As I sit down to analyze the Michigan State Spartans' 2023 football season, I can't help but feel this peculiar mix of excitement and apprehension. Having followed this program for over a decade, I've learned that Spartan football always delivers drama, and this season appears to be no different. The second game against Richmond particularly stands out in my memory as a turning point that revealed both the team's potential and its vulnerabilities in equal measure. That September afternoon at Spartan Stadium turned out to be far more revealing than anyone anticipated, offering us our first real glimpse into what this team could become.
I remember walking into the stadium that day thinking this would be a straightforward victory against an FCS opponent. The Spartans were coming off a solid opening week performance, and conventional wisdom suggested they'd cruise to an easy win. But what unfolded on that field was something entirely different - a game that tested the team's character in ways I hadn't expected. The offense, led by quarterback Noah Kim, started strong with two quick touchdowns in the first quarter, showing the explosive potential we'd been hoping to see. Kim completed 19 of his 25 passes that day for 290 yards, including three touchdowns that showcased his growing chemistry with receivers like Montorie Foster. But what impressed me most wasn't the statistics - it was the way the offense adapted when Richmond adjusted their defense in the second quarter.
The defense, under new coordinator Scottie Hazelton, showed flashes of brilliance mixed with concerning lapses. They recorded four sacks and forced two turnovers, including a crucial interception by Angelo Grose that shifted momentum back in Michigan State's favor just before halftime. Yet they also allowed Richmond to convert several third-and-long situations that should have been defensive wins. This inconsistency worried me, and it's something I believe haunted them later in the season against stronger opponents. The defensive line, anchored by Jacob Slade and Simeon Barrow, generated consistent pressure but struggled at times against the run, giving up 135 rushing yards that afternoon.
What struck me most about that second game was the emotional resilience the team displayed. When Richmond closed to within seven points early in the third quarter, the stadium grew tense. I've seen Spartan teams in previous years that might have folded under that pressure, but this squad responded with fourteen unanswered points, showing a mental toughness that coach Mel Tucker has been cultivating since his arrival. The running game, led by Jalen Berger and Jarek Broussard, finally found its rhythm in that crucial stretch, combining for 185 yards that day. Their ability to control the clock when the game was on the line proved invaluable.
Special teams played a surprisingly pivotal role that afternoon, with kicker Stephen Rusnak connecting on both field goal attempts, including a 42-yarder that essentially sealed the game in the fourth quarter. The punt coverage unit pinned Richmond inside their 20-yard line three times, flipping field position at critical moments. These are the kinds of details that often get overlooked in post-game analysis, but as someone who's watched this program through both triumphant and disappointing seasons, I know how crucial special teams performance can be in close games.
Looking back, that 35-20 victory over Richmond taught us more about the 2023 Spartans than the final score suggests. It revealed an offense with explosive potential but occasional inconsistency, a defense capable of game-changing plays but prone to lapses, and most importantly, a team with the mental fortitude to respond when challenged. The Spartans finished with 485 total yards of offense that day while committing only four penalties - disciplined football that would become a hallmark of their better performances throughout the season.
As the season progressed, I found myself returning to what I witnessed in that second game. The strengths and weaknesses displayed against Richmond became recurring themes throughout the schedule. The offense that showed flashes of brilliance in September would later explode for 38 points against Indiana, while the defensive inconsistencies we saw would prove costly against powerhouses like Michigan and Ohio State. That second game was like reading the first chapter of a novel - it introduced all the characters and themes that would define the entire story of Michigan State's 2023 campaign.
In many ways, that September afternoon against Richmond encapsulated the entire Spartan season - moments of brilliance mixed with frustrating inconsistencies, all underpinned by a resilience that kept them competitive in nearly every contest. While the final record might not reflect the championship aspirations some fans held preseason, the growth and character displayed from that second game onward laid a foundation that gives me genuine optimism for the future of Spartan football. The 2023 season may not have ended with a Big Ten championship, but it produced moments of genuine excitement and development that suggest brighter days ahead in East Lansing.