On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press writer Chris Solari dig into this weekend's Michigan State-Michigan football game and the current dynamics between the two schools.By Lansing State Journal

The boys are back from Northern Michigan after the men's basketball team made the visit up north last weekend and delivered another episode of Spartan Speak! But before that, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari begin the podcast discussing Michigan State's football game with Iowa on Saturday.…

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari chat about Michigan State's frustrating game against Ohio State and what can be learned from the performance against the Buckeyes. Then the guys look ahead to the brutal matchup with Oregon on a short week and wh…

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari have a spirited discussion on the Michigan State football program, coming off Saturday's loss to Boston College and heading into this weekend's upcoming game vs. Ohio State. Plus, the state of MSU basketball head…

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari dive into last week's football game at Maryland and how it changed the possibilities for Michigan State's football season. Then they look ahead to what the Spartans can get out of their matchup with Prairie View A&M.…

The Michigan State football team got off to a rousing start in the Jonathan Smith era, beating Florida Atlantic last Friday. It was also the first game for highly-touted QB Aidan Chiles. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari share their thoughts on the Spartans' win and look ahead to Saturday's…

Apologies for being away so long (the last podcast was on April 22), but the Spartan Speak podcast is back with a vengeance! With the Moneyball Pro-Am kicking into high gear, Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss MSU's basketball roster, newcomers and returners, and changing dyna…

The Michigan State football team held its spring game on Saturday. And most of the eyes were on new Spartan QB Aidan Chiles, who didn't disappoint by delivering a couple of 'wow' plays. On the latest "Spartan Speak" podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari react to MSU football's spring g…

With the Michigan State hockey and basketball seasons over, it's now time for an end-of-season recap for both teams on this week's Spartan Speak podcast. We start with hockey. Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and LSJ hockey writer Nate Bott dive into the team and program – their performance at the NCAA regionals, the season that …

The Michigan State men's basketball team's regular season ended with a loss to Indiana on Sunday, leaving the Spartans with an 18-13 overall record and 10-10 in the conference, making them the 8-seed for this week's Big Ten tournament. On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat wri…

Things were looking up for the Michigan State men's basketball team after a three-game winning streak, but that came to a screeching halt Tuesday night in a 78-71 home loss to Iowa. On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari dove into the Spartans' loss to the H…

It didn't quite have the importance of years past, but the Michigan State basketball team handled its business in the second half in beating Michigan on Tuesday. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari dive into the Spartans' win on this Spartan Speak, along with the state of the program heading …

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari dive in on MSU basketball – what's going well, what isn't, the possibility the Spartans could go on a run over the next few weeks and Steven Izzo's shot heard around Spartan land. Plus, a little football talk at the end…

On a holiday edition of the Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the latest with the Michigan State basketball team, which is surging after winning three straight games against #6 Baylor, Oakland and Stony Brook. Then, a conversation about MSU football coach Jona…

The Michigan State men's basketball team continues to be plagued with questions after the Spartans' home loss to Wisconsin to open Big Ten play on Tuesday. On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari do a deep dive on the team – the level of concern, the problems…

There's a new football coach at Michigan State, with the Spartans announcing the hire of Oregon State's Jonathan Smith. On this week's Spartan Speak, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss how it happened, what they think of Smith and the fit and the challenges with the roster right now.…

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari dig into the Michigan State men's basketball's recent performance and preview a measuring stick game against a daunting and unbeaten Arizona team on Thanksgiving Day. Then, they discuss MSU football's showing at Indiana…

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari react to the Michigan State men's basketball team's loss to James Madison - why it happened, which concerns are real and which aren't - and then preview MSU's football game at Ohio State.…

On this week's Spartan Speak, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari begin by discussing Michigan State football's QB situation and Saturday's game against Nebraska. Then, they get to the seedier side of things and dig into the insanity at Michigan with Connor Stalions and increasing evidence of…

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari analyze Michigan State basketball's exhibition win over Hillsdale, including what stood out from MSU's freshman and several other players. Then they dig into the Michigan football sign-stealing scandal and what it might…

It's Michigan Week, people! But this year has a different feel, as the Wolverines are playing like they're on top of the world, while Michigan State has lost its head coach and the quality of play has been severely lacking this year. But with this rivalry comes weird results. And on this week's Spartan Speak, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham …

The Spartan Speak podcast returns after a two-week layoff! Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free beat writer Chris Solari have plenty to cover as the Michigan State football team is coming off a bye week in preparation for Saturday's game against Rutgers. This week's topics include the ongoing coaching search to repla…

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the State of the Spartans football program, in the wake of Mel Tucker's sexual harassment lawsuit and this week's announcement that Michigan State intends to fire Tucker with cause. Graham and Chris discuss wher…

The news surrounding Mel Tucker's suspension due to a sexual harassment complaint is ever-evolving, but for Friday's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal sports columnist and Detroit Free Press beat write Chris Solari keep everything completely on the field. Episode topics include previewing Saturday's showdown with Washington and QB Michae…

The Michigan State football team beat Richmond on Saturday to improve to 2-0, but that's on the backburner now as an investigative story from USA TODAY's Kenny Jacoby that coach Mel Tucker was being investigated in a Title IX sexual harassment case was published early Sunday morning. And shortly after the publication of that story, Tucker was suspe…

The Michigan State football team kicked off its 2023 season last week with a win over Central Michigan, with one half (the second) much better than the other. With FCS squad Richmond coming to Spartan Stadium this weekend, MSU will have a chance to improve on some of the potential they showed in the second half last Friday. Lansing State Journal sp…

