Michigan State football: Starting center is ... a game-time decision

EAST LANSING — It’s a snap decision, and Michigan State football plans to take as much time as possible to make it.

Who will start at center Saturday at Indiana?

MSU coach Mark Dantonio said it will be a game-time decision between junior Tyler Higby and sophomore Matt Allen when the 23rd-ranked Spartans travel to Bloomington to face the Hoosiers (3-0 record, 7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network).

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“We certainly have to try and figure that out as we go,” Dantonio said before MSU’s bye week, “and that's one of the things we figure out in the next couple weeks here.”

It’s not the only problem on the offensive line for the Spartans (1-1), but it is where everything in the offense begins.

In MSU’s 16-13 loss at Arizona State, Higby got shoved backward into QB Brian Lewerke on one critical third-down snap that caused the offense to stall and get a field goal instead of a touchdown.

Higby slid over to left tackle late in the third quarter, with Allen replacing him at center. All 32 of Allen’s plays in the loss came at center, and Higby played 57 of the 66 offensive plays — 25 at center and 32 at left tackle.

Higby has spent the majority of his first four seasons at MSU playing guard.

“It's not from a lack of trying or lack of a will,” Dantonio said. “But he's snapping the ball and he's probably not stepping.”

Dantonio said Allen played solid and knows his position without the learning curve Higby has been facing. Allen is the youngest brother of former MSU centers Jack and Brian Allen.

“I’ve been playing center since I was in about sixth grade, so I’ve always been comfortable playing center,” Allen said after practice Tuesday. “Really, whoever (offensive line coach Mark) Staten is confident with going into the game on Saturday is what he’s going to end up doing.”

More:Michigan State vs. Indiana: Scouting report, prediction

It gets complex beyond there as well.

Luke Campbell has struggled at left tackle, and he flipped to his natural right tackle spot when Higby slid over from center. Right tackle Jordan Reid had one whiff on one of the two fourth-quarter sacks of Lewerke.

All of that could be compounded by a potential injury to senior left guard David Beedle, who appeared to have his leg rolled onto during the Spartans’ final drive. Redshirt freshman Blake Bueter replaced Beedle for MSU’s final offensive play, and he moved up to backup at left guard. However, that is where Higby started 13 of his 14 games heading into this fall before beating out Allen and Bueter for the center job.

All of that shuffling has led the Spartans to struggle in run blocking, averaging 114 rushing yards per game. They also have had trouble protecting Lewerke, who has been sacked five times while having to evade pressure on a number of other occasions.

“Just how the offense works is that if one guy makes a mistake, it can mess up the whole play. Sometimes, you see that happening,” Allen said. “And other times, you just see guys going the wrong way on plays. We just gotta get in the O-line room and really get after watching film and make sure everyone is on the same page every play.”

Game update

MSU’s homecoming game against Northwestern will be a noon kickoff on Oct. 6. Broadcast information remains to be determined.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!