The Michigan State football team is at a crossroads once again after getting thumped at home by Minnesota. Now, all of the sudden, Saturday's opponent, Maryland - which is coming off a near-upset of Michigan - is an 8.5-point favorite. How did MSU get to that point? 

Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch try to answer talk, discussing Mel Tucker's tendencies in recruiting and the transfer portal, before breaking down Saturday's Maryland game and making predictions. 

After an offseason of heightened expectations, the Michigan State football team couldn't get through the nonconference slate unscathed after losing at Washington last weekend. 

Now, the Spartans face a veteran Minnesota team that has the potential to completely upend MSU's season. Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch dissect the state of the Spartans: the offensive line, defensive secondary, running game, pass game, coaching and more. 

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch discuss the performance of Michigan State QB Payton Thorne, who has had a bit of a rollercoaster performance in the Spartans' first two games this season. 

Then, they preview Saturday night's Washington game and answer listener questions. 

We've got an actual, live college football game to reach to on this week's Spartan Speak! Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch discuss Michigan State's win over Western Michigan that proved a bit costly, as two key defenders went down with injuries. 

Plus, we talk about Jacoby Windmon, the offensive line, the wideouts, Mel Tucker calling out (maybe) MSU's nutritional team, and we preview Saturday's game vs. Akron. 

Michigan State football's season opener is Friday night against Western Michigan. Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch get you caught up on what to expect in the game, discuss the newest details in Tom Izzo's contract extension and then we do over/unders and predictions for the 2022 college football season. 

Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch catch you up on the latest news in Michigan State sports. 

This week's topics:

• Football and basketball recruiting
• 6 MSU football observations (Keon Coleman and special teams among the topics)
• Listener questions

The Spartan Speak podcast has returned from its annual sabbatical, and just in time, as the Michigan State football team is well into preseason practice and the season opener against Western Michigan is right around the corner. 

The Detroit Free Press's Chris Solari and the Lansing State Journal's Ryan Black take you through the latest in Spartan news. Topics:

• Tom Izzo contract extension
• MSU basketball recruiting lands Coen Carr, Xavier Booker, Gehrig Normand
• 6 MSU football preseason tidbits
• MSU football recruiting
• Listener questions - including 6 hot takes

Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari are two of the few people in the world who have already seen the new Magic Johnson documentary, "They Call Me Magic," which airs on Apple+ this weekend. 

We spend the first 14 minutes talking about that before discussing Julius Marble's decision to enter the transfer portal and Joey Hauser opting to return for one more season. 

We then shift to football, with RB Donovan Eaglin and CB Antoine Booth entering the portal, and then a discussion on the spring game. 

It's a listener question episode of Spartan Speak this week! Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari answer your questions ahead of the Michigan State football team's spring game on Saturday. 

The latest Michigan State news is basketball heavy, as longtime assistant basketball coach Dwayne Stephens is leaving the program to become the head coach last Western Michigan. And last week, freshman Max Christie declared for the NBA draft. Will he change his mind and return to campus? Plus, spring football talk.