For a third time in the past three home games, Michigan State looked like it was on the verge of pulling off an “upset” only to choke the a win away and lose 21-14.
The loss was Michigan State’s seventh of the season and that officially eliminates Michigan State from bowl contention. With the loss, Michigan State can now focus on finishing strong since it’ll be playing with nothing to lose.
This one hurt, considering it was another win seemingly in the bag that got away.
Now, some thoughts on Michigan State’s heartbreaking loss.
The turnover game reigns supreme (again)
Michigan State beat Michigan because it was able to win the turnover battle and turnovers played a massive role on Saturday night against Washington.
Michigan State was winning the turnover battle and then Cam Fancher threw a critical interception in the fourth quarter as the Spartans were driving. That interception deep in Washington territory deflated the entire team and the Huskies went down the field and scored the go-ahead touchdown with a little over two minutes left.
Then, as Michigan State was driving to potentially tie the game up with under two minutes left and Carson Gulker fumbled after catching a first-down pass in Washington territory.
That was the difference in the game.
The offense really struggled without Alessio Milivojevic
It’s hard to say if Alessio Milivojevic is the future under center, but he proved to be the better option between him and Cam Fancher. When he left with an injury, the offense couldn’t finish drives and while Fancher did conver on some big fourth downs later, he also nearly threw a couple of costly interceptions.
Fancher played a decent game, but the offense clearly took a step back with Milivojevic sidelined. He was 14-for-22 with 134 yards, a touchdown, and an interception but that pick came at the worst possible time with Michigan State driving.
The offense just doesn’t look the same when QB1 isn’t healthy and that was true back during the UCLA game, too. Fancher had a touchdown pass at the end of the first half to tie the game but wasn’t fully comfortable in the pocket and that led to zero second-half points.
After the first 75-yard drive, Michigan State had 267 yards on 64 plays with seven points.
Michigan State keeps finding new ways to lose
A month ago, Michigan State found a way to come back from down multiple scores to take Illinois to overtime and then they lost on a horrendous play-call on a two-point conversion and then a week later the Spartans had a ranked Northwestern team on the ropes before doing the wrong things, leading to a regulation loss.
Against Washington, we saw much more of the same. The Spartans had control of the game with the defense really shutting the Huskies down in the second half, but a Fancher pick gave them new life as Michigan State was driving.
Having the ball with a chance to take a three or 7-point lead and then throwing a really embarrassing interception sums up the entire season.
To make matters worse, Michigan State’s sure-footed kicker, Liam Boyd, missed his first non-blocked kick of the season from 48 yards out after playing the role of hero at Michigan.
Then Gulker fumbled the ball to end the game on a potential game-tying drive in Washington territory.
This was a fun new way to lose.
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