No. 17 Spartans face big, early hole after 2nd straight loss

Nothing resulted of Michigan State’s only overtime drive but negative yards and IN took advantage of a Spartan penalty on its ensuing drive and kicked the game-winning field goal. Runningback Gerald Holmes appeared to have scored on second down, but, somewhat controversially, his knee was ruled to be down with the ball just shy of the goal line.

Griffin Oakes’ 20-yard field goal in overtime gave the Hoosiers their first win over Michigan State since 2006. Still, IU has played Ohio State well in recent years, and easily could have won last season in Memorial Stadium (a 34-27 loss), although that Buckeye team played almost everybody close. Receivers are locked up, they can’t get off press coverage and there is nobody to throw to then pressure starts to come even more because you can’t hold the ball forever back there.

Indiana QB Richard Lagow vs. Spartans secondary.

From 2005-15, the Hoosiers allowed 34.1 points per game.

Lagow finished with 276 yards on 16 of 26 passing.

A trick play executed well by Paige gave IU its first points of the night.

IN opened the second half driving all the way to the visitors’ 3-yard line, before a 4th-and-goal wildcat pass from Tyler Natee to Ian Thomas fell badly incomplete. Senior receiver Ricky Jones finished with five catches for 124 yards for IN and junior Devine Redding ran 19 times for 100 yards. Tyler O’Connor was able to find Josiah Price in the endzone to tie the game with just 11 seconds to go in regulation.

There still needs to be more consistency in this department, but IU’s front four delivered at the most important time.

IU’s defense came up with back-to-back sacks from Patrick Dougherty and Nate Hoff on second and third downs, respectively. IN missed their field goal too, except they were saved by a penalty called “leaping”.

“They nearly beat us last year, so we didn’t really expect it to be an easy game at all”, Hubbard said, noting that IN could have the best offensive line the Buckeyes have faced this year. “… That was the difference in the game”. However, because Michigan State’s Drake Martinez tried to block the kick by illegally launching himself off a teammate’s back, the Spartans were flagged for leaping to give IN new life.

IU finally found an answer, via a seven-play drive that culminated in the most unorthodox of ways.

That may indeed be the case and here’s why: IN is playing defense this year.

Indiana: The Hoosiers head into Round 2 of a grueling three-round stretch with a huge victory.

Michigan State is struggling. They’ll visit No. 2 Ohio State next week, but the Hoosiers have posed some major challenges for the Buckeyes in recent years including a seven-point loss last season with a backup quarterback and a three-point loss in 2012. No. 15 Nebraska on October 15. 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 IN, 24-21.

“I have seen the hit, or the tackle”, Dantonio said. “It was a blessing”. Michigan State vs IN football scores and results will be posted here. Kickstarted by a 44-yard Devine Redding run, the drive ended with a lovely throw from Lagow to Paige that sailed right over a leaping Michigan State defender. Indiana, meanwhile, discovered an opportune pass rush and put its foot down in critical situations, holding the Spartans to only four conversions in 15 opportunities on third down. The Spartans were then stopped on third and goal, and with 17 seconds left, they faced 4th and goal from the 2.

Can No. 17 Michigan State go on the road and pick up a sizable win over IN tonight at 8PM ET?