Sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery.
After two months of winless torture, Michigan football avoided its date with program history, beating Maryland, 38-28, on Saturday, Nov. 29, to pick up the first Big Ten victory of the season in its final chance of 2025.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Spartans’ offense, transplanted to Ford Field in Detroit, looked almost nothing like the iteration that prowled East Lansing for much of the season, picking up more than 300 yards in the first half and building a 17-0 lead early, and then a 24-7 lead over the first 30 minutes.
It wasn't all smooth, as a third-quarter defensive implosion forced the Spartans to dig deep in the fourth – and get helped out by a shanked 27-yard field goal by the Terps late in the game. MSU clinched the game with a TD pass from Alessio Milivojevic to Omari Kelly on fourth-and-7 just after the final 2-minute timeout.
Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic (11) throws the ball against Maryland during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.COACHING CHANGE? Urgency mounting for decision on Michigan State football future
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe first-half offensive explosion was capped by a drive that needed just 55 seconds to cover 75 yards in eight plays, with tight end Jack Velling catching a 9-yard strike while falling in the end zone in the final seconds before halftime.
The win keeps embattled coach Jonathan Smith, in his second season, from joining MSU legend Duffy Daugherty as the only Spartans coaches to go winless in Big Ten play. Daugherty’s 1958 Spartans went 0-5-1, with the tie coming against rival Michigan. Smith’s 2025 crew goes 1-8. The win over Maryland ends a seven-game skid for MSU and was Smith's second in two seasons over the Terps; he's 2-14 against the rest of the conference.
MSU offense clicks in Detroit
For all of QB Alessio Milivojevic’s impressive first-half numbers against the Terrapins — three touchdowns, 72.7% completion percentage, 216 yards — perhaps the best, from his point of view, was a zero: Zero sacks taken, after getting taken down 12 times in his previous two starts.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Spartans offense, using its seventh different lineup in the trenches, not only kep Milivojevic off the ground, but kept the ground game moving as well, as Elijah Tau-Toliver and Brandon Tulls combined for more than 80 yards in the first half.
Nick Marsh gets going
Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh (6) runs a touchdown against Maryland during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.Former metro Detroit star Nick Marsh (River Rouge) certainly seemed at home at Ford Field. After catching just six passes for 23 yards in the Spartans’ previous two games, Marsh had six catches for 71 yards — and a touchdown — in the first half for MSU.
Defensive woes after the half
As good as the MSU offense looked, the defense still had issues, with Maryland freshman QM Malik Washington shredding the Spartans in the third quarter. Washington went 14-for-21 for 178 yards in the third quarter, leading a pair of scoring drives.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Spartans, meanwhile, struggled to get to Washington, not getting their first sack of the game until 10½ minutes were left, as Quindarius Dunnigan brought down Washington to slow a fourth-quarter drive.
They added a second on a key fourth down, bringing Washington down with 3:01 left to end a Maryland drive.
Next up for the Spartans
At 4-8 (1-8 in Big Ten play), the Spartan will have to wait for next season. They’re scheduled to face Toledo in the season opener on Sept. 5 in East Lansing, with games against Eastern Michigan (at home on Sept. 12) and Notre Dame (on the road on Sept. 19) also on the nonconference slate.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State sprints past Maryland, 38-28, for 1st Big Ten win
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