The Spartans stand 8-2-2 overall and 4-1-1 overall in Big Ten play after a 1-1 tie against Michigan in East Lansing on Tuesday. The 4-1-1 start to league play for MSU is its best since 2018.
Harrison Hall and Gabe Eaker will be on the call for the B1G+.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
One more win would give the Spartans the most Big Ten victories since going 5-1 in 2008, when MSU went on to win the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State is two overall wins away from reaching double figures in wins for the first time since 2018, when the Spartans were 14-5-4 en route to the College Cup.
ROAD WARRIORS
When Michigan State defeated Maryland in College Park, 2-1, on Oct. 9, it established a few firsts. The victory against the Terps was the first win for MSU against Maryland since 2018. It also marked the first win in College Park since 2014.
SERIES HISTORY
Michigan State holds the slight edge over Ohio State in the series 29-28-4. In Columbus, the Buckeyes are on top 13-8-2. In East Lansing, MSU leads 14-12-2. On neutral ground, Michigan State is on top 7-3.
The Buckeyes have had the best of the Spartans of late going 5-0-1 in the last six meetings. Michigan State is looking for its first win against Ohio State since a 1-0 win in October of 2021 in East Lansing. The last time MSU won in Columbus was the COVID-19 shortened season of spring 2021.
LOOKING AT THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State is 6-3-2 overall this season and 1-3-1 in Big Ten action. In league action, OSU has a win against Penn State and losses to then-No. 21 UCLA, Rutgers and Washington. The Buckeyes tied then-No. 8 Wisconsin, 1-1.
Isaiah Chisolm has scored seven goals in just four games for a team-leading 14 points. Martin Wurschmidt is second on the team in goals scored with five.
Ohio State goalkeeper Patrick McLaughlin us third in the Big Ten in goals against average (0.95) and has allowed only 10 goals this season in 11 games. He has four clean sheets this season
OSU is coached by Brian Maisonneuve, who is in his ninth season as a Buckeye. He has a 56-62-21 record with Ohio State. He is a former associate head coach at Indiana.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
The Spartans are among the leaders in the NCAA in several categories. Michigan State is fifth in the country in assists per game and first in the Big Ten with 3.08 apg. MSU is also 12th in the NCAA and second in the B1G in points per game with 7.42 ppg. The Spartans are sixth in the nation in assists with 37.
Andrew Darakdjian is ninth in the nation in game-winning goals with four, while Richie Ludwig is 11th in total assists with seven.
BATTLE FOR THE BIG BEAR
Tuesday was the 26th anniversary for the Battle for the Big Bear Trophy. The trophy originated in 2000. MSU leads the series 15-5-6 since 2000. Despite the 1-1 tie, MSU retains the trophy after a 2-1 win in Ann Arbor last season. The Spartans keep the rivalry trophy for the fifth year in a row, as they have held it since 2022, winning in 2022 and 2024, while tying in 2023, 2025 and 2026.
MERRITT NAMED TO HERMANN WATCH LIST
Miles Merritt was named to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List. Merritt is the first Spartan to be named to the Watch List since Jonathan Stout was named to the preseason Watch List in 2024. Giuseppe Barone and Patrick Nielsen were named to the Hermann Watch List in 2019. Prior to that, Ryan Sierakowski was honored in 2017. Goalkeeper Avery Steinlage was named to the watch list in 2010. In 2014, midfielder Jay Chapman was named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy, becoming the first Spartan in school history to achieve the feat.
DONO CAPTURES B1G HONOR
Dom Dono was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week by the league on Sept. 30. Dono, a native of Plymouth, Michigan, scored his first collegiate goal in the Spartan’s 3-0 win over No. 13 Wisconsin at home on Sept. 25. Entering the game off the bench, Dano scored the second goal of the match in the 44th minute. This was Dono’s first Freshman of the Week honor.
Dono is the third Spartan to earn B1G Freshman of the Week honors. Midfielder Peter Soudan earned the accolade on Sept. 30, 2025 and went on to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. The 2024 season was the first season that the award was given. Midfielder Brandon Munson was named Freshman of the Week on Oct. 1, 2024. Luke Spadafora also captured Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors on Sept. 2, 2025.
CLIMBING UP THE POLLS
This week, the Spartans climbed to No. 12 in the United Soccer Poll and No. 15 in the Top Drawer Soccer Poll. They are one of five Big Ten teams ranked this week. Indiana leads the way at No. 2. UCLA is ranked No. 10 followed by No. 13 Washington and No. 14 Maryland.
KEEPING UP WITH DARAKDJIAN
Senior forward Andrew Darakdjian leads the team in scoring with five goals and two assists for 12 points. The two goals against Northwestern on Sept. 15 were his first two Big Ten goals after missing last season with an injury. The transfer from Oakland University has started all nine games this season. He has four game-winning goals this season.
