In one of the Big Ten's better out-of-conference (and well, soon to be in-conference) matchups of the 2023 season, Michigan State prepares to host a No. 8-ranked Washington team with an abundance of weapons, but some substantial issues.

Washington is, for good reason, well-known for its aerial attack. Head coach Kalen DeBoer is an outstanding passing game architect with the ability to consistently put his players in positions to succeed. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ryan Grubb also deserves a lot of credit for Washington's success.

Below, watch the two receivers at the top of the screen. They run a route combination called "Mills," a spread classic where the inside receiver runs a 10-yard "dig," and the outside receiver runs a post (here, a post-corner). This forces the safety to "choose" which route to cover.

Here, the Tulsa safety, who you see briefly at the start of the play come into the frame just inside the "50" of the 50-yard line in the upper left hand corner as the play develops, stays back, leaving the dig open. As MSU runs mostly zone coverage from the nickel set, I would expect young safety Malik Spencer to be picked on often — but he'll likely be ready for the challenge.

Also worth noting is how the slot receiver on the field side runs a simple hitch, pinning down two coverage players, creating even more space in the middle of the field.

Something DeBoer and Grubb use often are extremely nasty levels concepts to threaten all three levels of the defense. Look at the trips bunch at the top of the screen. One player runs a post, which tears the safeties apart, another an option route that sits down just in front of the other safety. The third player runs a quick out, look at the corner and apex linebacker scramble to try to get into their coverage responsibilities, leaving free space for the receiver in the flat.