Now at 6-5, the Spartans are one of seven Big Ten bowl-eligible teams. Only a Michigan win against Ohio State and an MSU loss to Penn State next week could keep MSU from a guaranteed bowl slot.

MSU’s road to bowl eligibility wasn’t expected to be this difficult — or heart-stopping. But when it came down to it Saturday, MSU made big plays in big spots — none bigger than sophomore receiver Keshawn Martin’s 85-yard kick return to put the Spartans in prime position for a go-ahead field goal or touchdown.

Martin was MSU’s most dynamic offensive player, just like he has been all season. The team used him in the Wildcat formation for the first time this season, a play that resulted in a 19-yard run.

But Martin wasn’t the only one making plays.

Junior cornerback Chris L. Rucker scooped up a Purdue fumble and scored seven seconds into the game.

With the offense struggling in the first half, sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins found junior tight end Charlie Gantt for a 55-yard pass to set up MSU’s second touchdown. Senior kicker Brett Swenson hit two 52-yard field goals in the third quarter — his career high. Junior cornerback Jeremy Ware blocked a field goal try that would’ve put Purdue up 37-30. On the first play after the block, Martin took a double-reverse for 45 yards, setting up a touchdown three plays later.

On the ensuing Purdue drive, junior linebacker Jon Misch made a first-down-saving tackle, forcing the Boilermakers to kick a tying field goal. That led to Martin’s return and Swenson’s fourth field goal of the game.

But it was the struggling defense that saved its best for last, as junior defensive end Colin Neely sacked Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott on fourth-and-six from the MSU 47-yard line with less than 20 seconds left. It was the only sack of the game for either team.

The fact the Spartans made the big plays at the end only will serve as a confidence boost for the team heading into the Penn State game and in the probable bowl game.

In most of the team’s close games this season, the Spartans were leading, only to have the game slip away. This time they made a big time comeback by making big time plays — the one factor that’s been missing this season.

For the team to beat Penn State next week, the Spartans will have to continue this type of play. The offense must be creative and the defense has to get crucial stops like it did at the end against Purdue.

If the team gets better in the long run because of the trials and tribulations of this season — and it’s important to remember how young this team really is — then experiencing a 6-6 or 7-5 regular season is fine.

In the short term, you bet it’s anguishing. Fingernail length among MSU football fans has to be at an all-time low. But if this pays off in the long term, it’s easy to write off 6-6 or 7-5 for three straight nine-win seasons, something very possible with this program.

But for now, take a moment and reflect on what it’s like to be a student here when the football team is eligible for three straight bowl games. It hasn’t happened in more than a decade. Overcoming this hurdle is a sign of things to come.

Matt Bishop is a State News football reporter. He can be reached at “bishop20@msu.edu“mailto:bishop20@msu.edu.