[Game Thread] Northwestern @ Michigan State (12:00 PM ET)

[u/CFB_Referee]

GAME	NorthwesternNorthwestern @ Michigan StateMichigan State
Location	Michigan State Spartan Stadium
Time	12:00 PM ET
Watch	TV: Peacock
	Flair ¦ Discord

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Please keep trash talk civil, and report any comments that violate our rules.

LET'S TALK FOOTBALL!

[u/Born-Wealth-9564]

That felt more like avoiding disaster rather than helping their resume much. But, still alive either way!!

https://x.com/TheRootingGuide/status/2111542278309433710?s=20

[u/Turbulent_Oil700]

Grew up a Spartan, overlapped with Fitz at Northwestern, and man was that one of the football games of all time.

Feel bad for my friends at MSU, get ready for years of this.

[u/z-bomb]

Let me preface with I never wanted fitz and am still feeling that way because he had no upside. He can turn it around with the right hires and enough money. I have been disappointed in his coaching so far. However, I don’t blame him for the end of THIS game here. Players gotta make plays. Milo missing a receiver with 4 steps on a DB for an easy TD. Getting a chip shot field goal blocked? That’s a players play moment. I don’t agree with the idea of throwing the ball on that 3rd down, you take the points and let them figure out if they can tie it under the clock.

[u/MocoMojo → u/z-bomb]

The lack of talent MSU has is glaring at times. Hopefully the AD saying they are going to commit more heavily to football allows them to go get some play makers.

[u/z-bomb → u/MocoMojo]

I think that’s my biggest take away, it’s hard to judge a coaches performance when the talent is bottom 4 in the conference and arguably the worst right now with injuries. At the end of the day it falls on the coach, and that was the major concern with hiring a coach has been sitting at home during NIL

[u/MocoMojo → u/z-bomb]

Seems like the model of hiring a promising G6 HC who can also bring a lot of players over with him is the better move.

But as things stand, the current lack of depth and talent will prevent them from doing much. Hopefully they have the funds to make a bunch of upgrades this offseason.

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/MocoMojo]

I hope they commit to shutting the program down.

[u/MocoMojo → u/Evening-Ad-2485]

Meh, they were a bad blocked FG attempt away from beating a ranked B1G opponent (we were at the game). Seems like with some more talent they could start making bowl games regularly.

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/MocoMojo]

Oh yeah just like last week. If you have the ball on that part of the field with 1 minute left, you win. Especially as desperate for a win as they are.

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/z-bomb]

I do, who are they players coached by. If you play good enough to win... you win. Fitz did nothing to do that late game.

[u/z-bomb → u/Evening-Ad-2485]

You’re not wrong, there are levels to it.
To your point: preparedness in your blocking scheme on the FG and the kicker understanding this a chip shot put some air under it. Understanding your own players limitations in Milo throwing a bomb on 3rd down and short when he struggles with accuracy down field. Understanding going for 3 with a minute left and putting that defense on the field potentially leads to them going to OT anyway. However, it does not ALL fall on coaches this game. The coaches put the players in a position to win in a game they were not supposed to win. Had the players executed the called plays at the end we would have probably won but they didn’t. Kicker kicked too low for a chip shot, Milo over threw a wide open receiver. In my opinion the defense did what they could, they got the stop to win. Football is a combination of coaching and talent, one does not succeed without the other. The coaching put players in a good enough position to make plays to close out the game and they didn’t.

[u/Borkleton]

For real how are you going to be a go for it n 4th type of risk taker and then play so soft and safe in the RZ to put a game away with 3 shit running plays hoping to just get by on a FG. Fitz you literally had the game and win in your hands and you wiped your ass with it and threw it away.

[u/Illustrious_Golf6471 → u/Borkleton]

Welcome to the Pat Fitzgerald experience

[u/Borkleton → u/Illustrious_Golf6471]

I would like off this ride now please…

[u/Mr-Cantaloupe]

I think MSU is cursed. This shit happened last year under Smith with games again Minnesota & Iowa that we should’ve won.

