Michigan State football: Report card for clutch overtime win over Wisconsin

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 15: Jayden Reed #1 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after making the game-winning reception against the Wisconsin Badgers in double overtime at Spartan Stadium on October 15, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

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Oct 15, 2022; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) runs for a first down against Michigan State Spartans safety Xavier Henderson (3) at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports /

Secondary: B

This was arguably the best game we’ve seen from the secondary all year long and it only gets a ‘B’ grade because there were still a few instances of head-scratching missed assignments.

The secondary looked like it was going to have yet another one of its disappointing games in the first half, but it settled down and made the correct adjustments. Daring Graham Mertz to beat them with his arm ended up paying off because he just couldn’t get anything going.

I can’t quite give this group a higher grade because it folded in three of the biggest moments of the game. One was at the end of regulation when Ameer Speed let a guy somehow get five yards behind him in a fourth-and-goal situation to score the game-tying touchdown. If he was in the right spot, Michigan State wins and the game doesn’t go to overtime.

The second was giving up a touchdown on a short route for an easy touchdown in the first overtime. Actually, the second was dropping the interception in overtime which would have ended the game (the interception was a gift, but somehow it was dropped). The third was that touchdown shortly after.

Still, a solid game for this secondary, holding Mertz to 131 yards on 14-of-24 completions.

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