The Spartans (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) are a win away from being eligible for a bowl with first-year coach Jonathan Smith and they play Rutgers at home in the final regular-season game. “It means a lot,” Chiles said. “We should’ve been in this place a long time ago.”

Michigan State football needed 5 yards. Chiles got 4. “My eyes deceived me,” Chiles said of the first-down marker placement on the ground. During the 2-minute timeout, as Chiles, coach Jonathan Smith and others huddled on the sideline, there were options.