Michigan State held the ball on the Illinois 15 with 19 seconds left, but the Spartans were unable to move the chains on fourth down, and fell to Illinois 31-27 on Saturday. The Illinois win broke a two-game losing streak for the Illini (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten), and it extended the Spartans' losing-streak to seven (2-7, 0-6).
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MSU football loses to Illinois for seventh-straight loss State News
The MSU football team came into Memorial Stadium to face Illinois still without a Big Ten win in the first weekend of November, something unheard of in the Dantonio era of Spartan football. They left Champaign, Ill still winless in conference play -- shooting themselves in the foot once again.
Thoughts on Illinois Game What is Your Profession?
Tough to evaluate this game because at this point the coaches have chosen to play for next year. They're giving the young guys the opportunity to get experience and that's a good thing for next year, but it probably means they'll lose the rest of their games this year.
Seventh straight loss drops Michigan State to 0-6 in Big Ten for first time ever MLive
When Damion Terry dove into the middle of a pile of Illinois players on his team's last comeback chance, Michigan State had reached the lowest of what's seemed like an endless series of lows in its season to forget.
Damion Terry can't save Spartans from bad game, MSU falls to Illini 31-27 Detroit Free Press
Tyler O'Connor was knocked out of the game. LJ Scott fumbled and was benched. Miguel Machado and Thiyo Lukusa played musical chairs at right tackle. Malik McDowell left the game with a foot injury. Montae Nicholson didn't play. Vayante Copeland stayed home. Michigan State was reeling. In a bad way. It's defense drained, it's offense flailing.
Sad State: Illinois pins seventh straight loss on Spartans Detroit News
Michigan State looked like it had finally won a Big Ten game, then gave it away, then failed in its attempt at a last-minute rally. It did so with Damion Terry at quarterback in the final quarter, but in the end it was a 31-27 loss to Illinois in front of 47,144 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. It was the seventh straight loss for the Spartans (2-7, 0-6 Big Ten).
Michigan State falls just short against Illinois 31-27 The Only Colors
The difficult season continued for the Michigan State Spartans Saturday afternoon as they fell just short against the Illinois Fighting Illini by a final score of 31-27. The game turned into a shootout in the closing quarter, even after Damion Terry replaced an injured Tyler O'Connor at quarterback. For the home team, Jeff George Jr. led some crucial late drives after having a rough day for much of the game. But things didn't start that way.
Spartans hold edges everywhere, except the scoreboard MLive
A quick roundup of Michigan State's 31-27 loss to Illinois on Saturday in Champaign, Ill
Michigan State-Illinois observations: OL issues, more struggles in the secondary MLive
Quick thoughts after Michigan State's 31-27 loss to Illinois on Saturday
Michigan State football notes: Injuries, immaturity sideline Spartans Detroit Free Press
Michigan State's training staff might be its best and busiest unit. The Spartans played Saturday at Illinois without left tackle Kodi Kieler and receiver Monty Madaris, both of whom were game-time decisions. They lost defensive lineman Malik McDowell and quarterback Tyler O'Connor for much of the second half with injuries. And left end Jamal Lyles and cornerback Vayante Copeland back in East Lansing.
Video: Chris Solari and Graham Couch discuss MSU's 31-27 loss to Illinois
Video: MLive's Kyle Austin breaks down Michigan State's 31-27 loss to Illinois
Video: Matt Charboneau on Michigan State's loss at Illinois
Overheard from players, coaches after Michigan State's loss to Illinois Detroit Free Press
Mark Dantonio on his team's seventh straight loss: "We have to keep pushing and we have to come out the other end, that's the only way I know how to do it. If you take the foot off the accelerator, stop grinding, bad things happen. Thus far, we have not done that. We have to reanalyze, reevaluate and I'm obviously very disappointed for the fans as well."
Michigan State football report card: Mediocre play across the board Detroit Free Press
Free Press sports writer Chris Solari rates the Spartans on a scale of 1 to 10 after their 31-27 loss at Ilinois on Saturday afternoon.
Three Michigan State questions: Spartans are as bad as they looked Lansing State Journal
Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch answers three key questions after the Spartans' 31-27 loss Saturday at Illinois.
Holmes gives Spartans ground game some life Detroit News
After running the ball for 270 yards two weeks ago and 217 last week, it seemed Michigan State had found something offensively it could hang its hat on.
Plethora of injuries doesn't help Spartans cause Detroit News
Michigan State has been dealing with its share of injuries all season and the list kept growing on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Before the Spartans took the first snap, the offense already was playing shorthanded as fifth-year senior tackle Kodi Kieler did not play because of an injury suffered late in the week and fifth-year senior wide receiver Monty Madaris was out, as well.
Couch: Michigan State players aren't quitting; they're just that bad Lansing State Journal
This season can't end fast enough for Michigan State's football team. There isn't enough game-ready talent and aren't enough healthy bodies to make anything of it. Not a bowl game. Not even a positive vibe heading into the offseason. All that's left to do is maybe squeak out a win over Rutgers next week and then pray for mercy on the way to an unthinkable 3-9 season.
Seniors frustrated with worst Michigan State losing streak in 35 years Detroit Free Press
Josiah Price turned and backpedaled, a move he's made a number of times at Michigan State. Tyler O'Connor's pass fluttered short, but his sure-handed tight end adjusted and had it in his hands. And then he dropped it. The Spartans settled for a 3 points instead of 7 on that drive Saturday. They ended up losing their seventh straight game, this one to Illinois, 31-27.
Michigan State has plenty of chances but (again) left pondering what "almost" happened Land of 10
The Spartans lost for the seventh straight game but this one was the most improbable. Illinois is in complete rebuilding mode under first-year coach Lovie Smith, but the Illini made the most of their chances while Michigan State … well, Michigan State didn't. The result was a 31-27 loss in a game that proves without a doubt that nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to this edition of the Spartans.
A tale of two fourth downs for Michigan State and Damion Terry Land of 10
Damion Terry made one magical fourth-down play happen with his feet to put Michigan State in the lead. He couldn't come up with a second feat of magic to win the game for the Spartans.