The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
» Spartans control in-state rival Wolverines to score an upset,
ANNARBOR, MICH.— Rocky Lombardi threw for 323 yards, including 196 to Ricky White, and three touch downs to help Michigan State upset No. 13Michigan 27-24 on Saturday.
The Spartans (1-1, 1-1 Big Ten) appeared to be the better team all afternoon on both sides of the ball in Mel Tucker’s debut as coach in the rivalry.
Tucker became just the second coach to beat Michigan in his first attempt with the Spartans, joining Alabama coach Nick Saban, who did it in 1995. The former Colorado coach started his career as a graduate assistant for Saban and the Spartans.
The Wolverines (1-1, 1-1) were favored towin bymore than three touchdowns. Jim Harbaugh’s team, though, never led and didn’t appear to have much energy in front of family and friends in their mostly empty stadium that holds 110,000-plus fans when there isn’t a pandemic.
Running back Hassan Haskins scored on a 2-yard run with 37 seconds left to help Michigan pull within three points. The onside kick was recovered by Michigan State running back Connor Heyward and Lombardi converted a fourth-and-2 from the Michigan 36 with a sneak to seal the victory.
Lombardi completed 17 of 32 passes and Heyward caught two of his TD passes. White, who averaged 24.5 yards on eight receptions against a shaky secondary, also scored on a catch.
Michigan’s Joe Milton was 32 of 51 for 300 yards and ran 12 times for 59 yards. Haskins had eight carries for 56 yards and a TD while Blake Corum ran for two scores.
Late in the first half, a pivotal play helped the Spartans helped pull off the upset.
Linebacker Antjuan Simmons, playing across the street from where he played in high school, broke up Haskins’ pass in the end zone intended for tight end Carter Selzer. The Wolverines settled for a field goal that cut their deficit to 14-10 late in the first half and that cost them four points in a game lost by three.
Tucker’s team bounced back from a seven-turnover setback in last week’s 38-27 loss to Rutgers with a signature win early in his tenure.
Harbaugh has a lot of work to do to turn his team around, especially in the defensive secondary thatwas picked on early and often by the Spartans.
Michigan, which had many players leave the field with injuries, lost two key players at the same position during the game: linebackers Cam McGrone and Michael Barrett. Offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield, who chose to play after initially opting out, also was hurt late in the fourth quarter.
Michigan will slip in the AP Top 25 after jumping up five spots following its season-opening, 49-24 win over then-No. 21 Minnesota last week.
(At) No. 7 Cincinnati 49, Memphis 10: Desmond Ridder threw touch down passes to three different receivers and ran for two and Jerome Ford also scored twice as the Bearcats remained undefeated Saturday.
The Bearcats (5-0, 3-0 AAC) decisively snapped a five-game losing streak against Memphis (3-2, 2-2).
The stingy Cincinnati defense, ranked 18th in the nation in total defense going into the game, sacked Memphis quarterback Brady White six times.
(At) West Virginia 37, No. 16 Kansas State 10: Jarret Doege threw two touchdown passes and Dylan Tonkery returned an interception for a score as West Virginia upset No. 16 Kansas State.
Leddie Brown rushed for 102 yards and a score as the Mountaineers (4-2, 3-2 Big 12) knocked the Wildcats from their solo perch atop the league standings.
Kansas State freshman Will Howard was intercepted three times and the Wildcats (4-2, 4-1) went scoreless after halftime to see their four-game winning streak snapped.
No. 23 Iowa State 52, (at) Kansas 22: Breece Hall matched a career high with 185 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and Brock Purdy threw two TD passes and had another score on the ground for Iowa State.
Purdy finished with 239 yards passing and Kene Nwangwu also hit the end zone for the Cyclones (4-2, 4-1 Big 12), who bounced back from a tough loss to No. 6 Oklahoma State by beating the Jayhawks (0-6, 0-5) for the sixth straight time.
No. 17 Indiana 37, (at) Rutgers 21: Michael Penix Jr. threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score as No. 17 Indiana beat mistake-prone Rutgers.
Penix had touchdown tosses of 15, 2 and 1 yard. He also scored on a quarterback sneak as the Hoosiers (2-0, 2-0 Big Ten) followed up their stunning win over then-No. 8 Penn State last week.
Texas 41, (at) No. 6Oklahoma State 34 (OT): Sam Ehlinger threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Moore in overtime and Joseph Ossai sealed the victory by sacking Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders as Texas knocked off the previously unbeaten and sixth-ranked Cowboys.
Oklahoma State (4-1, 3-1 Big 12) outgained Texas 530 yards to 287, but the Cowboys turned the ball over four times and saw their hopes to reach the College Football Playoff take a major blow.
Sanders passed for career highs of 400 yards and four touchdowns, buthe fumbled twice and threwan interception — turnovers that led to 17 points by Texas (4-2, 3-2).