#17 Michigan State Blows Lead, Loses At Indiana In Overtime
#17 Michigan State’s chances at a second straight College Football Playoff invite all but disappeared on Saturday in an overtime loss to Indiana.
The #17 Michigan State Spartans (2-2, 0-2) failed to re-claim the Old Brass Spittoon on Saturday, losing 24-21 to the unranked Indiana Hoosiers (3-1, 0-2) in overtime.
The Spartans would get on the board first, scoring on an 86-yard touchdown pass from Tyler O’Connor to R.J. Shelton to take a 7-0 lead. Both offenses struggled to move the ball as the first half wore on. The Hoosiers had a chance to score as the half ended, but Griffin Oakes‘ 50-yard field goal attempt went wide right and the half ended with the Spartans still ahead 7-0.
Indiana began the second half by threatening with an 11-play, 65-yard drive, but failed to score after going for it on fourth and goal from the three-yard line. After another missed field goal attempt by Oakes on the next Hoosier possession, the Spartan offense sputtered back to life, driving 77 yards in seven plays and scoring on a 24-yard pass from O’Connor to Delton Williams, Jr. to double the Michigan State lead to 14-0.
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The Hoosiers finally got on the board as the third quarter wound down, finishing a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Paige to starting quarterback Richard Lagow. After Michigan State punted on their next possession, Indiana drove the length of the field again, capping off an eight-play, 90-yard drive with a 22-yard pass from Lagow to Ricky Jones to tie the game at 14 with 8:23 left in the fourth.
After Michigan State’s offense stalled out again, Indiana launched their third straight touchdown drive, marching 70 yards in five plays, with Lagow returning the favor to Paige, completing a 15-yard touchdown pass to him to give Indiana a 21-14 lead with 4:38 left in the fourth.
The Spartans responded on their next drive, Gerald Holmes leading the way on a ten-play, 71-yard drive, setting up a two-yard playaction pass from O’Connor to Josiah Price on fourth and goal to tie the game at 21 with 11 seconds remaining, sending the game to overtime.
Michigan State took the first possession in overtime and promptly went backwards, setting up a 49-yard field goal attempt which Michael Geiger missed. The Hoosiers took over and missed a 33-yard attempt of their own, but a 15-yard leaping penalty on Drake Martinez gave Oakes another chance and he buried a 20-yarder to win the game for Indiana, 24-21.