On the next drive, MSU drove to Baylor 45 yard line where they faced a 3rd and 4. "I did not," he replied. Another three and out by the Knights forced a punting situation which resulted in a shank by punter Joseph Roth (10 yard punt), giving State the ball on the Rutgers 33 yard line. Several plays later, Delton Williams would score 1 yard out, putting the Spartans up 42–0. Aside from a Tyler O'Connor 3 yard rushing touchdown and a 9-yard Max Shortell touchdown pass to Markis Merrill (the only points for JSU), there was little to no offense in the second half.
It is both The Worst and should serve as a reminder of the hard fact that a program can survive bad publicity or bad coaching or bad press, but when hit by all three at once, it might take a long, long time for it to fully recover. Gardner fumbled, forced by J. Bosa, recovered by OhSt D. Lee,Gardner, Devin pass sacked for loss of 5 yards4Q MICH D. Gardner pass,to A. Darboh for 11 yds for a 1ST down4Q OSU E. Elliott run for 44 yds for a TD, (S. Nuernberger KICK)1Q OSU J. Barrett pass,to N. Vannett for 6 yds for a TD, (S. Nuernberger KICK) (0:30)2Q OSU J. Barrett run for 25 yds for a TD, (S. Nuernberger KICK) (1:26)3Q OSU J. Barrett run for 2 yds for a TD, (S. Nuernberger KICK) (0:17)4Q OSU E. Elliott run for 44 yds for a TD, (S. Nuernberger KICK) (0:51)4Q OSU D. Gardner sacked by J. Bosa for -5 yds,D. Delton Williams scored on a 4-yard run several plays later; 42–7 Michigan State. Nebraska would score on their first possession of the 4th quarter on a 2-yard Ameer Abdullah touchdown run. On their next drive the Spartans were able to drive down to the Baylor 26, but the drive ended when Cook threw a pass into double coverage and was ultimately intercepted by Alfred Pullom. After driving the ball to midfield, quarterback Bryce Petty hit KD Cannon for a 49-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven.
A targeting penalty by MSU reserve linebacker Chris Frey (which resulted in his ejection) gave Michigan the ball at the MSU 29.
Three plays later Jeremy Langford punched it in for the first offensive touchdown of the day, giving MSU a 20–3 lead. Following the Tyler O'Connor interception, Rob Bolden would find Tyreese Russell for a 9-yard touchdown pass to put the score at 59–14 MSU.
MSU managed to move the ball down to the Bear 11 yard line where Cook scrambled for an apparent touchdown. Barrett (Sean Nuernberger Kick)Jake Butt 12 Yd pass from Devin Gardner (Matt Wile Kick)Darron Lee 33 Yd Fumble Return (Sean Nuernberger Kick)Freddy Canteen 3 Yd pass from Devin Gardner (Matt Wile Kick)4Q MICH D. Gardner pass,to F. Canteen for 3 yds for a TD4Q OSU D. Gardner sacked by J. Bosa for -5 yds,D. State's offense once again marched down the field and scored another TD when Jeremy Langford broke free for a 38-yard score. Brown pass and took the ball to the UMD 28.
Michigan State hosted the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for the time as conference opponents and for the first time at Spartan Stadium since 2003. The win guaranteed the fourth ten win season in the last five for the Spartans and their second straight win over the Nittany Lions (both at Beaver Stadium). The Spartans received the ball to begin the game with RJ Shelton taking back the opening kick 90 yards for a touchdown. Williamson returned the ball to the Baylor 45 yard line where he was run out of bounds with 1:06 remaining. The next drive was aided by a 50-yard Connor Cook pass to Macgarrett Kings Jr., which moved the ball to the UMD 37 yard line. Tony Lippett led MSU receivers with seven receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. After a successful fourth down conversion on 4th and 11, Austin Applebee fumbled the ball after a missed handoff. MSU added the last score of the day on the third play of the drive, a 76-yard TD run by Nick Hill. After instant replay overturned the score, Jeremy Langford ran it in to bring the score to 41–35 with 4:55 remaining in the game. Facing third and 23 from their own 12 yard line with only seven seconds left, Petty attempted to hit a quick slant over the middle. The score made it 41–28 with 12:09 remaining. Overall Record: 5-7: Conference Record:3-5 Conference Finish, East Division: 4th : National Ranking: AP - ; ESPN/USA Today - Coach: Brady Hoke Captain: Devin Gardner, Jake Ryan All-Americans: All-Conference: Jake Ryan Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player: Jake Ryan Meyer Morton Award: Joe Bolden John Maulbetsch Award: Chris Wormley Frederick Matthaei Award: Jarrod Wilson Arthur … MSU led 49–0 at the half. The Spartan offense scored quickly on a 19-yard pass from Connor Cook to Josiah Price, with Michigan State's lead blossoming to 28–7. "I didn't see it. After a few penalties, MSU was facing a third and 20 from their own 43. MSU began the second quarter by again driving deep into Terrapin territory where they again settled for a Geiger FG (35 yards), which gave them a 9–0 lead. The fourth quarter began with MSU scoring their sixth TD of the day on a 12-yard TD run by Langford. Michigan State was looking to secure their 10th win of the season and second in a row over the Nittany Lions. After another Eastern 3 and out, Michigan State scored again the following possession as Jeremy Langford made a defender miss on his way to the end-zone for a 21-yard touchdown run. MSU defense end Shilique Calhoun recovered the ball on the Spartan 49 yard line. The Spartans sent off beloved defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, who had taken the
The Spartan's ended the game with two kneel downs, completing their sweep of the Hoosier state in 2014. A few possessions into the 3rd quarter, Marcus Rush would force a fumble and the offense would take over at the Nebraska 15 yard line, where they would be forced to settle for a field goal, strengthening the Michigan State lead to 20. Neither offense would be able to effectively move the ball the rest of the quarter.
A false start, a short pass to the sideline for one yard, a rush for loss, and a short four yard gain to the flat resulted in a fourth down from the 27 yard line. Michigan State would add to its lead in the 4th, as a Tyler O'Connor scramble for 12 yards would put them ahead 56–14, which would end up being the final score. On the ensuing kick-off, MSU kicker Kevin Cronin executed a successful onside kick (recovered by Jermaine Edmonson).
The defense also held Jacksonville State to just 22 yards rushing.