The Michigan State football team faces significant challenges as they prepare for their upcoming game against Iowa. Injuries to quarterbacks Alessio Milivojevic and Aidan Chiles have raised concerns about their availability.
Michigan State QB Injuries Before Iowa Game
In a recent match against Penn State on November 15, Milivojevic, the starting redshirt freshman quarterback, suffered multiple hits. Despite being sacked five times during the game, coach Jonathan Smith expressed optimism about Milivojevic’s condition. He stated, “He is definitely midseason-healthy after a couple of starts.”
- Milivojevic completed 67.3% of his passes in two starts, totaling 439 yards.
- He faced a total of 14 sacks in six games this season.
- Despite his efforts, he only managed 128 yards in the game against Penn State.
Aidan Chiles, the junior quarterback, was sidelined during the matchup with the Nittany Lions. He was in a walking boot at the time, making his status uncertain for the upcoming game. Smith mentioned, “We’re gonna kind of see if he can work himself to being available by the end of the week.”
Quarterback Statistics and Performance
Throughout this season, Chiles completed 63.1% of his passes, accumulating 1,392 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Despite Murray’s injury issues, Chiles displayed impressive elusiveness, allowing him to evade additional sacks.
| Quarterback | Games Started | Completion % | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alessio Milivojevic | 2 | 67.3% | 439 | 1 | 0 |
| Aidan Chiles | 8 | 63.1% | 1,392 | 10 | 3 |
Upcoming Challenges Against Iowa
If both quarterbacks are unable to play, true freshman Leo Hannan may take the lead as the starting quarterback. Additionally, the team has another redshirt freshman, Ryland Jessee, in the roster as a backup option. Regardless of who plays, the Spartans are currently facing a seven-game losing streak.
Iowa poses a formidable challenge, ranked sixth in the FBS for total defense, allowing only 261.2 yards per game. They also rank eighth in scoring defense, allowing an average of 14.3 points per game. The Spartans will need to overcome these hurdles as they aim for a turnaround in their season.