Just non-stop snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The common denominator is Joe Rossi, just fire him.

But, don’t let the imminent Joe Rossi hate absolve Alessio from any criticism. Dude missed 3 wide open passes that would’ve gone for touchdowns.

[u/Borkleton → u/Mr-Cantaloupe]

TBH defense and special teams was on it today. Given the state of injuries, the defense over performed. Today was not on Rossi.

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/Borkleton]

No it isn't, but it is on Fitz and the offense. He played not to lose late and it cost them.

[u/Mr-Cantaloupe → u/Borkleton]

I honestly agree with you. I think it’s very easy to be extremely angry after a game like this. You want to fire someone because it’s so heartbreaking.

But in reality? Fitzgerald coached that final drive like 99.9% of coaches would have. You run the ball and the clock down as low as you can. You expect to make the 30 yard FG, and you expect the defense to at least put up a fight with 1 minute left.

In reality, the biggest loser today (Les) is going to go mostly non criticized because so many people foam from the mouth over firing coaches. Gotta give credit to Northwestern as well, they executed, we didn’t.

[u/Davethellama]

Lifelong fan. This is pathetic.

[u/DetectiveChmpionFace]

Sorry sparty bros

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/DetectiveChmpionFace]

I hope that we keep losing and we fire Fitz. I've never been this pissed at a coaching staff except maybe Matt Patricia.

[u/DM_the_DM → u/Evening-Ad-2485]

I texted this to my dad who got me into this fucking mess of a fandom, but idk if Fitz is a bad coach per se but he's definitely not a good one. 

[u/copydex1]

I've felt that close game but always lose heartbreak of Pat Fitzgerald coached teams before that MSU fans are probably feeling right now.

[u/B_I_LL → u/copydex1]

I knew this was coming after watching their game against Illinois last week lol. felt just like old times

[u/jerkytoucan]

Prevent defense and gave up a 20 yard chunker on a FUCKING DUMP OFF TO A RUNNING BACK to start the drive. Pitiful

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

aidan waivin to the fans lol

[u/LunchNachos]

CATS WIN!!!!!

[u/Awesome-Guy-63]

I think Fitz has already proven to be better than smith, but we need more talent

[u/teslaabr → u/Awesome-Guy-63]

We need less injuries

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/Awesome-Guy-63]

No way dude. He managed to lose a game where he had the ball inside the 20 with 1 minute to go.

[u/Mr-Cantaloupe → u/Evening-Ad-2485]

I mean, I think most coaches would’ve done exactly what he did. Force the other team to use timeouts, you don’t expect the 30 yard FG to be blocked.

And you expect your defense to put up a fight with 1 minute left.

It sucks, and it makes me angry, but I’m not gonna pretend like going for a first down instead of running the clock out was the better decision to make. In hindsight yeah, but Les has been shit all day and missing wide open throws.

[u/Awesome-Guy-63 → u/Evening-Ad-2485]

We would lose by 10 at least with smith in charge

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/Awesome-Guy-63]

Huh? Smith went toe to toe on the road with Iowa and actually had a BIG win by this point in his career.

[u/blackcaviars]

Will NU drop in the rankings?

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks → u/blackcaviars]

no

[u/KindlyCharge6748 → u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

Honestly we probably will

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks → u/KindlyCharge6748]

nah no chance. road win in-conference? and others will lose in the 18-25 range

[u/KindlyCharge6748 → u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

MSU is 2-4

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks → u/KindlyCharge6748]

ap voters didn't even watch the game lol

we were favored by 7, not 30!

[u/SpartyNash]

I don’t have enough passion to even care about how comical that loss was

[u/MarkNutt25 → u/SpartyNash]

Yep. Never a doubt in my mind! 

[u/SpartyNash → u/MarkNutt25]

That was such a JLS or Bobby Williams-esque loss

[u/Cliche_Originals]

My fellow msu fans celebrated when we hired this bozo. Deserved what we get. Shut the program down and just give up at this point. No amount of money is bringing any players here.

