Trailing 30-6 fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor rolled to the right, didn’t bother to see true freshman wide receiver Donnie Corley by himself in the endzone and zipped a pass to triple covered fifth-year senior Monty Madaris.
No. 8 MSU had to be confident heading into Saturday’s contest after going on the road last week and taking down a ranked Notre Dame team on the road. Conference play has always been a point of emphasis for the Spartans, and their track record under head coach Mark Dantonio has proven that.
Football beat writers Stephen Olschanski and Nathaniel Bott break down No. 8 MSU's 30-6 loss over No. 11 Wisconsin in East Lansing. With the loss, the Spartans' overall record falls to 2-1 on the season and 0-1 in Big Ten play.
The No. 8 MSU football team got off to a sluggish start in the first half, and too many mistakes cost the Spartans the start they wanted in Big Ten play, getting blown away by the Badgers 30-6 in the Big Ten opener.
Head coach Mark Dantonio stressed the importance of Big Ten play throughout the week, and it didn’t seem to stick following the Spartans first half performance, as No. 8 MSU trails No. 11 Wisconsin 13-6 at the break.
Follow along in real time with MSU football beat writers Nathaniel Bott and Stephen Olschanski as No. 11 Wisconsin travels to East Lansing to take on No. 8 MSU.
For the first time this year, the Spartans will have a noon kickoff in what is sure to be a bruising Big Ten battle to open conference play. It is the 53rd meeting between the Spartans and the Badgers, the last of which being in 2012 when the MSU defeated the Badgers in Madison 16-13 in overtime.
State News sports editor Casey Harrison and football beat writer Stephen Olschanski discuss MSU football's matchup with Wisconsin, Central Michigan and Western Michigan College Gameday antics, their weekly hot takes and give their picks for the biggest college football games of the weekend.
Tyler O'Connor is more than serviceable at quarterback After going 19-of-26 for 241 yards and two touchdowns against Notre Dame O'Connor proved his game managing forte and skill.
The last time MSU sixth-year linebacker Ed Davis played Wisconsin, he was a redshirt-freshman. He recorded a tackle for loss in that game, and seemed to bring an extra competitive fire wherever he played; whether his work on the scout team his redshirt season or his 58 tackles his junior year as a starter.
The often overlooked unit in MSU’s win over Notre Dame on Saturday was the offensive line.
On Tuesday, MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio took to the podium to discuss more impressions he got from the Notre Dame game and preview MSU’s first Big Ten conference game; a noon kickoff on Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers.
An errant, seemingly innocent bounce of a football took a victim. Notre Dame's Miles Boykin, backpedaling and caught in a block, became a casualty of the game's largest momentum swipe.
Junior running back Gerald Holmes didn’t play against Furman in MSU's first game of the 2016 season. The team leading rusher in Big Ten play the year before stood on the sideline as thousands of fans heaped praise on LJ Scott who tore through the Paladins.
South Bend, Ind. — It was the biggest play yet of freshman wide receiver Donnie Corley’s collegiate career, and perhaps the biggest play in No. 12 MSU’s 36-28 victory over No. 18 Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium.
South Bend, Ind. — No. 12 MSU football prevented a near collapse against No. 18 Notre Dame Saturday night, narrowing out a 36-28 victory that came down to the final minutes.
Fifty years after the Game of the Century and three years after their last matchup, No. 12 MSU and No. 18 Notre Dame started timidly before showing flashes which ultimately resulted in a 15-7 lead for MSU at halftime. After forcing Notre Dame to punt on its first drive, MSU couldn't hold stout against the hurry-up offense of the Irish.
Follow along with The State News football writer Stephen Olschanski and sports desk editor Casey Harrison, on the live blog as No. 12 MSU travels out to South Bend, Ind.
MSU heads to South Bend, Ind. Saturday night for the 78th meeting, and the 50th anniversary of the "Game of the Century", between the Spartans and the Irish.
