Michigan State went down swinging in a brutal 38-37 overtime loss to Illinois on Saturday, a game that had more swings than a playground on a Saturday afternoon. Graham Couch, who’s always got the pulse on these things, dished out the grades, and let’s just say, there’s a lot to unpack from that one.
The Offense Found Life, But That Final Call? Oof.
Look, the start for the offense was *rough*. Those first two drives? Killer. And kicking off the second half with a promising drive that fizzled out thanks to a holding call and then a fumble? That’s how you dig yourself into a hole you can barely crawl out of. But credit where it’s due: this offense eventually found its rhythm, punching it into the end zone four times in regulation. And can we talk about Jaziun Patterson for a second? The dude was a beast. He rumbled for 92 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, averaging a solid 5.1 yards per pop. Against a defense that *does* give up yards on the ground, sure, but still, Patterson proved he’s absolutely someone they can lean on for serious workload and production. Alessio Milivojevic, the QB, was super efficient, completing 22 of 26 passes for 196 yards and two scores. He didn’t exactly air it out and carve up the Illini with his arm, but he grew into the game and took what the defense gave him. If he’s the guy for the long haul, though, we need to see him hit another level. Jayden Savoury at tight end is definitely showing up, and the wideouts were better than we’ve seen lately. All of that momentum, all that fight, and then it came down to that final 2-point conversion. Needed to be better there. So close, man, so close.
Defense Started Rough, Finished Gutty, Special Teams Shined
If the offense started rough, the defense was straight-up worse out of the gate. Illinois’ first four possessions in the first half? All long scoring drives. Like, c’mon. The only saving grace was holding them to field goals on two of those drives, which felt like a tiny win in a sea of struggles. But then, something clicked. The final four defensive possessions in regulation? Much, much better. Devin Vaught snagged a huge interception and returned it 37 yards, which ironically came on the very last play for Illinois’ QB Katin Houser before he got hurt. That injury definitely gave MSU a helping hand. They then stopped Illinois on downs and forced a late punt, showing some serious grit. Yeah, they gave up a touchdown in overtime, but with all the injuries they’re battling, especially at linebacker and cornerback, that turned into one hell of a gutty performance, even if it wasn’t a winning one.
And special teams? An absolute bright spot, pulling in an 8 grade. They even had that onside kick that was incorrectly flagged offsides, but we’re giving them credit here because, honestly, it was a great play! Punter Rhys Dakin launched two absolute bombs, one even a little too long at 74 yards into the end zone. And Liam Boyd, the kicker, is just rock solid. He drilled his only field goal attempt from 42 yards out, pushing his season record to 9 of 11 overall and perfect on all eight attempts from inside 50 yards. The return game was a bit hit-and-miss, with Kenneth Williams getting tripped up at the 12-yard line on one return, which led to a field goal. So close to greatness there, too.
Coaching Calls and What’s Next
On the coaching front, Nick Sheridan, the offensive coordinator, earned a 5, but honestly, he was outstanding for most of the game. He pulled out some trickery and used players in ways we hadn’t seen, really trying to spark that offense. My biggest beef? That final 2-point conversion call. Too cute, too obvious, and it just didn’t work. Joe Rossi’s depleted defensive crew, on the other hand, really dug in after that abysmal start and eventually forced a turnover. What’s next for this squad after a tough one like that? You gotta look at the individual performances that shone through. Jaziun Patterson is clearly a workhorse, and Milivojevic’s efficiency is a good base to build on, even if he needs to reach that “next level.” They showed they can run the ball and that their special teams can swing momentum. It’s about taking those lessons from the highs and lows, especially the bitter taste of that final play, and figuring out how to close out games when it matters most.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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