[u/TheCaptainFreeze → u/Cliche_Originals]

To hire such a low-character guy after the Tucker and Nassar scandals when he's never been more than a mediocre coach is mindboggling.

But I am enjoying rooting for my alma mater to lose every week until he's fired at this point.

[u/andee510]

Chiles really saved Braun's ass there. Crazy ending

[u/Evening-Ad-2485]

DONT GIVE THIS TEAM A FUCKING PENNY!

[u/BrumDawgMillionare]

What a fitz bowl baby

[u/ASpartanLeopard]

Truly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/ASpartanLeopard]

Just like last week. Shut the program down.

[u/CBP09]

Is Chiles a top 25 QB?

[u/Borkleton → u/CBP09]

State sure made him look like it in the 2nd half

[u/imaitzakadoozi]

Think I like big10 football

[u/pianistonstrike]

Somebody get that man some hot tea with lemon and honey

[u/jackwhite886]

You guys see the Cats game today?

[u/troyofmtsthelen]

Pat Fitzgerald is going to beat his chest so hard when he beats Rutgers to end the year.

[u/Revolutionary_Elk791 → u/troyofmtsthelen]

In a gritty 13-10 come from behind victory as the B1G gods have decreed.

[u/Evening-Ad-2485]

I feel like a battered housewife. I just keep coming back.

[u/Fricktator]

MSU has 2 options.

Spend $35 million on the portal class

Fold the program

If you dont spend enough to compete. Dont bother.

[u/Cliche_Originals → u/Fricktator]

They're so hopeless money won't even be enough. It's over for good

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/Fricktator]

Fold the program. They couldn't win with this late game position, they would only mismanage real talent.

[u/leaky-]

What a joke of a program

[u/Popular_Amphibian]

That’s upsetting man

[u/Borkleton]

Relegate MSU to the MAC.

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/Borkleton]

Shut the program down

[u/majorgeneralporter]

Everyone just look at the box score, look at absolutely nothing about the second half.

[u/LupieMama]

We win! NW wins! Whoo!

[u/ecolovedavid]

ABSOLUTELY INSANE

[u/GrandOcelot]

HOLY FUCK WHAT A WIN FOR THE CARDIAC CATS

[u/byniri_returns]

Fuck this program

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

GG

WOOWOWOWOWW

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

It's not a gg. 100 percent predictable with the program. It should be shut down

[u/Evening-Ad-2485]

Fire Fitz! No reason to lose this game (or last week).... NONE!

[u/rosh200]

Chiles does know he’s a big reason this program is in the state it is jn, right?

[u/fluffyglof]

lol Fitz is such a loser

[u/Evening-Ad-2485 → u/fluffyglof]

No one wanted him.... we wanted better players

[u/SkunkMcToots]

Chiles acting like he wasn’t absolute dogshit for State

[u/CheckItWhileIWreckIt]

Legit feel bad for State. Brutal way to lose

[u/Jasper_69 → u/CheckItWhileIWreckIt]

I don't

[u/samsquanchy]

I knew it was gonna happen and I’m still so disappointed

[u/DizzyDraw2323]

Tie game, 1st and 10 at the northwestern 16 with 2 minutes left. Spartan football

[u/Pharx0h]

I TOTALLY NEVER LOST FAITH

[u/blackcaviars]

NU just needs to survive the kickoff

[u/majorgeneralporter]

This game has just been a contest of who out-thought themselves less.

[u/SkunkMcToots]

Why not stop the clock at 20 seconds or use those timeouts? I just can’t understand how you don’t force them to run an extra play or two

[u/Dazzling_Network6103]

Idk why all the hate Michigan state is giving Fitzgerald. Your roster got gutted after last year. Gonna take time especially since you didn’t go the G6 coaching hire route.

