Michigan State football dropped their eighth consecutive game last Saturday, falling on the road to Iowa, 20-17. The Spartans dominated for the majority of the game, until a brutal fourth quarter let a double digit lead slip away, where the Hawkeyes found a way to pull the game out.
For 58 minutes of football, the Michigan State defense was spectacular, only giving up three points. Unfortunately, the final two minutes garnered 10 points for the Hawkeyes, that would prove to be the dagger in Michigan State's hopes of winning.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter looking at the film, and evaluating the game, Pro Football Focus (Subscription Required) gave out their grades for the Spartans in the game.
Check out the top five defensive players for the Spartans, according to PFF:
DT Ru'Quan Buckley - 87.9
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 15: Ru'Quan Buckley #88 of the Michigan State Spartans before a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Spartan Stadium on November 15, 2025 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)DL Quindarius Dunnigan - 85.4
IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 22: Wide receiver Kaden Wetjen #21 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs up the field in the second half against defensive lineman Quindarius Dunnigan #99 of the Michigan State Spartans on November 22, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)DE Jalen Thompson - 78.9
IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 22: Running back Kamari Moulton #28 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs up the field in the second half against defensive lineman Jalen Thompson #9 of the Michigan State Spartans on November 22, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)CB Malcolm Bell - 77.5
IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 22: Wide receiver Jacob Gill #5 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs up the field in the first half against defensive back Malcolm Bell #14 of the Michigan State Spartans on November 22, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)LB Jordan Hall - 72.3
Michigan State's Jordan Hall looks on from the sideline during the first quarter in the game against UCLA on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Top five defenders for Michigan State football vs. Iowa per PFF
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