Going into the Illinois game, I stated that it was a low risk and high reward proposition. My thought was that losing to Illinois on the road would not be the end of the world, but winning would be a tremendous positive. I had a really good feeling going into the game.

Almost from the opening kick-off, the only word that I can use to describe the Spartans' performance is "flat." They looked to me like a team that was tired and beat up and just lacked energy all the way around. The fact that they looked this way coming off a bye week is a major concern.

But all is not lost. Purdue has lost nine straight games and has exactly zero wins over FBS-level teams. Losing to the Boilermakers is simply not an option. Assuming MSU gets to 5-6, the only game remaining is against Rutgers in the post-Thanksgiving season finale. That games currently projects as a pick'em.

Playing the Scarlet Knights at home, on senior, with a bowl game on the line, is a game that the Spartans should to win. It is a game that they must win. It is also a game that I believe that they will win... but after Saturday, my confidence is a bit shaken.

Check out more of my thoughts on the week below in this week's edition of Against All Odds.

Fresh off a sweep of Notre Dame this past weekend, the news got better for the Spartans hockey program Monday morning as 2008 born forward Nikita Klepov pledged to the Spartans. Klepov becomes the 5th 2008 player committed to the Spartans joining F Brody George, D Jonas Kemps, D Nick Bogas, and F Jack Hextall. Klepov has played in America the past two seasons with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights AAA program. Last season Klepov had 72 points in 22 games played (31 goals, 41 assists) and as a 08 has made the jump to the USHL this season playing 17 games after he was signed to a tender agreement in April 2024. Klepov is rated a 4.25 star by Neutral Zone. I would expect he is on target to arrive Fall 2026, assuming he continues to develop at this pace, and the latest I would push him back would be Fall 2027. This is a great pickup by coach Nightingale and his staff, and my DMs are already buzzing with USHL scouts saying how big this one is.
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