Game Preview: IU football hosts Michigan State on homecoming weekend

Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith on the sidelines.

Fresh off a program-changing victory at Oregon, No. 3 Indiana football returns to Bloomington to take on Michigan State on Saturday afternoon for its annual homecoming game.

Last time out, the Hoosiers prevailed late with a 30-20 victory against No. 3 Oregon on the road. On the contrary, the Spartans fell at home to UCLA 38-13.

Following the week seven victory, Indiana jumped four spots to No. 3 in the most recent AP Poll, the highest in program history.

Ahead of the battle for the Old Brass Spittoon game, here is Inside the Hall’s preview of the afternoon tilt between the Hoosiers and Spartans.

Game information

Who: No. 3 Indiana (6-0, 3-0 in Big Ten) vs. Michigan State (3-3, 0-3 in Big Ten)
Where: Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
When: Saturday, October 18th, 2025. 3:30 p.m. EST
TV: Peacock, Dan Hicks (Play-By-Play), Jason Garrett (Analyst), Zora Stephenson (Sideline)
Radio: Don Fischer (Play-By-Play), Buck Suhr (Analyst)
The line: Indiana -27.5, Over/Under 51.5 (DraftKings)
SP+ prediction: Indiana 40, Michigan State 14 (95 percent chance of an IU win)

Meet the opponent

Led by second-year coach Jonathan Smith, Michigan State arrives in Bloomington on a three-game losing streak.

After winning all three of their non-conference games, including an overtime thriller against Boston College, the Spartans have yet to win a game in Big Ten play.

Junior Quarterback Aidan Chiles leads the Spartan offense. The former Oregon State Beaver has completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 1019 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. The Spartans are averaging 29.5 points per contest.

Michigan State has had its share of defensive struggles. It has allowed 31.8 points per game, ranking 122nd out of 136 FBS teams this season.

Indiana defeated Michigan State in East Lansing last year, 47-10, and currently owns the Old Brass Spittoon. The winner will hold the trophy until at least 2027, as the two programs will not square off next season.

Injury Update

Curt Cignetti did not announce any new injuries in his Monday afternoon press conference.

Freshman defensive back Byron Baldwin Jr. remains questionable with an undisclosed injury. He has yet to suit up for a game this season.

The required Big Ten availability report will be released two hours before kickoff, at 1:30 p.m. EST on Saturday.

Storylines

Saturday marks Cignetti’s first game post extension

Indiana Director of Athletics Scott Dolson announced on Thursday afternoon the extension of Cignetti’s contract.

The new contract is for eight years, with an annual value of $11.6 million. Before bonuses, the extension equates to $92.8 million through the 2033 season.

Cignetti had been mentioned as a potential candidate at Penn State following the recent firing of James Franklin in State College. However, he put the kibosh in a video statement to IU fans on Thursday.

“We’ve accomplished a lot here in a short amount of time, but still have a lot of work to do,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud to be a Hoosier. I plan on retiring as a Hoosier.”

With outside noise in the rearview, Cignetti can now place his full attention on his team this year and beyond.

Can IU avoid a letdown?

On the topic of moving on, Indiana has spent much of the week trying to put its recent success behind it. Far too often, big wins are followed by letdowns, and the attention the Hoosiers have earned could quickly fade with a loss to a middling opponent like Michigan State.

National recognition has soared in the days since the victory in Eugene, but Cignetti and the team’s leaders are focused on moving forward.

Indiana has spent the past four days keeping the win where it belongs — in the past.

It may seem like a concern to those on the outside, but internally, it doesn’t appear to be a big deal.

Outlook

Over the past six days, Indiana has solidified itself as a powerhouse in the college football landscape. A massive victory against a top-five opponent on the road, paired with the extension for Cignetti, has put IU at the center of national attention.

Still, the game is played between the white lines and Indiana’s focus must now shift to Michigan State. Blocking out outside noise has become a hallmark of Cignetti’s tenure.

When running back Roman Hemby said Indiana would prepare for MSU like it was “the Super Bowl,” it was clear the Hoosiers are locked in on winning the next game.

Indiana is expected to cruise on Saturday. There may be a brief hangover in the first quarter, but if the Hoosiers stay focused, it shouldn’t be a close contest.

(Photo credit: Michigan State Athletics)

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