Spartans battle, but Penn State's relentless pressure overwhelms MSU's struggling offensive line, sealing their seventh consecutive loss.
The sky has turned dark. Spartan fans have grown louder.
A 14–10 halftime score in favor of the visiting Penn State Nittany Lions has East Lansing sitting in an uneasy fog. Hope lingers, but the fear of a winless Big Ten season sits even heavier. Spartan fans everywhere settle in for a second half that may not mean much to many, but means everything to our sanity. Just win one game.
MSU struck early with a massive 57-yard touchdown run from Tau-Tolliver on the very first offensive play of the game. A field goal later pushed the Spartans to ten first-half points. Defensively, MSU held tough, but one smooth Penn State drive and a blown coverage that led to a 75-yard score put the Nittany Lions ahead at half.
The second half opened just like most of MSU’s season: pressure in the quarterback’s face and another third-down failure. Both teams sat at 1-for-7 on third down as the Nittany Lions used a few fourth-down conversions to keep drives alive while MSU kept punting.
It’s been a rough offensive showing — especially for an offensive line that can’t generate push or handle a blitz.
Thankfully, the defense answered with a strong three-and-out capped by a big sack. But the third quarter devolved into a field-position duel: punt after punt after punt.
Pinned inside their own five with four minutes left in the third, MSU looked destined for another three-and-out. But a switch at running back brought in Makhi Frazier, who flashed fresh legs and ripped off a few chain-moving runs. Still, the offensive line reverted to its struggles, surrendering a massive sack that stalled momentum. MSU entered the fourth quarter driving but still trailing 14–10.
The fourth began with a brutal 2nd-and-22 after that sack — and if you guessed another sack was coming, you’d be correct. Penn State’s defensive front continued to dominate, making MSU’s O-line look like a group of kids trying to stop grown men.
Penn State then imposed its will. Ten straight runs pushed them deep into the red zone before a short touchdown pass extended the lead to 21–10. Fatigue had fully set in for the Spartans.
With five minutes left, MSU took advantage of Penn State’s prevent defense and marched downfield — helped by two roughing-the-passer penalties. Credit to Milivojevic for standing tall despite knowing he’d get hit on every dropback. But just as a glimmer of hope appeared, the Nittany Lions stripped him and fell on the loose ball.
Penn State twisted the knife with a rapid 70-yard, three-play touchdown drive to go up 28–10 with two minutes left. They ran all over MSU on their final possessions and left East Lansing with a comfortable win.
Overview
Michigan State’s offensive line is once again the Achilles heel — five sacks allowed and countless pressures.
Milivojevic did what he could in his second start, but constant pressure is too much for any freshman. The run game showed occasional life, but outside of Tau-Tolliver’s 57-yard opener, nothing sustained.
The defense played valiantly but ran out of gas late — a season-long theme. Whether it’s Minnesota scoring twice late or Penn State grinding them down in the fourth, the story hasn’t changed.
MSU drops its seventh straight and remains winless in the Big Ten. Bowl hopes are over. Now eyes turn toward Jonathan Smith. With recruiting restrictions hitting this week, if the athletic department doesn’t make a move, the Spartans’ Big Ten losing streak could stretch years.
Michigan State heads to Iowa next week to face the Hawkeyes.
Final Stats
Alessio Milivojevic: 17/27 — 128 yards
Elijah Tau-Tolliver: 6 rush — 79 yards; 8 rec — 73 yards; 1 TD
Makhi Frazier: 8 rush — 27 yards
Nick Marsh: 2 rec — 5 yards
Malcolm Bell: 6 tackles
Darius Snow: 4 tackles
Jalen Satchell: 0.5 sacks
Jalen Thompson: 0.5 sacks