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The Michigan State Football regular season finale is upon us. The Spartans are set to take on the Maryland Terpins this Saturday, Nov. 30. For many fans, this game comes as a sign of relief.

Here are three things to watch:

Bowl Eligibility

MSU must win this game against Maryland to become bowl eligible. This would be the twelfth time in Mark Dantonio’s tenure as head coach. Note, he has been the Spartans head coach for 13 years. This year was not as enjoyable as the others. A win against Maryland puts MSU at 6-6 on the year. On the other hand, a loss puts them back at rather pitiful 5-7 on the year.

Fan Reaction

Fan reaction to a Maryland loss is rather easy to predict. On the other hand, fan reaction to a Maryland win is certainly unpredictable. Will fans be happy? Does bowl eligibility matter given their deflating performances all year long?

If I had to guess, I’d say bowl eligibility is met with strong apathy. Unfortunately, many fans will not care. Furthermore, I think fans react with vitriol to a bowl game loss. I hope, for Dantonio’s sake, MSU finishes strong against Maryland and the potential bowl game opponent who comes after. This will at least guarantee some favor in the eyes of fans until next year.

Signs Of The Future

Despite the negativity surrounding this season, there are positive signs for the future all around. In particular, there are positive signs on the Football field. All three freshman RB’s will likely improve heading into next year. Most notable is Elijah Collins, a proven stud. Collins racked up numbers this year even though the offensive line suffered numerous injuries.

C.J Hayes returns next year as does Cody White. Behind them, the receiving core features Jalen Nailor and Tre Mosley. That is a solid group of young receivers to pair with a new QB. If MSU blows out Maryland, we might even see someone besides Brian Lewerke at QB.

Firing a head coach is easier said than done. Especially when there is no viable replacement. Let’s pump the brakes on the Dantonio talk until the start of next season.

Tune in Saturday at 3:30 P.M. on FS1 to cheer on the Spartans. Stay locked on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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