[u/leaky- → u/Dazzling_Network6103]

Dude said he had a PHD in the new era of college football and failed the shit out of the portal. What makes anybody think it will be any different this year

[u/Pinkgirl16 → u/Dazzling_Network6103]

Cause it’s a bunch of 18 year olds in here

[u/jp1066]

I keep telling people NW is better than everyone thinks and a little luck sure doesn’t hurt

[u/Dazzling_Network6103 → u/jp1066]

I don’t think this is the game to make that statement

[u/jp1066 → u/Dazzling_Network6103]

Good and lucky are tough to beat

[u/FitzCats]

Survive and advance

[u/confirmd_am_engineer]

Kept wondering how they end up fucking this up. Guess we found out.

[u/iM-xx]

Chiles such a child

[u/StepmaniaGod]

Just stupid fucking coaching to make a team use all their timeouts and settle for a FG attempt instead of trying to get a first down or touchdown in a tie game.

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

THE FAKE PUNT WAS ALL PART OF THE PLAN TO OUTFITZ FITZ

[u/seemtobedead]

NICE! GO CATS!

[u/jerkytoucan]

Dogshit coaching, players choking, just trash all around

[u/Kuzzint]

Losers.

[u/BRDNZBL1]

Fitz is such a piece of shit coach. 

[u/GreatestWhiteShark]

THE CARDIAC CATS LIVE

[u/OMGGUY1234]

Should have let the guy score on that run maybe he doesn’t go down at the 1 and you get 20 seconds to score a TD

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks → u/OMGGUY1234]

you good big dawg? LOL

[u/OMGGUY1234 → u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

Fine brother if you think NW looked good in this game vs a team that can’t get out of its own way. You are delusional. MSU lost this game more than NW won it.

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks → u/OMGGUY1234]

lmao

[u/SomeNeighborhood7126]

Just turn Spartan Stadium into a soccer and field hockey arena. Football shouldn't be played on this cursed field anymore.

[u/LupieMama]

GO WILDCATS!!!

[u/Evening-Ad-2485]

I'm done with this coaching staff. How in the fuck do you not win with that field position late in the game?!?!? Shut the fucking program down!

[u/meatballcake87]

At least the Detroit Red Wings play later tonight 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[u/FitzCats]

We fitz’d fitz

[u/DriveFast___EatAss]

Pain

[u/RevBogey]

Just came to this thread to say this was more entertaining than any other early slate game

[u/sorany9]

Textbook Sheridan performance.

[u/Mythrandir24]

Only 2 seconds rolled off the clock? Yeah, okay.

[u/ExceptionalBeard77 → u/Mythrandir24]

Stopped before it was even through the uprights lol.

[u/majorgeneralporter]

This game is drunk on Malort

[u/Lazy-Vehiclez → u/majorgeneralporter]

🤮

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

HE NAILED IT

NAILED IT

[u/Luckyawesome43]

keep us ranked !!!

[u/Suspicious_Ad1945 → u/Luckyawesome43]

Just don't move yall up after this week 😂 

[u/Walkwe_66]

Top 10 worst losses in school history

[u/meatballcake87]

Why do I bother watching every week

[u/Lazy-Vehiclez]

We're just pretending we're complete shit to surprise Michigan /s

[u/CygnusTM → u/Lazy-Vehiclez]

I thought that was what we are doing

[u/Lazy-Vehiclez → u/CygnusTM]

spiderman gif

[u/RosstaMSU → u/CygnusTM]

I’m going to put circus music on while I watch that game

[u/ASpartanLeopard]

What an unreal choke job

[u/EasyBreecy]

Wow again

[u/DbL_Cheeseburger007]

Fire everyone and cancel the football program

[u/z-bomb]

They handed us the game

All you have to do is make a chip shot field goal
I’d rather be blown out

[u/Legalsleazy]

#HazeFitz

[u/SK4NKHVNT42]

Never in doubt lol

[u/BrumDawgMillionare → u/SK4NKHVNT42]

Exactly how the game plan was meant to go down. To perfection

[u/doyouevenIift]

Former MSU quarterbacks feasting in East Lansing

[u/DeliveryBetter8567]

I blame this on Alessio. He fucking sucks

[u/Borkleton → u/DeliveryBetter8567]

Nah there is enough blame to go all the way around on this one

[u/Acceptable_Paint_455]

Fuck this team

[u/dlm]

I’m so tired of losing. Disappointed week after week, year after year.

