MSU-USC: Why Are We Playing at Midnight?
Michigan State and USC both come into this weekend sitting at 3–0. On paper, it’s the kind of matchup that should feel like prime college football television. Instead, what we’ve got is an 11:00 p.m. Eastern kickoff — which means if you’re a Spartan fan in Michigan, you’ll be lucky to crawl into bed by 2 a.m. just to see how it ends.
And that’s the real story here. This isn’t about student-athletes, or even the fans who fill Spartan Stadium on fall Saturdays. This is about TV money.
The Midnight Madness Nobody Wanted
When the Big Ten inked its mega-deal with FOX, CBS, and NBC, one of the selling points was “coast-to-coast football.” With USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon joining the league, suddenly there were late-night TV slots to fill. FOX and BTN wanted their own “Big Ten After Dark.” So here we are — Michigan State shoved into a West Coast time window, all for ratings and ad dollars.
It’s tough not to feel like we got the short end of the stick. Games this late should be reserved for Mountain and Pacific time zones — not a Midwestern program with one of the most loyal fanbases in the country. Instead, our reward for going 3–0 is to brew a pot of coffee and hope our eyes don’t start feeling too heavy. If this game is going USC’s way early, expect many Spartan fans to hit the hay well before the final whistle.
The Matchup
Michigan State (3–0, but doubted)
The Spartans are undefeated, yet every national ranking has us buried at the bottom of the 3–0 pile. Last week’s win over Youngstown State, 41–24, showed flashes of what this team can be. Aidan Chiles looked sharp, throwing for 270 yards and running like a second tailback. When he’s on, the whole offense flows.
The best news heading into USC is health: Nick Marsh and Makhi Frazier, both dinged up last week, are expected to go. That’s huge. Offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren called Marsh “a difference-maker on every snap,” and having him available stretches the field in a way we badly need.
USC (3–0, ranked No. 25)
On the other side, USC comes in with a shiny No. 25 next to their name and an offense that’s already drawing national attention. They beat Purdue 33–17 last week, and head coach Lincoln Riley admitted afterward that “we left a lot out there, but the ceiling is exciting.” Translation: they haven’t even played their cleanest football yet.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava has been fearless pushing the ball downfield. and has opened the season in impressive form. Through three games, Maiava has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards, completed close to 70 percent of his passes, and has yet to throw an interception. He’s shown the ability to hit big plays downfield, highlighted by a 73-yard touchdown strike in the opener, while also keeping the offense efficient with quick reads and smart decision-making. Despite leading the nation in passer rating, Maiava isn’t patting himself on the back. “I don’t think I’m comfortable at all right now. I think there’s a lot to learn from,” he said this week, showing a mindset that should worry opposing defenses. While he hasn’t done much damage with his legs so far, his ability to spread the ball to a deep group of receivers has made USC a tough cover through the air.
USC’s defense has been opportunistic, already generating six takeaways in just three games. For Michigan State to stay competitive, quarterback Aidan Chiles has to protect the football and avoid the kind of mistakes that can flip momentum quickly. That means resisting the urge to force throws into tight coverage, taking what’s available underneath, and using his mobility as a weapon when the pocket breaks down.
The Line & the Doubt
Vegas isn’t buying what Michigan State is selling. The line has stayed in the USC -15 to -18 range with the total in the mid-50s, which points to the Trojans being seen as two or three scores better. The skepticism is understandable. The Spartans’ national reputation has slipped, and the track record against ranked opponents has been rough. Under Jonathan Smith’s first season in 2024, Michigan State went 0–3 against AP-ranked teams, each loss by at least 21 points. Overall, the program has dropped eight straight to ranked foes, with the last victory coming on November 5, 2022, at Illinois, when the Illini were ranked No. 14 and fell 23–15. History shows, though, that being underestimated is nothing new for this program, and Michigan State has delivered some of its biggest wins when the odds looked stacked against it.
Keys to the Game
- Body clock football. Can MSU come out swinging when it feels like midnight? Coaches have been harping on this all week, adjusting practice schedules to prep for the late start.
- Win the turnover battle. USC thrives on takeaways; if Chiles can play clean, we have a shot.
- Explosives outside of Marsh. Even if Marsh is a go, someone else —Omari Kelly, Chrishon McCray, or Jack Velling at tight end — needs to create chunk plays.
The Spartan Fan Reality
Look, if this game were in East Lansing under the lights, I’d be a lot more optimistic. But at 8:00 local in Los Angeles (11 back home), the deck feels stacked. USC has the home field, the ranking, and the TV slot designed to show off their new Big Ten toy.
Still, don’t expect MSU to roll over. This is a team with grit, and if Chiles keeps maturing, they’ll make USC work for every yard.
Prediction
Head says USC has too much firepower. Heart says MSU makes it closer than people expect.
Final score: USC 45, Michigan State 31.