It's been a bit of a different preseason for Michigan State football. There hasn't officially been any indication as to who the Spartans' starting quarterback will be, and in a press conference this week, coach Mel Tucker didn't specifically mention a single player on the roster by name. Is it a weird coincidence or a planned strategy for Week 1 pr…

We're only a mere eight days away from Michigan State football's season-opening game against Central Michigan. And since the last podcast, some developments have occurred. On this week's episode, Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari take a look at the Spartans' depth chart and break the…

Quite frankly, we've been gone way too long. Almost three months, in fact. But that changes today as Michigan State football's fall camp begins Thursday. Fall is near, and that means that Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari emerged from hiding and will return on a near-weekly basis. Th…

Michigan State football news was hot and heavy on Sunday, as the Spartan football lost three starters to the transfer portal: First, it was two-year starting QB Payton Thorne; then, expected No. 1 receiver Keon Coleman left; and last, CB Charles Brantley announced he was leaving. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press b…

Michigan State held its spring football game on Saturday. Although it was mostly a glorified practice, there was plenty for Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari to see. They discuss the QB competition between Payton Thorne, Noah Kim and Katin Houser and other highlights from Spartan Sta…

The boys are back from NYC following Michigan State's NCAA tournament loss to Kansas State in the Sweet 16. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari reflect on the Spartans' loss and whether it was a missed opportunity, and then project what next year's roster will look like. In the final part of …

The Lansing State Journal's Graham Couch and the Detroit Free Press' Chris Solari and Shawn Windsor break down Michigan State's Sweet 16 overtime defeat to Kansas State, in what was an instant classic.By Lansing State Journal

There's a reason the "January, February, Izzo" saying exists, and the Michigan State basketball team is advancing to its 15th Sweet 16 under Tom Izzo, upsetting 2-seed Marquette 69-60 on Sunday. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari break down the MSU win piece-by-piece, preview the Kansas Stat…

It was a busy past two days in Michigan State athletics, and we're here to cover it all for you: The Spartans are set to play USC in the NCAA Tournament, spring football practice begins, and women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant is stepping down after 16 seasons. Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch is joined by beat writer Brian Ca…

On this week's Spartan Speak, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari preview this week's Big Ten tournament, discussing which schools need wins the most and predict who will win the tournament. Then, moving on to football, they discuss the decommitment of 4-star WR Nick Marsh, discuss recruiting…

On this week's Spartan Speak podcast, Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari get caught up on the Michigan State basketball's last two games against Iowa and Nebraska, look ahead to this weekend's senior day contest against Ohio State, how the Spartans can still get the double bye in the …

It has been a difficult week, to put it lightly, following the shooting at Michigan State on Feb. 13 that left three students dead and five wounded. In the background of that horrific event, Saturday's Michigan State-Michigan basketball game was played in Ann Arbor which saw both communities come together in this moment. Lansing State Journal sport…

On this week's podcast, Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the Spartans' win over Maryland on Tuesday, the struggles of Malik Hall and the three-man center rotation of Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, and Sunday's game against Ohio State.…

In the midst of a condensed schedule, the podcast returns following Michigan State's loss at Indiana on Sunday. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari discuss the Spartans' 82-69 loss to the Hoosiers, including: MSU's inability to contain Trayce Jackson-Davis Mady Sissoko and Pierre Brooks' stru…

After a month off, Spartan Speak returns! Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch and Detroit Free Press Michigan State beat writer Chris Solari have plenty to discuss with the MSU men's basketball season in full swing. They discuss Keon Coleman's decision to play basketball this year, Malik Hall's return after missing games due to a foot inju…

After traveling to State College and Portland, respectively, Chris and Graham are back for the latest episode of Spartan Speak. They discuss the Michigan State football team's loss to Penn State, likely a season-ender with a 5-7 record, the basketball team's performance at the PK85 tournament in Portland against Alabama, Oregon and Portland, and th…

Things are looking up for the Michigan State basketball team after the Spartans beat Kentucky in double overtime, thanks in large part to Malik Hall's dunks at the end of regulation and the first overtime. But the biggest revelation has been the emergence of third-year player Mady Sissoko, who's becoming a force in the paint. Graham and Chris also …

Wednesday was National Signing Day for college basketball, and all four of Michigan State's commits - Xavier Booker, Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr and Gehrig Normand - sent in their letters of intent, meaning coach Tom Izzo has secured the nation's No. 3 recruiting class for 2023, according to 247Sports. Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couc…

There was a game played Saturday night, but nobody's talking about that. Instead, the post-game altercations that occurred in the Michigan Stadium tunnel after the game have taken center stage. Eight Spartans have been suspended - and Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch are here to discuss it…

There's no mistaking it. The Michigan Wolverines are flying high with a 7-0 record and a No. 4 national ranking. Michigan State is 3-4 and recently ended a four-game losing streak with an overtime win over Wisconsin. But this in-state rivalry has produced some great games over the year, especially the last 14 years, with the Spartans owning a 10-4 …

With the Spartans on a bye week, Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch brought out their red pens this week to grade the Michigan State football team offense, defense, special teams and coaching. Along with host Phil Friend, they also discuss Saturday's win over Wisconsin with a sprinkling of c…

The Michigan State football team's losing streak reached four after getting blown out by Ohio State on Saturday. The Spartans' issues continue to pile up, as Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch, Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari and host Phil Friend discuss the issues with the defense, offensive line and recruiting, along with QB…

There isn't much to grab on to the last three games if you're a Michigan State fan, as the Spartans prepare to host No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday afternoon. Detroit Free Press beat writer Chris Solari, Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch and host Phil Friend preview Saturday's game - trying to find spots where the Spartans can feel o…

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 Gra…