Live game thread for Michigan State football vs. Boston College

On Saturday night, Michigan State football will have their first true test of the year. The Spartans tee off against the Boston College Eagles. For MSU, they are looking for redemption for a 23-19 loss in Chestnut Hill last season. All time, the Spartans are 1-5-1 against the Eagles, with the sole win being in Spartan Stadium with a Nick Saban-coached Michigan State squad.

Jonathan Smith previewed the Eagles earlier this week and had a lot of praise for sophomore quarterback Dylan Lonergan. Lonergan dealt with injury concerns early in the week, being held out of practice with the Eagles on Tuesday but is presumed to be making his first career road start.

Unlike last season’s matchup, where it rained the entire weekend before and during the game, the forecast for Saturday’s game is clear with temperatures staying above 50 degrees in the entire contest.

The Spartans face a “must-win” situation in the sense that this is game is one that got away last year, and MSU fell just shy of bowl eligibility. They may be on a similar path this year.

Storylines entering the game involve player health, with Nikai Martinez already ruled out, but players such as long-snapper Kaden Schickel, offensive lineman Luka Vincic, and tight end Brennan Parachek with questionable statuses heading into the night.

Follow along for live updates as Michigan State football battles the Boston College Eagles.

11:19 p.m. — Aidan Chiles rushing touchdown, and a passing 2pt to Omari Kelly! MSU WINS! 42-40 FINAL.

11:13 p.m. — Richard rushing touchdown, but Armorion Smith breaks up the 2pt attempt. MSU on offense now, trailing 40-34.

11:09 p.m. — Lonergan to Franklin for a touchdown, and the Lombardo PAT is good. 34-34 tie. BC on offense again.

11:06 p.m. — Jay Coyne touchdown in the first period of overtime. BC on offense next.

11:01 p.m. — Aidan Chiles is walking with the huddle. He will play. BC will play defense first after winning the toss.

11:00 p.m. — Aidan Chiles is not warming up for overtime, and Sam Edwards has replaced Chiles’ spot for players walking out for the coin flip. Alessio Milivojevic is getting loose.

10:58 p.m. — Eckley punts to the 1, but Richard gets three yards to end regulation. MSU 27, BC 27. Overtime coming.

10:49 p.m. — Lombardo gets the field goal, tie game at 27-27. 1:16 to play.

10:42 p.m. — Two minute timeout. MSU 27, BC 24, Eagles ball on the BC 48.

10:35 p.m. — Martin Connington 39-yard field goal is GOOD. MSU 27, BC 24. 4:08 to play in the game.

10:19 p.m. — BC punt, Kelly returns it to the MSU 33.

10:16 p.m. — Lonergan gets the first down to Reed Harris. Jordan Hall down. He is walking with a limp to the sideline.

10:14 p.m. — Ryan Eckley punt for 55 yards, and the ball stops on the one. Flag on BC, making it first and 10 from the half-yard line. 11:24 to play.

10:03 p.m. — BC punts the ball away to end the third quarter. MSU ball at their own 24 to start the 4th, while tied 24-24.

9:54 p.m. — Anelu Lafaele has returned to the sidelines in full pads.

9:51 p.m. — Martin Connington makes his Spartan debut with a 50-yard field goal. Tie game, 24-24.

9:42 p.m. — Lombardo field goal good. BC 24, MSU 21. 7 minutes to play in the third quarter.

9:39 p.m. — Anelu Lafaele is down injured and goes directly to the locker room. BC has the ball in the MSU red zone, but faces 4th and 4 from the MSU 14.

9:28 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN MSU! Spartans receive the ball and have back-to-back big plays, with Nick Marsh getting the touchdown. MSU 21, BC 21

9:03 p.m. — HALFTIME: MSU 14, BC 21. MSU receiving the ball out of half.

8:59 p.m. — Lonergan finds Reed Harris in the endzone, and Harris high-points it over Spencer. BC 21, MSU 14 after the PAT is good. 31 seconds on the clock.

8:54 p.m. — Two minute timeout, tied at 14s. BC has the ball in MSU territory.

