Michigan State: Winners and Losers in MSU's Win Against Michigan

Michigan State proved for the fourth year that they are no longer the "little brothers." The Spartans beat the Wolverines 28-14 in a windy, rivalry game.

They kept the Paul Bunyan trophy in East Lansing for a fourth straight year. They tied the longest record streak in the series against Michigan for the first time since 1959-62. For the third straight year, Michigan State handed Michigan their first loss of the season.

Who were the winners and losers in this rivalry game?

Win: Isaiah Lewis' Interception for TD

This was when the game was over for Michigan. Late in the fourth quarter, when Michigan was trying to get another TD to tie the game, Denard Robinson threw an interception that was caught by Isaiah Lewis who ran 39 yards for a TD.

While Lewis almost got a penalty for excessive celebration by holding the ball out and taunting a Michigan player while crossing the line, it remained a TD.

Loser: Brady Hoke

Why is Michigan's coach a loser? He was unable to beat the Spartans in his first year. No Michigan coach since 1948, the coach who was then Bennie Oosterbaan who took the Wolverines to an undefeated season and national championship, has beaten the Spartans in their first year with the Wolverines.

Bo Schembechler couldn't do it. Lloyd Clarr couldn't do it.

Brady Hoke could not do it.

Winner: Keshawn Martin

Apart from the fumble that gave Michigan the ball, Keshawn Martin was a winner in this rivalry game.

He received three catches for only 31 yards, however, he caught a 10-yard pass and a 13-yard pass, both for TDs in the second quarter. It was enough to give the Spartans a double-digit lead into halftime.

Loser: Michigan State's Penalities and Turnovers

The Spartans didn't do so well handling the game as they committed 13 penalties for 124 yards. They also committed two turnovers; both fumbles committed by Edwin Baker and Keshawn Martin but thankfully, Michigan didn't perform off them.

Winner: Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins performed well in his last game against Michigan. He threw for 120 yards and two TDs. He did well organizing the offense and using his leadership to keep the Spartans in the game. 

Kirk Cousins became the first Michigan State starting quarterback to win three straight games over Michigan.

Loser: Denard Robinson

Denard Robinson could not get anything going for his offense in this game. He got two TDs, one rushing in the first quarter and a 34-yard passing one to Roundtree in the fourth quarter. He completed only nine of his 24 attempted passes for 123 yards.

He threw an interception that sealed the game for the Spartans as it was run back for a TD.

He came in the game ranked ninth in the nation in rushing yards and was held to 42 yards by the Spartan's defense. Robinson could not perform his best against Michigan State.

Winner: MSU's Defense

Michigan State's defense held Denard Robinson to only 42 rushing yards and 123 passing yards. Overall, the defense kept the total yards down to 250. They stopped 12 of the 15 third down conversions Michigan tried.

The defense shut down Robinson and and the Wolverines for a 28-14 win.

Loser: Michigan's Offense

While Denard Robinson couldn't get in any passes and rushes, he was not the only one that could not get anything. Even Gardner, the backup quarterback, couldn't help the Wolverines rally to a win. He had a touchdown pass called back because he ran past the line of scrimmage

The offense could only get in 82 rushing yards against the Spartans. The Wolverines even had a perfect chance to tie the game with 6:16 minutes left in the fourth quarter but Robinson was sacked on a 4th-and-1 on Michigan's State 9-yard line.

Winner: MSU's Seniors

The Spartan's seniors are 4-0 against the Michigan Wolverines. Jerel Worthy called it a "clean sweep" as he celebrated with his team on Saturday, all of them holding up four fingers.

Kirk Cousins, the quarterback, stated that they can walk the streets of Michigan for the rest of their lives. These Spartan seniors are winners in sweeping their biggest rivals during their years with Michigan State.