[u/1nf1niteCS]

Fitz 100% gonna burn both Timeouts here lmao

[u/Legalsleazy]

#FitzOut

[u/PubicSniffer]

I can't believe NW is about to recover from that fake punt debacle. But at this point who knows what will happen.

[u/JackieDaytonaAZ → u/PubicSniffer]

NU

[u/LGNDKILLA]

Who would have thought they’d choke (i did)

[u/Legalsleazy]

Fire Fitzgerald.

[u/iM-xx]

First IU now MSU, Trey pls we need you today

[u/user_8353517]

program is cursed, how NW somehow gets bailed out from that absolute horrible decision is beyond me. Its just a fucking cursed program

[u/JackieDaytonaAZ → u/user_8353517]

NU

[u/TheMusketDood]

Sell the fucking team

[u/jerkytoucan]

Played not to lose. And you lost. A tale as old as time

[u/Cliche_Originals]

msu gifted a win and still lose. Shut the prgram down idc

[u/rixybaby]

I fucking hate this team so much. Last two weeks give us hope and just crushes us at the last minute

[u/RosstaMSU]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/koAdNLy4lJ0

[u/Dazzling_Network6103]

Welp this is just looking like game

[u/TheMagicalJohnson]

This school is cursed bruh

[u/delawless]

This was a incredible finish.

[u/Suspicious_Ad1945]

Double blocked fgs would feed families 

[u/Borkleton]

Only State could snatch defeat from the mouth of victory in such an epic fashion.

[u/SomeNeighborhood7126]

This was such an obvious ending lol

Fitz aint it.

[u/SkunkMcToots]

No timeouts??? What the fuck are you doing State?

[u/Lavalamp171]

Fuckin disgusting display the last minute and a half Jesus Christ guys

[u/DizzyDraw2323]

That fucking false start on 3rd down ruined it all

[u/SbMSU]

Wow. Like it was scripted. gg NW

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

FEWMQNDFKWBFJKWNFJKQWNBRFKJQWC NFJKQN

[u/TheLizard12]

I apologize Sparty for turning this game on in a rare situation where I'm rooting for you

[u/D0ntTripppp]

Just shut the program down after this

[u/jerkytoucan]

Bunch of fucking chokers

[u/Mr-Cantaloupe]

Michigan State football is dead. This is devastating.

[u/AjaxuallyBall]

Snatched defeat from the jaws of victory

[u/OMGGUY1234]

Why not let him score

[u/Borkleton]

I hate this team

[u/DeliveryBetter8567]

I hate this fucking program. I FUCKING HATE IT

[u/Chef_lonleyliver]

Fitz played to lose. No urgency in the redzone. Sick stuff.

[u/MssrSqueezy → u/Chef_lonleyliver]

"First time?"

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

WHAT A THROW AND CATCH!!!!

WILDE DA GOAT!!!!

[u/ReasonableBet3450]

Do you still rank Northwestern after this?

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks → u/ReasonableBet3450]

duh

[u/transferStudent2018]

Please don’t be dumb with the clock

[u/Walkwe_66]

Who could have seen this coming? (Everybody)

[u/transferStudent2018]

Holy shit Wilde

[u/devil-lion-steeler]

Man it never ends

[u/Mr-Cantaloupe → u/devil-lion-steeler]

Week after week, year after year

[u/Woalolol]

Stadiums gonna be empty from now

[u/Luckyawesome43]

i feel a fumble coming

[u/CapBoyAce]

Paul Creighton taketh and Paul Creighton giveth

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

WILDE YOU DA GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[u/henry_fords_ghost]

This is one of the dumbest northwestern games I’ve ever watched

[u/z-bomb]

Losing this is inexplicable

[u/Cliche_Originals]

2-10 is still happening

[u/LGNDKILLA]

you can never over state how bad MSU is.

[u/DeliveryBetter8567]

We win this game by two TDs if we had a QB

[u/TheMusketDood]

Why do I torture myself every week