8:45 p.m. — An Alante Brown 66 yard return sets up a 4-play MSU touchdown drive. TOUCHDOWN, MSU, Michael Masunas! 14-14 after the Sislo PAT.

8:38 p.m. — Touchdown, BC. Lonergan finds a wide open Jaedn Skeete in the end zone on 3rd-and-5. PAT is good. BC 14, MSU 7

8:35 p.m. — Wayne Matthews III is down injured with the ball in the red zone. BC ball on the MSU 12.

8:27 p.m. — Brandon Tullis wildcat run on fourth down is no good. BC ball on the MSU 49.

8:19 p.m. — Touchdown, BC. Turbo Richard takes advantage of busted coverage. Tied at 7-7. 12:50 to play in the second quarter.

8:12 p.m. — Dylan Lonergan with a 55-yard pass to flip the field, and the quarter ends after a 2 yard rush. MSU 7, BC 0, BC ball on the MSU 29.

8:10 p.m. — Three and out for MSU. Eckley punt for 60 yards. BC ball on their 12.

8:05 p.m. — BC punts the ball away, out at the MSU 19. 2:29 to play in the first quarter.

8:00 p.m. — Malik Spencer is down injured after a BC first down. Ball on the BC40, 4:27 left Q1. Spencer is up and goes to the injury tent. Denson was the man off the bench before Spencer could not make it to the sideline.

7:55 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, MSU. Aidan Chiles finds Nick Marsh on a drag, and Marsh fights through three defenders to score! Blake Sislo kicks the extra point. MSU 7, BC 0, 5:23 to play in the first quarter.

7:43 p.m. — BC Fumble, Turbo Richard fumbles extending for the goal line! Jordan Hall forced it, Armorion Smith recovered it.

7:39 p.m. — MSU forces a three and out with an Anelu Lafaele sack, but Omari Kelly fumbles the punt return. BC ball on the MSU 39.

7:37 p.m. — The game has been kicked off. Fair catch for BC.

7:35 p.m. — Anthony Pinnace III will replace the injured Caleb Gash on kickoff coverage.

7:33 p.m. — The Spartans win the coin toss. Michigan State football will differ. Boston College to receive. Spartans defending the north end zone.

7:32 p.m. — Ryan Eckley, Aidan Chiles, Matt Gulbin, and Quindarius Dunnigan will be the four captains going out for the coin toss.

7:28 p.m. — National Anthem is over. Sparty is wearing a black jersey as he does “The Worm” before his signature one-handed pushups.

7:16 p.m. — Based on team introductions, Kristian Phillips has replaced Gavin Broscious as the starting right guard for today’s contest. This will be Phillips’ second career start.

7:09 p.m. — Michigan State football heads to the locker room to end their warmups following a Blake Sislo kick.

7:00 p.m. — Jonathan Smith says Martin Connington “might” split kicking duties with Blake Sislo. Appears the freshman from Idaho is not fully healthy.

6:49 p.m. — Warmups are well underway, with Matt Gulbin, Luka Vincic, Rakeem Johnson, AJ Dennis, and Cooper Terpstra all rotating at center as the QBs take snaps.

6:00 p.m. — Jace Clarizio, DiMari Malone, DeJae White, Antonio Johnson, Dontavius Nash, and Cal Thrush are among the notable players not dressing for tonight’s contest as well.

5:30 p.m. — The injury report is out. DB Caleb Gash is added to the report as OUT, while TE Brennan Parachek and K Martin Connington are back. For a full breakdown, click here.

4:30 p.m. — The Dallas Cowboys have sent representatives to scout today’s game. They are the only NFL team in live attendance.

3:15 p.m. — Junior punter Ryan Eckley has been named the honorary game captain.

12:00 p.m. — Multiple Spartan Alumni will be at the stadium tonight, such as Josiah Price and Byron Bullough.

September 5 — Senior safety Nikai Martinez has been ruled OUT with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, freshman kicker Martin Connington is expected to make his Spartan debut. Pete Thamel broke the news.