Michigan State knocks off No. 13 Michigan for Mel Tucker’s first win

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — This may not have been the way many drew it up.

But Michigan State fans will surely take it.

The underdog Spartans, fresh off a sloppy, seven-turnover loss to Rutgers in their season opener, turned in a clean game and hit enough big plays to upset 13th-ranked Michigan, 27-24, on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

The victory was not only the first of the season for MSU, but also marked the program’s first win under first-year head coach Mel Tucker.

Quarterback Rocky Lombardi was 17 of 32 for 323 yards and three touchdowns, completing five passes of 30 yards or more. Michigan’s secondary had trouble keeping up with Spartans all game, as MSU receiver Ricky White led all receivers with eight catches for 196 yards. Wolverines cornerbacks were penalized three times in the game, including twice for pass interference.

A 13-yard touchdown pass to running back Connor Heyward with 5:11 left in the fourth quarter served as the winner of a back-and-forth game controlled by the Spartans. Michigan scored a touchdown with 37 seconds left but failed to corral the onside kick.

Replay: Relive MLive’s live updates from MSU’s win

MSU took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter, added a second-quarter touchdown, and a pair of third-quarter field goals while never trailing. The Spartans gained 449 yards of offense against a Michigan defense that has been praised for its ability to defend against long passes and second-half adjustments. Neither proved true on Saturday, as Lombardi, a redshirt junior, picked his spots in the passing game and took advantage of an inexperienced and undermanned Michigan secondary.

Lombardi connected with White on a 30-yard touchdown pass to put the Spartans up 7-0, then hit Jalen Nailor on a 53-yard pass on the first play of MSU’s second-quarter touchdown drive.

Then, on the first play of the Spartans’ first drive of the third quarter, Lombardi dropped back and hit White down the field for a 50-yard completion. Michigan corner Vincent Gray, who struggled all game, found himself a yard or two behind White in coverage.

Meanwhile, Michigan’s explosive offense that scored 49 points and nearly amassed 500 yards of total offense last week against Minnesota, lacked continuity and explosive plays. The Wolverines scored their first touchdown on an eight-play, 60-yard drive, and marched 75 yards on 11 plays in the third quarter, but they came on short- and-medium-sized plays. Their longest play from scrimmage on Saturday was a 26-yard pass to receiver Roman Wilson (5 catches, 71 yards).

Quarterback Joe Milton finished 32 of 51 for 300 yards in his second-ever start, while rushing 12 times for 59 yards. Michigan totaled 452 yards of total offense, averaging 5.3 yards per play, but left points off the board late in the second quarter when back-to-back goal line plays proved unsuccessful and forced it to kick a field goal.

The Wolverines (1-1) will look to rebound next week during a road game at Indiana (noon, FS1).

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.