Michigan State’s Bowl Hopes Fading After Loss To Maryland

Michigan State’s fifth straight loss, 28-17 to Maryland on Saturday, puts the team’s hopes of even qualifying for a bowl game in serious jeopardy.

Just over a month ago, the Michigan State Spartans eyed a Big Ten Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Now even a bowl game appearance seems unlikely after their fifth straight loss, 28-17 to the Maryland Terrapins.

After an interception thrown by re-christened Michigan State starting quarterback Brian Lewerke, Maryland opened the scoring by driving 96 yards in nine plays and scoring on a Lorenzo Harrison eight-yard run to take the lead. A successful two-point conversion put the Terrapins up 8-0 at the end of the first quarter. The two teams traded punts before L.J. Scott provided a spark to the Spartans offense, dashing 48 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 8-7.

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A 36-yard touchdown pass from Perry Hills to D.J. Moore increased Maryland’s lead to 14-7 in the second, but Adam Greene’s missed extra point kept the Maryland lead at seven. The Spartans responded with ten-play, 74-yard drive, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Gerald Holmes to tie the game at 14 with less than a minute remaining in the half. The Spartans had another chance to score before the half after recovering a Harrison fumble but failed to score on a fake field goal on the last play of the half and the teams went to the break still tied.

Michigan State drove deep into Maryland territory on their first drive of the second half, but the Terrapins recovered a Monty Madaris fumble in the redzone which ended the threat. Maryland responded by launching a drive of their own, but it stalled out in Spartan territory and the Terrapins turned the ball over on downs. A 34-yard Michael Geiger field goal gave Michigan State the lead at the end of the third quarter, but that would be all the offense the Spartans would muster.

Maryland dominated the fourth quarter. A two-yard touchdown run by Kenneth Goins Jr. capped off an eight-play, 75-yard drive and give Maryland the lead for good. Later in the quarter, Hills found Levern Jacobs for a nine-yard score to increase the lead to 28-17 and put the game beyond all doubt.

Spartans face uphill battle for bowl eligibility

It would have seemed ridiculous when the season started, but Michigan State is on a five-game losing streak, including all four of their conference games so far, and is in serious danger of not automatically qualifying for a postseason bowl game with six wins. Technically, a 5-7 Michigan State team could be invited to a bowl, especially if more than two Big Ten teams get New Year’s Six bids, but in order to guarantee a spot in a bowl game the Spartans would have to win at least four of their last five games, and with #2 Ohio State and #3 Michigan coming to East Lansing in the next month, not to mention a season finale trip to giant-killing Penn State, Michigan State has its work cut out for it if they want to play a game in December.

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Lewerke unimpressive in second start, Hills efficient for Terrapins

After stating earlier this week that his starting quarterback would be a “game-time decision“, head coach Mark Dantonio opted to start redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke over fifth-year senior Tyler O’Connor for the second week in a row despite pulling Lewerke from last week’s 54-40 loss to Northwestern. Lewerke completed only 11 of 24 passes for 156 yards and a first quarter interception against Maryland on Saturday in his first full game and also carried the ball ten times for 79 yards. Seven of those completions were to R.J. Shelton, who finished with 79 receiving yards.

Lewerke’s counterpart at quarterback for the Terrapins, senior Perry Hills, was effective but not flashy, completing 21 of 28 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns while leading his team to a win.

Both teams excellent in ground game

Michigan State’s ground game was significantly more effective than its passing game, led by L.J. Scott with 128 yards on 20 carries, including a 48-yard touchdown run. Gerald Holmes was also effective, carrying 13 times for 59 yards and a score.

While the Spartans were efficient on the ground, the Terrapins were dominant. Both Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison finished with over 100 rushing yards, Johnson rushing for 115 yards on nine carries and Harrison carrying 17 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. Kenneth Goins Jr. also carried four times, gaining 23 yards and a touchdown.

Riley Bullough ejected for targeting

Michigan State’s defense suffered a huge blow early when starting linebacker Riley Bullough was ejected from the game for targeting on a tackle against Maryland wide receiver D.J. Moore with 4:39 left in the first quarter.

(The play in question begins at 1:35 in the above video)

It was Bullough’s third personal foul of the game. Analyst Mike Pereira on the Big Ten Network broadcast agreed with the call, saying that “he does get him with the crown of the helmet in the head or neck area.” Pereira also said that the officials likely thought that Bullough crouched down before launching into Moore.

Elsewhere in the Big Ten:

The biggest news in the Big Ten this week is Penn State’s (5-2, 3-1) amazing 24-21 home upset win over #2 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1), in which the Nittany Lions scored 17 unanswered fourth-quarter points and took the lead in the fourth quarter on a blocked field goal return for a touchdown.

Ohio State’s loss leaves #3 Michigan (7-0, 4-0) as the only undefeated team left in the East after they defeated Illinois (2-5, 1-3) on Saturday, 41-8. #8 Nebraska (7-0, 4-0) remains the only undefeated team in the West after a 27-14 win over Purdue (3-4, 1-3). #10 Wisconsin (5-2, 2-2) righted the ship after consecutive seven-point losses to Michigan and Ohio State by defeating Iowa (5-3, 3-2) on the road 17-9. Minnesota (5-2, 2-2) held off Rutgers (2-6, 0-5), 34-32, on a field goal in the final seconds and Northwestern (4-3, 3-1) sealed a 24-12 home win over Indiana (3-4, 1-3) with an outstanding one-handed interception by Kyle Queiro.

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Michigan State will host #3 Michigan at noon on ESPN next Saturday.