Michigan State falls 31-3 at Wisconsin after five fourth-down failures

Michigan State went 1-for-6 on fourth down and lost backup quarterback Cam Fancher to an apparent knee injury in a 31-3 defeat at Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium.

Michigan State failed on five fourth-down attempts in Wisconsin territory and never reached the end zone, losing 31-3 to the Badgers on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. The Spartans finished 1-for-6 on fourth down and dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten, while Wisconsin improved to 3-1 and 2-0 in conference play.

The Spartans have not scored a touchdown since 6:07 remained in the first half of the previous week's loss to Nebraska. Kicker Liam Boyd accounted for the team's only points, making a field goal with nine seconds left in the second quarter.

Each of Michigan State's first two possessions crossed into Badgers territory before stalling, with drives of 11 and 12 plays producing no points. The Spartans went 1-for-3 on fourth down over the opening 20 minutes and averaged 3.2 yards per carry in the first half of their first game without running back Cam Edwards.

Wisconsin had no trouble moving the ball. The Badgers opened with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, then scored again on their second series, a five-play, 59-yard push that began with a 26-yard gain by quarterback Colton Joseph and ended with his 15-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Harris.

Michigan State's points came on its fourth possession. After Wisconsin stalled around midfield with just over a minute left in the second quarter, the Spartans, aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty and a pass-interference flag, advanced to the Wisconsin 13, and coach Pat Fitzgerald sent on the field goal unit with nine seconds on the clock.

After halftime, the pattern repeated. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic moved the offense to the Wisconsin 46, where Marvis Parrish gained nothing on a fourth-and-1 carry, and later to the 39, where his fourth-and-7 throw to Fredrick Moore went incomplete. Early in the fourth quarter, Chrishon McCray dropped a pass on fourth-and-4 from the Wisconsin 43. Michigan State's only fourth-down conversion came via a Wisconsin penalty in the first half.

Injuries mounted again for the Spartans. Backup quarterback Cam Fancher, who started the second half with Michigan State trailing 17-3, left with an apparent right knee injury on the opening drive of the third quarter after the knee appeared to buckle without contact at the end of a 3-yard scramble. He limped off and emerged from the injury tent without his helmet, and a trainer wrapped the knee.

Linebacker Caleb Wheatland also exited, spending time in the injury tent before limping toward the locker room. Michigan State was already without captain Jordan Hall, Brady Pretzlaff was playing in his return from injury, and backup linebackers Dion Crawford and Cam Stodghill entered the day listed as questionable; Crawford played.

Michigan State returns home to face Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 3:30 p.m. on FS1 in a homecoming matchup featuring Illini quarterback Katin Houser, who began his college career with the Spartans. Houser completed 58.5% of his passes for 1,132 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions over 13 games at Michigan State before transferring after Mel Tucker was fired. Now a fifth-year senior in his first season at Illinois after two years at East Carolina, Houser entered Saturday with 1,021 passing yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions on 68.6% completions in four starts. Illinois was set to host Purdue on Saturday, seeking a rebound from a loss to Ohio State.