Spartan Confidential Podcast

Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel discuss a nervous Selection Sunday for Michigan State before previewing their blue blood battle with UCLA in the First Four. What should Spartan fans expect from the Bruins and how do they match up with Michigan State? The guys then share their brackets by providing potential upsets and matchups to watch before revealing Final Four picks.  See acast.co...

MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel look back at Michigan State basketball’s remarkable 16-day stretch before previewing its Big Ten Tournament matchup with Maryland. What went wrong in the last meeting between the Spartans and Terps? The guys also discuss a potential third meeting with Michigan and whether Aaron Henry was snubbed from second-team all-conference honors. T...

Michigan and Michigan State will play each other twice in men's basketball this week. In a special crossover episode, MLive's beat writers for the two programs break down how the teams got here, what's at stake, and what to expect in the two matchups. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel breakdown Michigan State’s hard-fought upset of No. 5 Illinois. Topics include the Spartans usage of a trimmed down rotation and big man by committee to slow Kofi Cockburn, as well as Joshua Langford turning back the clock. The guys also discuss what MSU needs to do down the stretch to make the NCAA tournament and lineb...

 In this episode, MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel dissect Tom Izzo’s comments about his players being “up for an audition” in the final weeks of the season. What is he really talking about? The guys also discuss the de-commitment of 2022 five-star big man Enoch Boakye, Michigan State football’s latest incoming transfer and if there will be fans at Spartan Stadium this...

MLive reporters Brandon Champion and Kyle Austin discuss Michigan State basketball’s much-needed win against Penn State including the insertion of Malik Hall into the starting lineup, continued struggles at point guard and Marcus Bingham Jr.’s emergence at the center position. The guys also discuss the Big Ten’s plans for a conference tournament in Indianapolis. Also, the pros and cons of covering...

MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel discuss what it will take for Michigan State to make the NCAA tournament after its latest road losses to Ohio State and Iowa and recap National Signing Day in which the Spartans lost Rayshaun Benny to Michigan but gained a potential two-sport recruit Keon Coleman. Also, Matt Ishbia’s record, $32 million donation to Michigan State athlet...

In this episode, MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel breakdown Michigan State’s abysmal return to action against Rutgers. Is this fixable? Who’s to blame? And what do Spartans’ NCAA tournament chances look like now with road games at Ohio State and Iowa up next? The guys also talk about a new coach on Mel Tucker’s staff and answer listener questions heading into the weeke...

With Michigan State basketball still out due to COVID-19 cases within the program, MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel take some time to answer listener questions about football, basketball and recruiting. Topics include Mike Tressel’s departure for Cincinnati, the pros, and cons of MSU basketball’s COVID-19 “break” and the football team’s scholarship situation. Also, how...

MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel discuss the positive COVID-19 cases within the Michigan State basketball program. How many games will be postponed? And what is the significance, if any, of the timing following a brutal loss vs. Purdue? Also, players continue to transfer in and out of Mel Tucker’s football program. Plus, which freshmen are enrolling early?  See acast.c...

MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel return for the first show of 2021 to discuss Michigan State’s return to form in a win against Rutgers. Topics include Aaron Henry’s evolution into a superstar, AJ Hoggard’s stabilization of the point guard position and the continued issues at center. The guys also recap the latest transfers in and out of the football program and answer...

In this episode, MLive reporters Brandon Champion and Kyle Austin examine Michigan State basketball’s struggles in Big Ten play. What are the real issues with this team? Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer. Topics include instability at point guard and center, strange lineups, puzzling substitution patterns and the massive leadership void left by the departures of Cassius Winston and Xavier...

On this Festivus episode of MLive’s Spartan Confidential podcast, reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel air their sports related grievances before discussing the Spartans loss at Northwestern and previewing what is sure to be another defensive slugfest with the Badgers on Christmas Day. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

MLive reporters Brandon Champion and Matt Wenzel discuss Mel Tucker’s first early signing day in which 16 players from across the country joined the Michigan State football team. They also discuss three marquee prospects that remain unsigned and what graduate transfer QB Anthony Russo’s arrival from Temple means for the program. Other topics include key players declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft, Pa...

