Michigan State rallies from 17 down, falls 38-37 to Illinois in overtime

Michigan State came back from a 17-point deficit against Illinois on Saturday and forced overtime at Spartan Stadium. It still lost, 38-37, after a two-point try failed on the final play of its overtime possession.

The Homecoming loss extends a skid that was already three games long coming in. SpartanMag's Jim Comparoni and Paul Konyndyk covered the game in a postgame video for On3. In their view, the Michigan State team that showed up Saturday still had some of the problems from the last three weeks, but the comeback was clear evidence that this rebuilding roster has not quit.

The first half went badly. Michigan State went three-and-out on each of its first two possessions. Illinois kept the ball for long, clock-draining drives, so the Spartans got few chances and did almost nothing with them until a touchdown drive late in the second quarter.

The offense improved from there. On3 reported that Michigan State got more production from its skill players as a group than in any game since its non-conference win over Eastern Michigan. In overtime, Jaziun Patterson scored a touchdown to make it a one-point game, and the Spartans went for two and the win. The conversion failed.

Who played on offense also changed. On3 noted that Michigan State used more wide receivers and tight ends than in any game since Big Ten play began. A freshman receiver caught his first pass as a Spartan, and Braylon Collier got meaningful snaps. The veteran receivers played better too, with Crishon McCray, Charles Taplin and Rodney Bullard all contributing, according to the outlet.

Coach Pat Fitzgerald's sideline behavior may draw as much attention as the result. On3 described him as testy with the officials all game. He was angriest after a missed call on an onside kick that Samson Gash would have recovered if he had not been flagged for offsides. According to the outlet, Fitzgerald yelled at the Big Ten crew, made an obscene gesture at them and then fired up his own sideline. That raises the question of whether the conference will fine him. On3 wrote that his outburst energized both the players and the fans who stayed through the fourth quarter.

For Michigan State, the takeaways cut both ways. The slow start and Illinois's long drives in the first half look like the same problems that have dogged the team during the losing streak. The second-half offense and the bigger receiver rotation give the staff something to build on. The open question is whether the comeback leads to better play next week or stays a near-miss on Homecoming.

For Illinois, the overtime win pushes its record above .500 in a game it had controlled for most of the first half and nearly let get away.

Any word from the Big Ten on Fitzgerald's conduct will be a story to watch early this week. So will the snap counts for the younger receivers who got their first real playing time against the Illini.