Michigan State football: What we learned at Iowa, what to watch vs. Indiana Hoosiers

Looking ahead to Michigan State football's game Saturday against Indiana, after the Spartans' 49-7 blowout loss at Iowa.

Three things we learned

Regression session: A week after putting together a complete three-phase game in winning at Michigan, the Spartans came apart on offense, defense and special teams against the Hawkeyes. The Spartans’ defense gave up first-half touchdowns, quarterback Rocky Lombardi had an interception returned for another, and Iowa’s Charlie Jones returned a punt for a touchdown. MSU allowed 405 yards on offense, including 226 on the ground, and gave up another 105 to Jones on punt returns.

[ Mel Tucker can't point fingers after disgusting loss — he only has 2 hands ]

Who’s No. 2: Without a physical copy of a depth chart that allegedly does not exist, it has been impossible to pin down Mel Tucker’s pecking order at quarterback. When Lombardi finally was pulled with 8 minutes to play, it was redshirt freshman Payton Thorne who emerged as the second-string quarterback and not sophomore Theo Day. Thorne’s collegiate debut was unspectacular – he handed off to Brandon Wright three times, then misfired on a rollout pass when MSU went for it on fourth down. Those four snaps are about the equivalent of what Day got last season as the No. 3 QB, and the Dearborn Divine Child product looked disengaged from the offensive huddles at times late in Saturday’s game.

Running in circles: Offensive coordinator Jay Johnson said before the season he felt the Spartans might use four to five running backs this season. That came to fruition against Iowa – and neither Connor Heyward, Jordon Simmons, Elijah Collins, Anthony Williams Jr. or Brandon Wright found much success on the ground. MSU’s languishing run game managed well below 100 yards for the second time in three games, with the quintet rushing for 69 yards on their 26 attempts while adding 46 receiving yards on six catches.

INJURIES: MSU leaders Antjuan Simmons, Rocky Lombardi, among walking wounded

B1G MISERY INDEX: It has been a long time coming for Michigan, Penn State

Up next: Indiana

Matchup: Michigan State (1-2) vs. Indiana (3-0).

When: Noon, Saturday.

Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing.

TV/radio: ABC or ESPN2, WJR-AM (760).

Line: TBD.

Know the foe: Believe it or not, Indiana is tied with Ohio State for first place in the Big Ten East. Coach Tom Allen has the Hoosiers off to their best start in more than 30 years, opening Big Ten play 3-0 for the first time since 1988. They beat Michigan on Saturday, 38-21, for their first win over the Wolverines since 1987 and started the year with a thrilling victory over Penn State. While Allen’s specialty has been defense, Indiana’s offense is vastly improved and averaging 37.0 points despite just gaining 339.3 yards per game. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is 66 of 112 for 750 yards with seven touchdowns and an interception this season, with Whop Philyor accounting for 21 receptions and 252 yards and a score and fellow receiver Ty Fryfogle with two TDs among his 13 grabs for 224 yards. Running back Stevie Scott III has four scores and 235 rushing yards, while tight end Peyton Hendershot has three touchdown catches. Defensively, Indiana is allowing 364 yards and 25.7 points a game.

SHAWN WINDSOR: Forget Ohio State. Michigan football now lags behind Indiana, too

Three things to watch

Bounceback factor: It looks like it is going to be a wild ride for Tucker in his debut season after an unprecedented amount of adversity in simply getting to his first practice. The Spartans showed against Michigan they can move past a poor performance and respond to a loss by making necessary corrections to physical and mental mistakes. And though the Paul Bunyan Trophy is a revered rivalry symbol, facing Indiana brings a second straight trophy game with the Old Brass Spittoon on the line.

More: Michigan State football grades: Letdown from U-M game was real in every facet

More: Michigan State's Mel Tucker can't point fingers after disgusting loss — he only has 2 hands

Turn, turn, turn: And after not committing a turnover against the Wolverines, MSU had three Lombardi interceptions Saturday. Each time, a Hawkeye defender or three either was in his face or flushed him from the pocket and the product of Clive, Iowa, cracked and made some regrettable decisions. He now has five interceptions and a lost fumble this season. On the flip side, MSU’s defense for the second straight game did not create a turnover. That’s nine quarters and 140 minutes and 16 seconds of game play since the Spartans recovered a fumble in the opener against Rutgers, who had three turnovers in that game. Indiana ranks fourth in the nation with a plus-2 turnover margin.

Tight series: Though the Spartans have dominated the series historically – a 48-16-2 edge all-time and an 18-3 edge since 1995 – MSU and Indiana have played some close games the past four years. The Hoosiers won in overtime, 24-21, in 2016 before the Spartans won three close ones the past three years. MSU survived last year’s meeting in East Lansing, 40-31, with a Matt Coghlin field goal with 5 seconds left and a Michael Dowell fumble recovery TD in the end zone as time expired after the Hoosiers’ desperation laterals on the ensuing kickoff. The Spartans have won three straight, and the last time the Hoosiers won back-to-back meetings was in 1993 and ‘94.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football: What we learned, what to watch vs. Indiana