Michigan State football matched up again in a 38-16 loss to Illinois

On November 17, 2024By Littum

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – This was not the road trip Michigan State football wanted. Nor was it the response it wanted from a blowout loss two weeks earlier.

Another significant defeat, this time 38-16 at Illinois, means Spartans must now win their final two games of the regular season to qualify for a bowl berth.

Josh McCray scored three touchdowns and Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer threw two more scores to hand MSU a humiliating defeat Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

“We got some things in a short week, we’ve got to do better and keep working,” first-year MSU coach Jonathan Smith said. “We still have a lot to play for with two (games left) but we have a disappointed group in that locker room right now.”

It was the third straight loss and the second three-game losing streak of the season for the Spartans (4-6, 2-5 Big Ten), who have a quick turnaround after the final road game of the season. MSU hosts Purdue at 8 p.m. Friday at Spartan Stadium (Fox).

Aidan Chiles went 23-for-40 for 256 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers and ran for 40 net yards as part of 343 yards of total offense, but the Spartans’ offensive line gave up five sacks that cost the young quarterback 31 rushing yards .

The Spartans went just 2-for-15 on third down, while the Illini were 8-for-15. It was also the sixth straight game for MSU’s defense without a sack.

“This one hurts. This is a team that I feel like we could have beaten, definitely if we were more aggressive,” said senior receiver Montorie Foster, who had 76 yards on six catches. “It definitely hurts, you can definitely feel it in the dressing room. But we don’t have to keep our heads down too much, we have to keep working and just keep chopping.”

Pat Bryant had four catches for 135 of Altmyer’s 231 passing yards and the QB was 19-for-32 through the air. McCray added 61 rushing yards for Illinois (7-3, 4-3), which snapped a two-game losing streak.

Damage through the air

With injuries blighting their secondary — starting cornerback Charles Brantley and safety Malik Spencer were both out, along with reserve Armorion Smith — the Spartans were tested through the air early by Altmyer.

Jonathan Smith said after the game that he doesn’t expect Brantley or Spencer to return until the regular-season finale against Rutgers on Nov. 30 in East Lansing.

After MSU’s defense opened with a three-and-out stop, the Illini quickly got on their second drive. Altmyer fired a deep ball over nickelback Angelo Grose in stride to wide receiver Pat Bryant for a 57-yard touchdown pass.

The Spartans quickly responded on their ensuing possession in similar fashion. Chiles took off to avoid pressure for 19 yards on third-and-6 to move the ball near midfield and keep the drive alive. On the next play, the sophomore rolled the pocket to the right as Aziah Johnson blitzed by his defender. Chiles pointed to his receiver, who turned on his afterburners for the final 10 yards of the 52-yard touchdown pass. But kicker Jonathan Kim pushed the extra point kick wide right — the second PAT miss of his career — and MSU remained in a 7-6 hole with 7:53 left in the first quarter.

Again, Altmyer took advantage of the Spartans’ depleted defensive backfield. Illinois converted four times on third down to answer MSU’s score, first with a 13-yard run by the QB on third-and-3 and then a 15-yard pass to Zakhari Franklin on third-and-5. Facing third-and-15 in MSU territory, Altmyer spotted soft coverage from backup Spartans cornerback Ade Willie, who provided a 20-yard cushion, and delivered a 16-yard dart to Alexander Capka-Jones to convert again.

“We had to impact that guy a little bit more,” Smith said of the lack of pressure on Altmyer. “But you’re also working with a couple of newcomers in the back end (of the defense) and how much island you want (young defensive backs to have). And that’s the balancing act.”

Four plays later, after McCray picked up another third-down conversion, the running back bounced around right end after appearing stopped for an 11-yard score. The 12-play, 64-yard drive ate 6:09 off the clock and left MSU with 2:01 before halftime.

Chiles quickly moved the Spartans into Illinois territory with a 19-yard run followed by a 15-yard strike to Nick Marsh. But as has happened all season, the drive unraveled when MSU moved inside the red zone and had to settle for a 38-yard Kim field goal. The Spartans got the ball back one more time with 18 seconds left, but took a knee and went into the half trailing 21-9.

Great start, flat finish

Chiles and the offense carried their momentum into the opening drive of the second half, a 10-play, 75-yard march over the first 5:24. Twice the Spartans converted on fourth down, the first on a 10-yard pass from Chiles off his back foot under duress to Montorie Foster Jr., and the duo connected for 29 yards on the next play.

Facing fourth-and-2 at the Illini 5, Chiles looked left, pump faked, then came back right to hit running back Nate Carter underneath for a 5-yard touchdown. MSU was back within range, 21-16.

Illinois used another third-down conversion on its ensuing drive, another Altmyer to Franklin completion, but settled for a 37-yard David Olano field goal with 5:45 left in the third quarter.

Both teams traded empty possessions until the Illini’s first drive of the fourth quarter. Altmyer and Bryant connected on a 32-yard pass on third-and-10, with the receiver slipping behind linebacker Jordan Hall on a deep crossing route to get deep into MSU territory. Fittingly, McCray dove over the top of the pile for a 1-yard touchdown with 7:30 left on another play on third down to give Illinois a two-score cushion.

The Spartans’ last-chance drive wobbled wonderfully after a 24-yard throw from Chiles to Marsh to open it up and get them to midfield on a rush and another 12-yard connection between the two. MSU moved to Illinois’ 28 when the tying penalty ended all rhythm and momentum — a hold on Illinois defensive back Xavier Scott on Johnson’s deep route offset an intentional grounding penalty by Chiles. Left guard Luke Newman took an unsportsmanlike conduct flag two plays later and backed up the Spartans 15 yards, then Chiles was sacked on the next two plays.

“I thought there was a lot of good pressure out there, a lot of good things defensively that got our guys to close out that win,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said.

McCray scored a 1-yard TD run with 1:56 left to seal it for Illinois.

Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.

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