 times in the last two games, and evaluating a freshman quarterback from the turf is impossible. Iowa’s pass rush isn’t Penn State-level, but it will be if MSU loses up front again. Quick throws, defined reads, and better protection are essential.
3. Survive Iowa’s Ground Game
Iowa doesn’t overwhelm you with flash — they use efficiency. Their top-five Big Ten rushing attack eats clock and wears down defenses. MSU’s defense has improved, but they can’t be stuck on the field for 35–40 minutes. Winning early downs is critical.
4. Play Free
No bowl game on the line. Nothing to lose. That freedom can be dangerous in November, especially for a team as young and hungry as MSU.
Final Thoughts
The odds are stacked against Michigan State — but that’s the charm of late-season Big Ten football. Young rosters grow up in places like Iowa City. MSU has an opportunity to grab a meaningful moment, send a message about the program’s trajectory, and close their road schedule with something to build on.
It won’t be easy. It rarely is at Kinnick. But you can never count out a team with something to prove.
Are you still watching the Spartans, and do you think they still have some fight left? Drop a comment below or join the conversation in the Spartans Sound Off — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.rts, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
