Northwestern at Michigan State

← FADE BOARD

3-3

Michigan State

Spartan Stadium, East LansingMSU -6.5

FINALNorthwestern 54, Michigan State 40UPSETNW covered +6.5CLOSED MSU -6.5

Highlights

2 CLIPS · ESPN

Layne takes INT to the house for Spartans TDVIDEO: ESPN ↗

Win probability

EVERY PLAY · ESPN MODEL

MSU WINNING

NW WINNING

KICKQ2Q3Q4FINAL

KICKOFF: MSU 51% · BIGGEST SINGLE-PLAY SWING: 21 PTS

Scoring plays

16 SCORES

Passing Touchdown

Josiah Price 15 Yd pass from Brian Lewerke (Michael Geiger Kick)

9:53
0-7

Interception Return Touchdown

Justin Layne 43 Yd Interception Return (Michael Geiger Kick)

8:31
0-14

Rushing Touchdown

Justin Jackson 29 Yd Run (Jack Mitchell Kick)

3:32
7-14

Field Goal Good

Michael Geiger 41 Yd Field Goal

14:15
7-17

Passing Touchdown

Austin Carr 9 Yd pass from Clayton Thorson (Jack Mitchell Kick)

10:04
14-17

Safety

Joe Gaziano Safety

9:23
16-17

Field Goal Good

Jack Mitchell 33 Yd Field Goal

6:42
19-17

Passing Touchdown

Flynn Nagel 57 Yd pass from Clayton Thorson (Jack Mitchell Kick)

13:28
26-17

Rushing Touchdown

Clayton Thorson 9 Yd Run (Jack Mitchell Kick)

6:49
33-17

Passing Touchdown

R.J. Shelton 59 Yd pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger Kick)

5:54
33-24

Passing Touchdown

R.J. Shelton 86 Yd pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger Kick)

2:08
33-31

Kickoff Return Touchdown

Solomon Vault 95 Yd Kickoff Return (Jack Mitchell Kick)

1:53
40-31

Rushing Touchdown

Justin Jackson 26 Yd Run (Jack Mitchell Kick)

8:25
47-31

Passing Touchdown

Donnie Corley 9 Yd pass from Tyler O'Connor (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)

7:10
47-37

Passing Touchdown

Austin Carr 29 Yd pass from Clayton Thorson (Jack Mitchell Kick)

5:02
54-37

Field Goal Good

Michael Geiger 35 Yd Field Goal

0:56
54-40

What happened

ESPN RECAP

Northwestern rolls past Michigan State 54-40

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Just over a month after being held to single digits by an FCS team, Northwestern has solved a lot of problems offensively. Justin Jackson rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and the Wildcats moved the ball almost at will after a slow start, beating Michigan State 54-40 on Saturday night to hand the Spartans their fourth straight defeat. Clayton Thorson threw for 281 yards and three TDs for the Wildcats, who rallied from an early 14-0 deficit. Michigan State (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) is now mired in its longest losing streak in coach Mark Dantonio's 10 seasons at the helm. Northwestern has won three of four since starting the season with losses to Western Michigan and Illinois State. The Wildcats managed only seven points against Illinois State, but that seems like a long time ago now that they've scored 38 against Iowa and 54 on the defending Big Ten champions.

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Top performers

PASSINGClayton Thorson27/35, 281 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT

RUSHINGJustin Jackson34 CAR, 188 YDS, 2 TD

RECEIVINGAustin Carr11 REC, 130 YDS, 2 TD

MSU

PASSINGTyler O'Connor13/21, 281 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT

RUSHINGBrian Lewerke7 CAR, 30 YDS

RECEIVINGR.J. Shelton7 REC, 190 YDS, 2 TD

Team stats

NW · MSU

490

TOTAL YARDS

475

281

PASSING

424

209

RUSHING

1ST DOWNS

10-19

3RD DOWN EFFICIENCY

5-16

TURNOVERS

4-25

PENALTIES

5-34

35:34

POSSESSION

24:26

SPARTAN STADIUM, EAST LANSING · ATTENDANCE 75,625

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Northwestern vs Michigan State: head-to-head history