Michigan State Spartans at Illinois Fighting Illini
· NCAA - FootballJosh McCray runs for three TDs to lead Illinois to a 38-16 win over slumping Michigan State
McCray had nine carries for 61 yards, Altmyer completed 19 of 32 passes for 231 yards and Pat Bryant caught four passes for a career-high 135 yards and a TD in his final home game as the Illini (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) ended a two-game losing streak.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema said Bryant is ready for the NFL.
“I always tell NFL scouts wherever you have Pat Bryant rated, I’d go one round higher," he said.
Aidan Chiles was 23-of-40 passing for 256 yards and two TDs and Aziah Johnson and Nate Carter caught TD passes for the Spartans (4-6, 2-5), who have lost three in a row and six of seven.
Michigan State didn’t have a sack for the sixth straight game. Illinois sacked Chiles five times.
Rushing the passer isn't the only issue with the Spartans' defense.
Michigan State will need to go with a young secondary for the rest of the season.
Starting safety Malik Spencer and cornerback Charles Brantley were injured in a Nov. 2 loss to Indiana and their prognosis isn't good.
“They’re likely done for the year. They’re not close to returning,” said Spartans coach Jonathan Smith.
The Illini finished 6-1 at home. It’s the first time they’ve won six home games in a season since 2001, when they captured the Big Ten title and played in the 2002 Sugar Bowl.
Bielema is glad the 23-year drought is over.
“This is what we’ve tried to do since we came here five years ago," he said. “Change the expectations of what people think of this place and what it is.”
After falling behind 21-9 at halftime, Michigan State closed within 21-16 on a 5-yard TD pass from Chiles to Carter.
Illinois’ David Alano responded with a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter, and McCray scored on a pair of 1-yard runs in the fourth quarter.
Altmyer threw a 57-yard TD pass to Bryant and a 4-yard TD pass to Zakhari Franklin, and McCray ran 11 yards for a TD for the Illini in the first half.
It was Bryant’s eighth TD reception of the season, and his career-long catch. It also was Altmyer’s career-long pass completion.
Michigan State scored on a 52-yard TD pass from Chiles to Johnson in the first quarter and a 38-yard field goal by Jonathan Kim with 1:02 left in the half.
Kim missed the PAT after the Chiles-to-Johnson TD pass. It was the first time he’d missed a PAT in his college career. He was 3 of 3 at North Carolina and is 34 of 35 at Michigan State.
Michigan State: The Spartans have no margin for error if they want to play in a bowl game in Smith’s first season as coach. They need to win their final two regular-season games, home games vs. Purdue and Rutgers, to be bowl-eligible.
Michigan State: Hosts Purdue on Friday.
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How To Watch
How can I watch Michigan State Spartans vs. Illinois Fighting Illini?
- TV Channel: Spartans at Fighting Illini 2021 College Football, week 12, is broadcasted on FS1.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Matchup Prediction
Scoring Summary
TD | 1st Period 9:52 | Pat Bryant 57 Yd pass from Luke Altmyer (David Olano Kick) | |
TD | 1st Period 7:53 | Aziah Johnson 52 Yd pass from Aidan Chiles (Jonathan Kim PAT failed) | |
TD | 1st Period 1:06 | Josh McCray 11 Yd Run (David Olano Kick) | |
TD | 2nd Period 2:01 | Zakhari Franklin 4 Yd pass from Luke Altmyer (David Olano Kick) | |
FG | 2nd Period 1:02 | Jonathan Kim 38 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 3rd Period 9:35 | Nate Carter 5 Yd pass from Aidan Chiles (Jonathan Kim Kick) | |
FG | 3rd Period 5:45 | David Olano 37 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 4th Period 7:30 | Josh McCray 1 Yd Run (David Olano Kick) | |
TD | 4th Period 1:56 | Josh McCray 1 Yd Run (David Olano Kick) |
Statistics
MSU | ILL | |
---|---|---|
18 | 1st Downs | 18 |
2-15 | 3rd down efficiency | 8-15 |
4-6 | 4th down efficiency | 1-1 |
343 | Total Yards | 369 |
256 | Passing | 231 |
23/40 | Comp/Att | 19/32 |
6.4 | Yards per pass | 7.2 |
87 | Rushing | 138 |
28 | Rushing Attempts | 31 |
3.1 | Yards per rush | 4.5 |
7-73 | Penalties | 3-20 |
0 | Turnovers | 0 |
0 | Fumbles lost | 0 |
0 | Interceptions thrown | 0 |
28:32 | Possession | 31:28 |
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