Jordan Hall has a different mindset approaching the BC matchup

Throughout the week, the main talking point for Michigan State football has been the idea of a ‘revenge game’ against the Boston College Eagles. Jordan Hall had his own thoughts on the matter. The Spartans lost a heartbreaker to the Eagles in 2024, with Lewis Bond scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute and thirty seconds. The Eagles stormed the field, as is their tradition with their Red Bandana game victories, and that has resonated in the Spartan locker room.

That said, the idea of a revenge game is not being used as the fuel for the game by the junior linebacker Hall. Wanting to avenge 2024’s loss is not a good enough mindset to fuel the Spartans to victory on Saturday.

“For me, I kinda just flush it,” Hall admitted. “I think we’re a new team this year. Of course, you keep certain aspects of it, that is a game that got away, but I believe if that’s your approach, ‘we need to win this game because we lost it last year,’ that approach isn’t good enough to win a football game. My approach is ‘we are going to win this game because we want to win this game individually,’ to be better off during the year and reaching our goals we have set throughout the year, and this is a team that is in the way of us doing that.”

That said, Hall did agree there are some regrets towards last season’s ending, but he has moved on from that regret. It is all about 2025 Michigan State football for the linebacker.

“It’s definitely something where we feel we could have finished that game a lot better last year,” Hall agreed. “But last year is behind us a little bit. We’ve moved forward, we’re going to approach every game this year the same way, and it’s in our preparation and execution every week.”

Part of this comes from the Virginia native’s own personal rule, where he does not let himself get too involved or too disengaged with his emotions.

“A rule I like to go by is never get too emotional,” Hall said. “Never have too much emotion or too less emotion no matter the opponent. That is just my approach. It takes some time to grow and get used to, but it helps me prepare through the event and stay locked in throughout the game.”

Jordan Hall reflects on WMU, previews Boston College

Hall gave one last glance towards the season opener during his media availability, where he said he was happy with the defense. That said, the team captain sees areas he wants the team to improve heading into their first test of the year.

“I felt like we played a pretty sound, all-around game,” Hall said. “Some of the things did not go our way, but we were able to respond. Things came up, but definitely a lot of things that could be cleaned up to get to where we want to be as a defense.”

The Spartan defense featured heavy rotation last week, and were on the field for less than 25 minutes. As a result, the defense was not on the field as much as years past, and Hall was very complimentary of the offense for keeping the Spartans fresh.

“I like playing defense, but I also like winning games,” he explained. “I don’t mind if the offense takes all game running the ball, and taking time off the clock. I think they did a very good job of dominating the front (seven), the line of scrimmage, and creating those seams for the backs that we have back there, so I don’t mind it at all.”

While the veteran did not reveal a ton about wrinkles that this team would have for BC, obviously, he did compliment the Eagles’ passing attack. He also agreed the goal is to pressure the quarterback more in 2025, which the defense could not do for long stretches last season.

“Definitely a difference from last year, their scheme having (Thomas) Castellanos a little bit, more run-oriented, but their guy 9 (Dylan Lonergan) is a great thrower,” Hall complimented. “(BC has a) great offense.”