Game Wrap and Reaction: Michigan St. 24 Indiana 21
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Image: Jalen Thompson, USA Today
Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Opponent: Michigan State Spartans
Location: Bloomington, IN
Why They Played: The Hoosiers and the Spartans play annually for the Old Brass Spittoon.
What The Game Meant: In a battle of 3-7 teams, this game was about pride and the Spittoon. Michigan State won it back while the Hoosiers will lick their wounds as they head to play Purdue next weekend.
Top Offensive Performers
Indiana Running Game- The duo of Trent Howland and Josh Henderson combined for 151 yards on 32 carries. Brendan Sorsby added 99 non-sack rushing yards as well.
Maliq Carr, TE, Michigan State- The gigantic tight end was a problem all game for IU as he made nine catches for 100 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Top Defensive Performers
Aaron Casey, Linebacker, Indiana- The Indiana defense was not very good on Saturday but Casey closed out his last game at Memorial Stadium with 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Malik Spencer, Linebacker, Michigan State- Spencer finished with nine tackles and a tackle for loss.
Special Team Performance
Indiana can never put a good performance in all phases of special teams together. Today the issue was Chris Freeman who missed two field goals, one at the end of the first half and the other to end the game. Freeman has missed four of his last eight field goals.
James Evans punted the ball well to the tune of a 46.8-yard average, including a 58-yard punt out of his own end zone.
DeQuece Carter has been a good punt returner and finally had a chance to return one for 15 yards. It took Indiana far too long to put him back there. Jaylin Lucas nearly broke a kickoff return for a touchdown, but was tripped up on a tackle by the last line of defense.
Key Stat(s)
31-20
IU lead in nearly every statistical category, but time of possession and field position. Michigan State’s drives averaged a starting spot of their own 31-yard line while IU started at their own 20. Outside of the score, this was the key stat.
Turning Point
The turning point came on Michigan State’s final drive when they converted a fourth-and-3 on an 18 yard pass. The Hoosiers had a chance to end it there, but gave the Spartans new life.
I Knew it Was Over When…
Chris Freeman’s field goal attempt sailed wide with two seconds left.
Players of the Game
Josh Henderson and Trent Howland, Indiana
Maliq Carr, Michigan State
What I took away from the game
This was a game that Indiana absolutely gave away. Yes, there was help from a hapless officiating crew, but IU had plenty of chances to not have them insert themselves into the outcome of the game.
The Hoosiers came out flat and gave Michigan State confidence. The Spartans found open receivers the entire first drive and marched down for the score. Meanwhile the Indiana offense was misfiring as Brendan Sorsby’s mechanics were off and affecting his throws. It looked as if IU had mailed it in.
The Hoosiers again did not do the things they needed to do in order to win. A fumbled interception gave the ball back to Michigan State and instead of having great field position, the defense was back on the field. IU missed two field goals. Allowed Maliq Carr to look like Rob Gronkowski and had a starting safety benched because he failed to secure the tackle on another long catch and run touchdown.
This team (and program) have no identity. IU is uber aggressive one minute and then go conservative the next. The end of half (and game) situations have not gotten better in Allen’s seven years as the head coach and have cost IU in almost every toss up game over the last couple years. One can point fingers at the missed holding call on MSU’s final touchdown or the missed pass interference call and absurd intentional grounding call in the last few minutes, the bottom line is IU should have had that game put away earlier than that.
On a side note, the Big Ten needs to start holding officials accountable. I get that this was the worst game on the slate and gets the worst officiating crew, but they flat out did not know the rules of football. Heck, they measured twice on plays where the ball was at least a yard short of the sticks and even have one ref pointing to the wrong team when calling a time out. For as much money that the Big Ten rakes in, the officiating is criminally bad.
The picture has become clearer than 4K TV, the football program is rudderless. A small senior day crowd on a perfect fall day in a trophy game should tell everyone watching (or not watching) that a change needs to come sooner rather than later. As the Hoosiers enter a new era of college football, they can’t be the same old Hoosiers and punt seasons to save some cash. With eight home games next year, it is time to make a change.
What’s Next
Indiana will finish the season with a trip to West Lafayette for the Old Oaken Bucket.