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Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Makhi Frazier (5) runs the ball against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Why MSU's Offense Must Show Improvement vs. UCLA

Originally posted on Michigan State Spartans on SI
By Jacob Cotsonika | Last updated Oct 9, 2025 11:00 AM ET

Michigan State's offense needs to have a good day on Saturday against UCLA. The Spartans did not do enough on that side of the ball against Nebraska last week. MSU totaled just 240 total yards of offense and averaged 3.5 yards per play against the Cornhuskers.

The stats from the Bruins' defense indicate that a better showing should be ahead for Michigan State. UCLA allows the most yards per rush in the Big Ten (5.3) and the third-most on passing plays (8.1).

On this episode of the Michigan State Spartans Insider Podcast, I go through the importance of the Spartans figuring some stuff out offensively this week and why they should be able to do so against the Bruins.

Watch the MSU Spartans Insider Podcast here:

In addition, a partial transcript from head coach Jonathan Smith's press conference on Monday has been provided.

Jonathan Smith

SMITH: After watching the tape, kind of recapping some things. Obviously, we'll start with special teams. A lot that hurt us in that game. If you think about punt, obviously you give up a punt block for a touchdown. It can be tough to overcome. And so you look at it, we missed identification, really, out of three guys, and so the three guys are misidentified, and that starts with our preparations.

Coaches, schematically, you know, looked at some things. Didn't probably emphasize, on the road, crowd noise on the punt play, we got a lack of communication that way. So that hurt. And then it continued on the punt side in the coverage aspect.

And so there's a couple things that go with that. One is that when you get protected, and now you kick it and it's about placement. We've got a big-time punter, and he's got a big-time leg in this old adage, and kind of out-kicking your coverage. Well, yeah, he kicks it deep, but also the placement of it. We've got to get it closer to the sideline and use the sideline as help.

In coverage, at the same time, wherever he kicks the thing, we've got to be able to cover better than we did. Out of the lane or two. Good athlete returning it, but that did not help us.

You think about the field position throughout; that's a problem. So we've got to get better there. This has been a strength for us.

Let's face it, the first four games the punt unit have been a strength. Was not last Saturday.

Kickoff return, we've got the unfortunate one in the ball. You know, we've got to be able to field the ball. They're kicking off to us. However, the wind may be tough. The communication between the two (Sam Edwards and Jay Coyne). I have deep trust in the two who are trying to field it. They've got to communicate better.

But that was a huge momentum play for them, in regard to the game. They came back. We took the lead, came back (from down 14-0), the game's tied (21-21), and they get the ball with an extra possession. So special teams-wise, a lot to clean up that we need to do. Especially when you play on the road.