8 Winners, 7 Losers from Michigan State Football’s Heartbreaking Loss to Illinois

Michigan State football rallied on Saturday, but it ultimately was not enough. The Spartans put together a strong second half to force overtime against Illinois, but fell when their two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

The Spartans dropped to 0-3 in the conference, but it was a strong outing after last week’s humiliating 31-3 loss to Wisconsin. With players dropping down injured, here are the winners and losers from Saturday’s nail-biting loss.

Winners

LB Cam Stodghill

The Spartans are taking an accelerated PhD Course on “next man up,” as said by Pat Fitzgerald after the game. Stodghill has gone from one defensive snap in week one to the starting linebacker following three injuries today and Caleb Wheatland also being out.

The Albany transfer led the team with 11 tackles and had a strong outing considering his expected role only a few short weeks ago.

S Devin Vaught

Vaught finally nabbed the first Spartan takeaway since week two with a third quarter interception of Katin Houser. The Maine transfer was also among the top tacklers on Saturday.

Since stepping foot on campus this January, Vaught continues to impress. He is a hard hitting safety and was in the right position on Saturday after previously having struggles against the pass. Vaught nearly housed the pick, too, being dragged down at the Illini 11-yard line.

HB Jaziun Patterson

Patterson stepped up big time on Saturday, recording nearly 100 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the day, with a hat trick on the ground and one receiving. The back finally broke a run after showing promise in previous weeks.

Patterson continues to come into his own role, and his last 15 carries all went for over 3 yards or ended in the end zone. He is growing into a starter with the increased opportunity.

QB Alessio Milivojevic

Milivojevic had a bounce back game on Saturday, passing for 196 yards and leading the team on a rally to force overtime. His worst play came on the opening play from scrimmage, taking a bad sack. After that play, however, many of his missteps are no-calls or minor tweaks compared to the last three weeks.

The Illinois signal caller gets a pass on his final play, too. The unblocked EDGE ruined the play by the time Milivojevic caught the pass. The quarterback’s best throw of the night came on back-to-back plays. Milivojevic had a tight pass to Fredrick Moore on 4^th-and-7, before having a window throw to Moore again the next play for a 24-yard score.

TE Jayden Savoury

Savoury continues to impress for Michigan State, leading the team with 49 yards on Saturday and recovering a red zone fumble as the Spartans looked for a game-tying score as the clock was under 90 seconds to play.

The tight end is quickly moving up to be among the top players on the team, and he is one that the fanbase is terrified of losing to the portal.

DT Mikeshun Beeler

Beeler provided pressure in two critical situations on Saturday, flushing Katin Houser from the pocket to force a field goal to end half. On his second pressure, Beeler forced a panic throw from the former Spartan, and Devin Vaught returned it to the ILL11 to set up a Spartan score.

P Rhys Dakin

Dakin boomed two punts over 50 yards, including a career-long 74 yarder that went 68 yards in the air. Dakin’s 74-yard punt is the ninth-longest in Spartan history, and the longest since Bryce Baringer walked the Spartan halls.

TE Carson Gulker

“The Incredible Gulk” saw a scheme package on Saturday, recording a pair of carries and a 19-yard strike to Bryson Williams that should have gone for longer if not for a block in the back.

Gulker’s first extended opportunity passed with flying colors, and the hope is to see him out there more as the season progresses with his ability as an offensive weapon.

Losers

OT Ben Murawski

Murawski had a rough outing on Saturday, with a hold and a false start in the second half while the Spartans tried to rally. He redeemed his false start, as Milivojevic found Moore for a first down. His holding penalty, however, led to the sequence that resulted in a Brennan Parachek fumble.

TE Brennan Parachek

Parachek had a fumble on Saturday as the Spartans tried to keep their scoring momentum out of half. However, instead, that turnover gave the Illini a short field for a field goal and 16-point lead.

Parachek was then the fifth tight end off the bench on the ensuing series. With the phenomenal day that Savoury had, alongside an eye-turning day from Carso Gulker, Parachek picked a bad day to not meet his standards.

DEs Isaac Smith/Keanhist Thompson/Anelu Lafaele

The role opposite of Kenny Soares Jr. failed to provide much energy on Saturday. At times, that role felt non-existent and helped set up the Illini offense for over 300 yards of aerial assault.

The defense has yet to get a sack in conference play.

CB Tre Bell

Bell ended the game injured, but was not on a strong trajectory prior to the injury. The senior corner was picked on early and often by Houser. The Iowa State transfer was also whistled for a defensive pass interference on the game. Before he was out injured, there were some calls for the corner to ride the bench.

CB Charles Brantley

Brantley again had a rough outing, with the sole season Miami Hurricane having multiple head-scratching plays. The corner continues to underwhelm with his play in East Lansing. Brantley is having tight coverage, but biting on double moves, failing to cover his assignment, and struggling with mental lapses.

Worse yet, he then went down injured in the fourth quarter.