In coach Jonathan Smith’s first season, Michigan State started 3-0 but dropped seven of the final nine to limp into the offseason. This is the third straight year the program will finish with a losing record and miss a bowl game.

A defense, gutted by injuries and adding a few more, unable to overcome long drives. Special teams mistakes and ill-timed penalties compounding the misery along the way. In the end, it spelled the end of the Spartans’ season.

Michigan State football was playing for a bowl game on Saturday, with an attempt to extend their season. What fans got was an uninspiring performance, and the Spartans got absolutely dominated by Rutgers,