In this episode, MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Matt Wenzel and Kyle Austin explain why the Land Grant Trophy is unquestionably the best trophy in sports before previewing the Spartans trip to Penn State on Saturday. The guys also discuss the Spartans blow out loss to Ohio State and Michigan State basketball’s close wins against Detroit Mercy and Western Michigan. Also, will the Spartans postpo...

MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel return from a Thanksgiving break to react to a pair of massive wins for Michigan State. First, they breakdown the Spartans’ first ever win at Cameron Indoor Stadium behind Rocket Watts, Aaron Henry and some surprising performances off the bench. Could this be one of Tom Izzo’s best defensive teams? The guys then shift gears to football...

MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel discuss a wide variety of topics including the cancelation of Michigan State’s game at Maryland and Payton Thorne’s debut at QB in the Spartans’ loss to Indiana. The guys then shift gears to hoops as two all-time favorites, Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman, begin their basketball journey in the NBA. What kind of impact can they make w...

In this episode, MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Matt Wenzel and Kyle Austin discuss the good and bad of Michigan State football including a “totally unacceptable” loss to Iowa and the huge in-state commitment of top-200 player Rayshaun Benny. Also, hoops news including Tom Izzo’s COVID-19 diagnoses and the 2021 class signing their national letters of intent. We finish with a preview of Michigan...

In this episode, MLive reporters Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel recap Michigan State’s shocking upset of Michigan in the Big House behind QB Rocky Lombardi, true freshman WR Ricky White and a perfectly executed game plan from Mel Tucker and the coaching staff. The guys then look ahead to the Spartans trip to Iowa City where they will meet the 0-2 Hawkeyes.  See acast.com/privacy for...

In this episode, MLive’s Brandon Champion, Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel recap Michigan State’s sloppy season-opening loss to Rutgers. What went wrong? Lots of things, but the guys agree it wasn’t Rocky Lombardi’s fault. Were there any bright spots? They then turn their attention to Michigan to discuss how Mel Tucker is approaching the rivalry before answering listener questions, making predictions...

It's been 300 days since Michigan State played a football game, but the season opener is finally here. In this episode, Brandon Champion is joined by Matt Wenzel and Kyle Austin to discuss Mel Tucker's Michigan State coaching debut against Rutgers. Who will start at QB for the Spartans? Will Rutgers be improved under new (old) coach Greg Schiano? Plus, the guys answer listener questions and make s...

The 2021 college basketball season will be unlike any before, but Tom Izzo returns tons of talent as the Spartans aim for their fourth-straight Big Ten regular season title. In this episode of MLive’s Spartan Confidential podcast, Brandon Champion and Kyle Austin dissect some early questions about the roster. Will Foster Loyer play more? Can Joshua Langford stay healthy? And what will the starting...

Mel Tucker got his first real look at his roster in a scrimmage at Spartan Stadium earlier this week, the Spartans first game situation since the Pinstripe Bowl in December 2019. So, what’s the roster outlook as the calendar creeps closer to the season-opener against Rutgers on Oct. 24? Questions at quarterback, along the offensive line and in the secondary appear to be the most pressing. Who’s st...

It's almost October! In this episode Brandon Champion is joined by MLive Michigan State beat reporters Kyle Austin and Matt Wenzel to breakdown the third edition of Michigan State’s 2020 football schedule. Is 4-4 a realistic prediction? Also included is a look at Michigan State basketball’s non-conference schedule, the latest opt-ins and early discussions regarding three key players: QB Rocky Lomb...

In this episode of the Spartan Confidential podcast, host Brandon Champion and Michigan State beat reporters Matt Wenzel and Kyle Austin discuss the ramifications of the Big Ten’s decision to play football after all, what COVID-19 testing will look like and the unique aspects of the proposed 8+1 conference-only schedule.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about...