WATCH: Controversial no-call ends late threat by Michigan in loss to Michigan State
The No. 8 Michigan State Spartans upended the No. 6 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, winning by a 37-33 final score and bringing Mel Tucker’s Spartans to an 8-0 record. But the final result didn’t come without controversy.
Michigan State, which trailed 23-14 at halftime, mounted a second-half comeback to defeat Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines. However, Michigan, which received the ball with 5:08 left in the contest, trailing by four, had one last chance to answer — and the Wolverines came close to doing just that.
The Wolverines took a 12-play, 43 yard drive into Spartans territory, setting up a fourth-and-3 for quarterback Cade McNamara on the Spartans’ 31-yard line. On the 13th play of the drive, McNamara took a shotgun snap and fired an incomplete pass, which could very well have drawn a pass interference flag. The no-call ultimately ended Michigan’s late-game threat to Michigan State.
“It looks like Michigan State may have gotten away with one,” the announcers said, shortly after the camera cut to Harbaugh. Harbaugh appeared to be questioning the referees’ no-call, which cut the drive short.
Despite an abysmal performance by Payton Thorne and the Michigan State passing attack, the Spartans still got it done. Thorne had just 19 completions in 31 attempts, gaining only 196 passing yards and throwing two picks; all the while, Thorne never once threw a touchdown. Instead, it was Wake Forest transfer Kenneth Walker III who saved the day for the Spartans. The Arlington, TN native made his last-ditch effort at Heisman Trophy consideration on Saturday, taking 23 carries for 197 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, willing Michigan State to victory.
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For Michigan, Cade McNamara did his best to keep the previously 7-0 Wolverines in the game, completing 28 of 44 passing attempts for 383 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. McNamara led the Michigan offense through a dominant first-half performance, and towards the end of the game, it seemed like he might will the Wolverines to a comeback.
On Michigan’s final full drive of the game, which ended with the questionable no-call, McNamara led the Wolverines with four of six completions in his first six pass attempts. However, on the last set of downs, McNamara threw three-straight incompletions — then, on the final fourth-down try, the no-call shattered their hopes.
The Spartans ended up punting on the next possession after a couple runs and a kneel, giving the Wolverines 1:15 to respond. But McNamara threw an interception on the first play, sealing Michigan State’s win.