For a second straight week, the final play of the game decided Michigan State’s fate. A week ago, Michigan State lost on a failed 2-point conversion in overtime and in Week 7, it was a last-second field goal that sealed the loss for Pat Fitzgerald’s squad.
And it happened against his former school.
Ex-Spartan Aidan Chiles got the last laugh against Michigan State, leading the game-winning drive in the final minute. Good vibes turned horrendous quickly in a second straight heartbreaking loss.
Who were the biggest winners and losers from the Northwestern loss?
Winner: Michigan State’s defensive line
It felt like we were watching a completely different defensive line against Northwestern as Chiles was running for his life all game long. Chiles “rushed” 16 times for just 25 yards which should go to show just how often he was brought down for a loss.
A defensive line that had really been struggling had its best game of the season against a Top 25 team, finishing with five sacks and 10 tackles for loss. We haven’t seen a stat like that from the defense in a decade.
Winston DeLattiboudere worked some magic at practice this week. Huge games for Anelu Lafaele, Ben Roberts, and Kenny Soares Jr. led the way.
Loser: The Alessio Milivojevic-Rod Bullard collection
This may be mostly the fault of the quarterback, but Alessio Milivojevic and Rod Bullard were just not on the same page against Northwestern. They haven’t really been on the same page since the first game of the season. Bullard has 21 catches this season and seven came against Toledo. This connection has regressed and it may have hit rock-bottom on Saturday.
Milivojevic overthrew Bullard several times wide open down the field and he could have had at least one walk-in touchdown. Bullard had two catches for 11 yards but those numbers were held back by really poor throws.
Winner: Bryson Williams
Yes, it was only one catch, but this is the second straight week that Bryson Williams has been utilized on offense and he’s starting to get comfortable. This time, he scored his first career touchdown on a back-shoulder pass where he had to fight off a little contact to make the impressive grab, finishing the 32-yard score.
All aboard the Williams bandwagon. I’ve been driving this thing by myself for a minute.
Loser: Joe Rossi
Michigan State’s defense was playing really well through three quarters given the circumstances of it missing four key starters in the linebacking corps and the secondary. Unfortunately, Joe Rossi’s defense melted down on the final drive and really throughout the fourth quarter as it allowed the game-tying touchdown and 2-point conversion on a 9-play, 77-yard drive.
They then gave up 64 yards on eight plays in 58 seconds to allow the game-winning field goal. The defense gave up 11 points and 180 yards in the fourth quarter.
Truly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Rossi’s seat should be heating up.
Winner: Devin Vaught
The secondary played OK through the first three quarters but really struggled in the fourth quarter, but Devin Vaught played well throughout. He continues to be the hardest hitter in the secondary and he may be the more sure tackler that Michigan State has had back there in years.
It’s hard to pick three winners from a crushing loss, but Vaught continues to play well in the green and white.
Loser: Bowl hopes
Any remaining bowl hopes were crushed on Saturday as Northwestern’s last-second field goal went through the uprights and Aidan Chiles shushed the crowd. Michigan State is going to need a legitimate miracle to make a bowl game at this point.
Sitting at 2-5, the Spartans will need to go 4-1 in the final five games and they face Michigan, Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and Rutgers. Four of those teams will be heavily favored.
You never know, the team has gotten a lot better over the past two weeks and should have upset a Top 25 team at home despite being heavily undermanned. It’s possible but it’s going to need a miracle now.
Add us as a preferred source on Google