Preview: Michigan State faces off against the Maryland Terrapins in Detroit

Michigan State’s final game of the 2025 season is here. The Spartans will face off against the Maryland Terrapins with one final chance to earn a Big Ten victory.

While there is still this one last contest, much of the focus going into this weekend is on the future of Jonathan Smith in East Lansing. While the result of this game likely won’t have an impact on J. Batt’s decision, there should be some clarity by the end of the weekend.

With that in mind, the football team is still focused on controlling what they control and attempting to end the season on a somewhat positive note. This will be the second year the Spartans have ended the season at Ford Field, the last of which coming in 2023 in a loss to Penn State.

For many of the seniors, returning to Detroit for their final appearance adds an emotional weight to the matchup - one more chance to put good football on tape, one more chance to prove that the foundation Smith is trying to build has found a foothold.

Game Info

Date: Saturday, Nov. 29

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV Channel: FS1
Radio: Spartan Media Network
Location: Ford Field (Detroit, MI)

Maryland Notables

The Terrapins’ season hasn’t been much different than Michigan State’s season.

Much like the Spartans, they started their season off strong, winning their first four, and have since lost seven straight. Neither team has much to play for, as both are out of bowl contention. The parallels between the programs have been striking - hot starts, difficult midseason stretches, and long lists of “what ifs” that have defined their late fall narratives.

The Maryland offense is led by true freshman quarterback Malik Washington, who has thrown for 2,504 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He also possesses the ability to make things happen with his feet, running for nearly 300 yards as well.

Jonathan Smith mentioned this week in his press conference that Washington will present a challenge for Michigan State. His dual-threat ability has extended drives all season, even in losses, and MSU’s defense will have to stay disciplined in rush lanes to keep him contained.

Despite a strong freshman season from Washington, the Maryland offense has been one of the worst in the Big Ten this year. They average 23.1 points per game and 344.2 yards per game, both of which are in the bottom third in the conference.

Fellow true freshman Dejuan Williams has been the lead back for the Terrapins with 123 carries for 449 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Nolan Ray has added 66 carries for 288 yards and two touchdowns. These modest totals have led to Maryland rushing for just barely north of 100 yards per game.

Senior wide receiver Shaleak Knotts has had a solid season with 36 receptions, 578 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Fellow senior Octavian Smith Jr., who has 40 receptions for 500 yards, forms a solid duo for the freshman quarterback.

Defensively, Maryland has also struggled.

They sit at 16th in the Big Ten allowing 397.5 yards per game and 14th in scoring defense allowing 25.5 PPG. The Terps have been prone to surrendering explosive plays - something Michigan State’s offense, in its better moments, has been able to generate this season.

With Maryland struggling just as much as the Spartans, it will be interesting to see how motivated Maryland is in this season finale. Maryland head coach Mike Locksley recently got a vote of confidence from his athletic director to return in 2026.

Overview

After a 4th quarter collapse last week vs. Iowa, the Spartans have continued to show they can’t finish out a game lately. Their defense continues to be stout, the energy remains high, and the offense has shown at least some signs of life. However, none of this has translated into the win column. Still, this group has not folded, even with postseason hopes off the table - a trait that hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans, players, or the coaching staff.

The Spartans will get this one final chance to show up with heart and focus, and to send the seniors out with their first victory since September. Maryland, over the last several seasons, has shown a decrease in effort once the season is lost; Michigan State has yet to demonstrate the same. Whether that competitiveness finally turns into a complete performance remains the looming question.

While there is likely a large amount of apathy regarding this game from the outside, this year’s Spartan team has yet to show the same. Expect Michigan State to come out motivated, just like they have the last several weeks - hungry to close the year with something that resembles momentum and perhaps even a glimpse of what the next era could look like.