Michigan State vs. Michigan: Game Grades, Analysis for Spartans, Wolverines
The seventh-ranked Michigan State Spartans toppled the No. 12 Michigan Wolverines in dramatic fashion on Saturday at the Big House.
Michigan punter Blake O'Neill bobbled a snap and failed to kick the ball away, and then MSU's Jalen Watts-Jackson grabbed the ball and scored as time expired to give the Spartans a stunning 27-23 win.
| Pass Offense | C+ | B+ |
| Run Offense | C- | C- |
| Pass Defense | C | C+ |
| Run Defense | A- | A- |
| Special Teams | B | A- |
| Coaching | B | B+ |
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Pass Offense: Connor Cook would've taken some heat for losing, but the senior quarterback played well enough to win anyway. He finished 18-of-39 for 328 yards while facing constant pressure, connecting with Aaron Burbridge nine times for 132 yards. Macgarrett Kings Jr. caught a touchdown but had two costly drops.
Run Offense: The Spartans failed to muster much on the ground. Gerald Holmes led the team with 33 yards, and Michigan State managed a total of 58 on 33 carries. L.J. Scott did score twice, providing the lone bright rushing spots.
Pass Defense: Michigan's Jehu Chesson shook loose for a deep pass, but Jake Rudock overthrew his target. While no Spartans defensive back really stood out, none of them did in a bad way, either. MSU surrendered 6.7 yards per attempt, which is a rather respectable performance.
Run Defense: Michigan entered the game with the No. 32 rushing offense, but the Spartans held their rivals to just 62 yards. Considering fullback Sione Houma gained 27 of them on one carry, Michigan State did a stellar job of shutting down the Wolverines' strength.
Special Teams: It was a relatively quiet day for the special teams units until the wild final play. Michael Geiger hit a few extra points. R.J. Shelton returned two kicks for 50 total yards, and the punters averaged 37.2 yards per attempt. But man, that final play was insane.
Coaching: Mark Dantonio and Co. put the Spartans in position to win. The defense held Michigan to 4-of-15 on third down, and the play-calling was strong down the stretch. Even if MSU would've come up short, it wouldn't have been the result of coaching issues.
| Pass Offense | C- | C- |
| Run Offense | C- | D+ |
| Pass Defense | B | C+ |
| Run Defense | A- | A- |
| Special Teams | A- | C+ |
| Coaching | B | B+ |
Pass Offense: It's become routine: Rudock had a purely decent outing, completing 15 of 25 attempts for 169 yards. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has previously said Rudock's job is to win games, and were it not for O'Neill's mistake, the senior quarterback would have done enough.
Run Offense: Houma tallied a pair of short touchdowns, and Michigan didn't do much else. De'Veon Smith trudged to 46 yards on 19 carries, managing a long of just eight yards. The constant spikes and twists from the Spartans D-line caused Michigan's offensive line to struggle throughout the night.
Pass Defense: Jourdan Lewis faced his most difficult test of the year, and Burbridge gained the upper hand more often than expected. Nevertheless, Lewis broke up six—six!—passes. Willie Henry registered two sacks for the second straight game.
Run Defense: The Wolverines dominated the line of scrimmage, holding their opponent to less than 100 rushing yards for the sixth consecutive game. Michigan State's collection of running backs accrued just three first downs and 58 yards.
Special Teams: Jabrill Peppers ripped off a 49-yard kick return and added a 35-yarder on a punt. The standout sophomore is getting closer to breaking a big one. Kenny Allen connected on field goals from 38, 21 and 38 yards. Blake O'Neill blasted an 80-yard punt, but his mishandled snap will stay on rivalry highlight reels forever.
Coaching: D.J. Durkin's defense continued its outstanding season, and the Wolverines will always be competitive because of the unit. Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Tim Drevno once again must work closely with the offensive line, because a 62-yard day on the ground is unacceptable for this squad.
Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
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