Instead of Michigan State football being welcomed back for Homecoming, boos filled the Spartan Stadium stands as early as the first quarter. But over the course of 60-plus minutes, those boos turned into roaring cheers.

“The fans were unbelievable,” head coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “They're the ones that talked to our guys and got them going, and I appreciate them more than they'll ever know."

The Spartans erased the 17-point deficit, tying up the game at 31 all, sending the game into overtime. Illinois prevailed 38-37 behind a first-play score and a clutch stop on MSU’s two-point conversion attempt.

A sluggish offensive start, featuring consecutive three-and-outs, set the Spartans behind early. Defensively, MSU didn’t record a first-half stop either — it was self-sabotage before the second half ensued.

Illinois built a 20-7 halftime lead, highlighted by former Spartan quarterback Katin Houser’s two-yard quarterback-keeper touchdown and a five-yard touchdown pass.

MSU’s only first-half score came miraculously as the offense snapped out of its lousy start. Sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic and graduate running back Jaziun Patterson ignited an efficient 75-yard drive. Milivojevic looked comfortable in the pocket, capping the drive off with a six-yard dump-off pass to Patterson for the score.

Milivojevic and the offense opened up the second half with the ball, picking up right where it left off. As soon as MSU found a rhythm, graduate tight end Brennan Parachek fumbled in Spartan territory.

Illinois and MSU each exchanged field goals, leaving MSU's deficit at 13.

Houser looked unstoppable; however, three plays into the next drive, he made his first mistake.

Junior safety Devin Vaught intercepted Houser’s overthrow and took the ball down the sideline. There was one man to beat, Houser, who took the contact and finished the tackle.