Spartans put a dent in Wildcats’ playoff hopes
The last of two clutch field goals by Coghlin hands Northwestern its first loss of season.
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Matt Coghlin made a tiebreaking 48-yard field goal with 3:35 left and Michigan State handed No. 8 Northwestern its first loss of the season with a 29-20 victory Saturday.
The Wildcats were coming off a 17-7 victory over Wisconsin that put them in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff. That prospect likely was dashed with the loss to the Spartans, but they remain in control of the Big Ten West.
“Really disappointed in the outcome, but we have all our goals in front of us,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We didn’t come up here and play clean football and Michigan State did and credit to them.”
The Spartans lost a 17-0 lead, but went back ahead by forcing three turnovers in the fourth quarter and making the most of two big kicks by Coghlin.
Michigan State had dropped consecutive games against Iowa and Indiana by a combined score of 73-7.
“We needed this win as a team,” said Rocky Lombardi, who got the Spartans off to a fast start with a 75yard touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor. “It’s good to get out there and beat a really good team like Northwestern because it’s just the kind of confidence boost we needed.”
Northwestern grabbed a 20-17 lead early in the fourth on Cam Porter’s three-yard run. The Spartans rallied on Coghlin’s 44-yard field goal after forcing a turnover one snap following Lombardi’s interception.
Northwestern turned the ball over again, and receiver Berkeley Holman was carted off the field following the play. Holman was taken to a hospital as a precaution. He was talking, alert and moving.
The Wildcats punted on their next possession, facing a fourth and 10 from their 22. Lombardi converted a third and eight with a run after Northwestern called a timeout, taking time off the clock until punting from midfield with 32 seconds left.