Michigan State Football: 3 takeaways from sloppy loss to Arizona State

3. Michigan State defense dominates again

While they lost to the Sun Devils, Michigan State proved once again that they have one of the top defenses in the entire country. The Spartans held Arizona State to 216 total yards of offense, only slightly more than half the offensive production that Michigan State put up over the course of the day.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels was held to 140 passing yards as he completed 15 of his 26 attempts. Daniels mustered 37 additional rushing yards on 12 carries. Held mostly in check over the course of the contest, Daniels was solid if unspectacular as he avoided turning over the ball to the Spartans.

Eno Benjamin found it rough to gain much purchase against the Michigan State front seven. One of the top rushers in 2018, Benjamin finished the game with only 38 yards on his 11 carries. But Benjamin punched in the critical late touchdown in the final minute that allowed Arizona State to snatch victory away from their hosts.

On the numbers alone, giving up only 216 yards and 10 points would be a winning formula for most teams on a given Saturday. But Michigan State was betrayed by an offense that moved the ball but bogged down the closer they came to the goal line.