Michigan State Football: Winners and Losers from the Week 9 Game vs. Wisconsin

The Michigan State Spartans pulled off an improbable comeback win in Week 9 at Wisconsin, ending the Badgers' 21-game home winning streak with a 16-13 overtime win. 

The Spartans had lost back-to-back games coming in, but they showed resolve in coming back to beat a Wisconsin team that never loses at Camp Randall Stadium. 

The two teams have slugged it out in recent years, sharing the Big Ten crown in 2010 and splitting matchups last year, with the Spartans winning the first in East Lansing on a miraculous final play but losing the last matchup 42-39 in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game.

Let's take a look at the winners and losers for the Spartans in this big win.

Winner: Andrew Maxwell

After struggling in back-to-back weeks against Iowa and Michigan, Andrew Maxwell redeemed himself and saved MSU's season with a 12-yard TD toss to Bennie Fowler in overtime.

The Spartans reached overtime behind the arm of Maxwell, who found running back Le'Veon Bell for a five-yard touchdown with 1:25 to play to tie the game at 10-10.

The junior quarterback did not turn the ball over in the game, completing 24-of-39 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns. 

Maxwell has faced high expectations this year, a year after Kirk Cousins led the Spartans to an 11-3 season. He hasn't been excellent this season (2,015 passing yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs), but his performance against the Badgers should give him confidence for the remainder of the year.

Loser: Kurtis Drummond

Sophomore safety Kurtis Drummond was burned for the only Wisconsin touchdown, a 31-yard pass from Joel Stave to Jacob Pedersen early in the second quarter. 

In a low-scoring game, touchdowns come at a premium, and Drummond got beat badly. 

The Michigan State defense played very well, besides this one play. In a tight Big Ten contest, he was lucky it didn't cost his team the game.

Winner: Le'Veon Bell

Star running back Le'Veon Bell didn't put up big numbers on the ground (21 carries, 77 yards) against a stout Wisconsin defense, but his five-yard touchdown reception sent the game to overtime and gave the Spartans a chance to win.

He only averaged 3.7 yards per carry and had a long run of nine yards, but his gritty running style helped wear out the Wisconsin defense just enough for Maxwell to strike through the air in overtime.

Bell has been excellent in nine games this season (1,061 rushing yards, 8 TDs). With the strong rushing of Bell, it will continue to open up options in the passing game for Maxwell.

Loser: Play-Calling

MSU offensive coordinator Dan Roushar has been under fire all year for the offense's performance, and the game against Wisconsin didn't do much to change that . 

It is true that the Spartans lost key players coming into this season, but Roushar has the same scheme in place that should be working similarly to last season. The Spartans are only scoring 19.2 points per game.

Some of it may come down to player execution, but Roushar's job is also to put his players in the best positions to succeed.

Winner: Run Defense

The Spartans held the Badgers to just 19 net yards rushing, a far cry from their normal production. 

Wisconsin is known for its power run game, but Michigan State completely shut it down. A Heisman finalist in 2011, Montee Ball was held to 46 yards on 22 carries. Ball was riding a hot streak coming into the game, ripping off 413 yards and five touchdowns in his previous two games.

The elimination of the run game put the game in the hands of Wisconsin quarterbacks Joel Stave and Danny O'Brien. They did not turn the ball over but also didn't move the chains enough to help the Badgers win the game.