Michigan State’s homecoming weekend nearly ended with a comeback story, but the Spartans still walked off the field with another loss after Illinois escaped 38-37 in overtime.
After a rough first half and a pile of injuries - especially on defense - MSU clawed back, forced overtime, and even had a chance to win it after Jaziun Patterson scored in the extra period. Pat Fitzgerald chose to go for the two-point conversion right then, but the trick-play pass fell incomplete and Michigan State dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten play with its fourth straight defeat.
In his postgame press conference Saturday night, Fitzgerald praised the way his team kept fighting while also owning the mistakes that piled up.
"I want to congratulate Illinois on a hard-fought win. We ended up making it a game, and I'm proud of our guys.
We were resilient. We had a bunch of guys go down in that game.
For the guys to step up and fight the way that they did, I'm really proud of them. Now we've just gotta clean up a lot of mistakes.
Just a lot of mistakes. Not to discredit Illinois, they came out, they had a really good plan, took advantage of some of our things.
I thought Joe (Rossi) adjusted well. I thought we got the ball and we were able to move it.
But, at the end of the day, we ended up one play short. That was my call.
I stood up here about six, seven weeks ago and said 'Scared money don't make money.' We felt good about the play.
Credit Illinois, they defended it, so good for them."
Fitzgerald said the lessons from the game have to be absorbed quickly, because the problems were not limited to one area.
"The growing pains are happening, so we've gotta coach through that. So that's on us as coaches.
We've gotta get guys to play and execute fundamentally and technically. We need them to play with discipline.
And then we need to execute within the moment. At times we did today, and other times, they hurt us.
"A game like this should hurt. This is a game that we had every opportunity to win.
They made the last key play to win the game. So, congratulations Illinois."
In Other News...
Michigan State Fans Had One Breaking Point With Officials Vs Illinois
Michigan States frustration with the officials reached a boiling point late in the game against Illinois, when freshman receiver Samson Gash appeared to come up with an onside kick recovery only for the play to be wiped away by an offsides call. The ruling set off a strong reaction from coach Pat Fitzgerald, who made his feelings clear on the sideline as the Spartans felt another key moment had gone against them.
The controversy only added to an already tense finish, and it loomed large when Michigan State later went to overtime. The Spartans had a chance to extend the game further, but a failed two-point conversion ended the night and left fans stewing over the sequence that helped turn the game in Illinois favor. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Fitzgerald Furious After Call Defined Michigan States Loss
Michigan States special-teams gamble briefly looked like the kind of momentum swing that can turn a tight college football game on its head. The Spartans appeared to recover an onside kick against Illinois, only for the play to be wiped away because of an offside penalty on freshman wide receiver Samson Gash, leaving the officials to sort through an extended review before upholding the flag and sending Michigan State back to re-kick.
For Pat Fitzgerald, the sequence became more than a lost chance. The head coach made it clear he disagreed with how the ruling was handled, and he intends to take his concerns to Big Ten officiating leadership. For a team already trying to find any edge in a close game, it was the kind of call that can linger long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Overtime Collapse Exposed A Bigger Problem
Michigan States rally against Illinois had all the markings of a program trying to fight its way through a difficult stretch. Alessio Milivojevic settled in after a slow start and finished with 196 yards and two touchdowns, and the Spartans showed real grit by erasing a late deficit and forcing overtime after tying the game at 31-31.
But the 38-37 loss also put a harsher spotlight on a defense that never got comfortable. Michigan State did not record a sack or much meaningful pressure, and when the game came down to a pivotal two-point try, the Spartans could not finish the comeback. The effort was there, and the response mattered, but the broader issue is still hanging over this team. [Read more 🡒]