So, you’re looking for the score of the MSU football game. If you missed the regular season finale at Ford Field, honestly, you missed a wild one. The Michigan State Spartans managed to pull off a 38-28 victory over the Maryland Terrapins to close out their 2025 campaign.
It wasn’t a masterpiece, but a win is a win.
The game felt like a tale of two halves, or maybe just a tale of Aidan Chiles and the transition to the future. By the time the clock hit zero in Detroit, the Spartans moved to a 4-8 final record. Not exactly what fans dreamed of back in August, but finishing with a win against a Big Ten rival always tastes a little bit better than the alternative.
Breaking Down the Score of the MSU Football Game
The 38-28 final score doesn't quite tell the whole story of how nervy this game got. Michigan State actually came out swinging, taking a 24-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. It looked like a blowout. Then, typical MSU fashion, the third quarter happened. Maryland erupted for 21 points in that frame alone, briefly making everyone in East Lansing hold their breath.
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Basically, the Spartans leaned on their ground game to settle things down. They didn't panic when the Terps tied it up. A late touchdown in the fourth quarter finally slammed the door shut.
Key Stats from the Victory
- Final Score: MSU 38, Maryland 28
- Total Offense: MSU racked up nearly 450 yards.
- The Difference Maker: A crucial interception in the fourth quarter that set up the final scoring drive.
What’s interesting is how the season ended compared to how it started. We saw flashes of brilliance—like that double-overtime thriller against Boston College early on—mixed with some really tough stretches against the heavy hitters like Indiana and Ohio State.
Why the Maryland Win Matters for 2026
You might think a 4-8 season is a wash. You’d be wrong. Winning that last game gave the program a tiny bit of momentum heading into a massive offseason. We’ve already seen the coaching staff start to shift, with Pat Fitzgerald making some noise with his recent defensive hires in early January 2026.
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Honestly, the score of the MSU football game on that final Saturday was more about the "vibe" than the standings. It proved the locker room hadn't quit. They played hard for 60 minutes, which is something you couldn't always say during that brutal mid-October stretch.
The 2025 Season at a Glance
If you’re trying to remember how we got here, the schedule was a rollercoaster. It started with a low-scoring 23-6 win over Western Michigan and peaked with a 42-40 victory over Boston College. Then the wheels sorta fell off.
A five-game losing streak through October and November really hurt. Losses to Nebraska, UCLA, and Michigan were particularly stinging. But let's be real: the Big Ten is a gauntlet now with the West Coast teams in the mix. Traveling to places like USC isn't just a game; it's a whole logistical nightmare that seemed to drain the energy out of the roster.
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What’s Next for Spartan Fans?
Football season is technically over, but the news isn't. If you follow the score of the MSU football game closely, you probably know the transfer portal is currently the "real" game being played. The winter window is closing soon, and the Spartans are fighting to keep their young talent while scouting for veteran help.
On the bright side, the basketball teams are absolutely tearing it up right now. Just this past Thursday, the No. 15 MSU women’s team took down No. 24 Nebraska in a 73-71 nail-biter. And the men's hockey team? They just beat Wisconsin 4-3 in Madison.
The football score was 38-28. It’s a number that will sit in the record books until next August. Between now and then, it’s all about recruiting, spring ball, and hoping the 2026 season opener brings a few more "W" results than we saw this past year.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the official MSU Athletics portal for the 2026 spring game date, which usually drops in late February. You should also monitor the 247Sports Transfer Portal tracker through the end of January to see which starters are staying put and who is looking for a new home.