EAST LANSING – Here are the Michigan State football players who helped or hurt their stock in the Spartans’ 31-20 loss to No. 21 Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Winners
Michigan State’s Makhi Frazier runs for a gain against Michigan during the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
RB Makhi Frazier
The sophomore delivered a strong, hard-nosed running performance when MSU needed an offensive spark. Frazier’s 49-yard second-quarter burst sparked the Spartans after a sluggish start, and he finished with a career-best 109 yards on 14 carries.
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DE Jalen Thompson
Thompson helped contain and pressure U-M quarterback Bryce Underwood all game, setting the edge and finishing with six tackles and two of MSU’s three credited QB hurries.
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DT Alex VanSumeren
It was a gritty trench effort from the junior, who plugged the middle and made running between the tackles a chore for the Wolverines. VanSumeren broke up a pass at the line and finished with five tackles and has 27 stops in his last five games.
Losers
Michigan State’s head coach Jonathan Smith looks on during the first quarter in the gamed against Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
Offensive game plan
Offensive-minded Jonathan Smith’s decision-making in the fourth quarter, starting with going for 2 down 11 points, left points on the board by not going for an extra point and chasing touchdowns instead of at least one field-goal attempt. But offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren’s game plan – non-usage of the tight ends early, running into the middle late – generated just 230 yards before a final-drive touchdown after the outcome was determined.
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Team discipline
The Spartans – who entered tied with U-M for the 14th-fewest penalties per game – committed 12 penalties for 105 yards, a full-game problem that included procedural mistakes and four emotion-fueled personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct flags. It was regression in the worst way at the worst time, equaling the Smith-era high of 12 penalties committed in his first game at MSU against Florida Atlantic last year.
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QB Aidan Chiles
The junior quarterback struggled to move the chains and completed just 50% of his 28 passes for 130 yards, with just one completion longer than 15 yards. Chiles also got sacked three times, got stuffed on a fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter and was a nonfactor in the run game. He also fumbled on the second play of the game.
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Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football winners/losers: Spartans lack poise, offense