GREK STEPPING UP
Junior goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz has had a strong start to the season. In his first season as the Spartans’ starter, he has allowed only 12 goals for a 1.01 GAA. He also has earned five shutouts this season starting with SIUE and Pitt. MSU has started Big Ten play with three clean sheets against Northwestern, Penn State and Wisconsin. He is tied for first in the Big Ten in shutouts.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Heading into this week, Michigan State, Indiana and Washington are tied for first in the Big Ten standings with 13 points. UCLA is fourth with 11 points. Michigan and Penn State are the final two teams looking for their first conference wins.
Senior forward Andrew Darakdjian is tied for fifth in the Big Ten in points with 12 points (five goals and two assists). Senior Richie Ludwig is second in the conference in assists with seven behind Maryland’s Henry Bernstein with eight. As a team, Michigan State is third in the Big Ten in points with 89 points, behind Washington’s 102 points and Indiana’s 92.
RISING UP THE RPI
Michigan State moved up No. 8 in the most recent RPI, which is third among Big Ten schools. Maryland is first and No. 6 and Indiana is No. 7. MSU opponents Pitt and Kansas City stand No. 5 and No. 9, respectively.
GETTING IN THE STARTING XI
Seven Spartans have started all 12 games this season, as Brandon Munson missed his first game of the season due to card accumulations against Maryland on Oct. 9. There have been 25 different players that have seen action in the first 12 games and among those 25 players 15 have earned a point. Freshman Ezra Horlings made his collegiate debut in goal in the second half against the Purple Eagles on Aug. 30. Richie Ludwig, Miles Merritt, Luke Spadafora, Conner O’Keefe, Charlie Norkett and Jake Grekowicz have started all 12 games this season.
HUERTA IS CLUTCH
MSU earned a hard fought 1-0 road victory against Penn State on Sept. 18. In the 85th minute, junior forward Oscar Huerta’s diving header would be all the offense that the Spartans needed. The play started with a corner kick from Miles Merritt. The goal was the first of the season for Huerta, while Merritt has two assists.
FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET
Fifteen different Spartans have earned a point in the first 12 games. Senior Andrew Darakdjian leads the way with five goals, including four game winners. Sophomore defender Conner O’Keefe and senior midfielder Leo Conneh are second with three goals. Five different players have two goals after Richie Ludwig’s brace against Wisconsin on Sept. 25. Twelve different Spartans have found the back of the net. Overall, Darakdjian leads the team in scoring with 12 points, while Ludwig as 11 points.
THE BICYCLE HEARD AROUND THE NCAA
Junior forward Oscar Huerta caught a lot of attention with an assist against SIUE on Aug. 27. In the 47th minute, MSU scored a SportsCenter worthy goal started by Huerta’s bicycle kick pass. Huerta’s kick perfectly found the head of sophomore defender Conner O’Keefe for his second goal of the year.
DID YOU KNOW?
Michigan State has 85 points through 12 games with 26 goals and 37 assists. In 16 games last season, MSU had 57 points off of 19 goals and 19 assists.
HOME SWEET HOME
This was the first time that Michigan State has started the season with five-straight home games. After home wins against UAlbany, Seattle, SIUE, and Niagara, MSU closed out the homestand with a 0-0 tie against Pitt. The Spartans are 6-0-2 this season at home.
FULL CIRCLE MOMENT
Freshman midfielder Drew Rensing is following in his father’s footsteps in becoming a Spartan. MSU head coach Damon Cleansing played at Michigan State from 1993-1996. The younger Rensing has seen action in 10 games this season.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THEM
Michigan State men’s soccer team had three players named to the 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch List. Senior midfielder Miles Merrittjunior defender Brandon Munson and sophomore midfielder Peter Soudan were all honored by the league.
Merritt, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is in his second season at Michigan State after transferring from Incarnate Word. Munson, a junior who hails from Spring Hill, Florida, started 11 games for the Spartans. He scored one goal with one assist for three points. Soudan, a sophomore from Western Springs, Illinois, was named to the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He also earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team last season.
‘O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Ahead of the start of practice on Aug. 14, Michigan State head men’s soccer coach Damon Cleansing announced the three captains for the 2026 season in Richie Ludwig, Miles Merritt and Will Eby.
DID YOU ALSO KNOW?
The Spartans added a new member on Aug. 18. Assistant coach Nick Barry and his wife, Maddy, welcomed a Spartan, Charlotte.
UP NEXT
After a brutal two game week, the Spartans will host another ranked team in No. 13 Washington on Oct. 23.
THE STAFF
MSU head coach Damon Cleansing enters his 18th season at the helm of the Spartans. Nick Barry enters his seventh year at MSU. Reid Friedrichswho enters his fourth year with Michigan State. Friedrichs has plenty of experience in the Green and White as a player, including Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 1996.
Former Spartan Zach Carroll enters his second season as an assistant coach. He was the No. 38 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls. He earned first-team All-Big honors in 2015.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
MSU senior midfielder Colin Arce is following in his father’s footsteps. Steve Arce played at Michigan State from 1998-01 when current head coach Damon Cleansing was an assistant coach.
Source: msuspartans.com
