Michigan State falls 31-3 at Wisconsin as fourth-down gambles backfire

Michigan State went 1-for-6 on fourth down, never scored a touchdown, and lost backup quarterback Cam Fancher to an apparent right knee injury in a 31-3 defeat at Wisconsin.

MADISON, Wis. — Michigan State kept gambling on fourth down at Camp Randall Stadium, and the bets kept failing. The Spartans came up short five times on fourth down inside Wisconsin territory and never scored a touchdown in a 31-3 defeat to the Badgers on Saturday, Oct. 3. Their only conversion in six fourth-down attempts came on a Wisconsin penalty during the first half.

The scoring drought now stretches back to the 6:07 mark of the first half against Nebraska the previous weekend, the last time Michigan State reached the end zone. Points in Madison arrived just once, on the Spartans' fourth possession. After a Wisconsin drive ended at midfield with just over a minute left in the second quarter, flags for roughing the passer and pass interference carried the ball to the Badgers' 13, and coach Pat Fitzgerald sent on Liam Boyd, whose kick was good with nine seconds remaining before halftime.

The early possessions had already set the pattern. Michigan State's first two series each crossed into Badgers territory before dying, leaving the Spartans 1-for-3 on fourth down over the opening 20 minutes despite possessions that ran 11 and 12 plays. Playing without running back Cam Edwards for the first time, they averaged 3.2 yards per carry on the ground in the first half.

Wisconsin moved the ball with far less resistance. The Badgers opened the contest with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, then scored again on their second series — five plays covering 59 yards, begun with a 26-yard gain by quarterback Colton Joseph and capped by Joseph's 15-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Harris.

After halftime, the fourth-down misses continued. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic guided one third-quarter drive to the Wisconsin 46, where Marvis Parrish was held to no gain on fourth-and-1, and another to the 39, where a fourth-and-7 throw intended for Fredrick Moore hit the ground incomplete. Michigan State crossed midfield again early in the fourth quarter, only for Chrishon McCray to drop the pass on fourth-and-4 from the Wisconsin 43.

The result dropped Michigan State to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play. Wisconsin improved to 3-1 and 2-0 in conference action.

Health worries followed the Spartans to Madison after a Week 4 filled with injuries. Backup quarterback Cam Fancher, who took the field to open the second half with Michigan State trailing 17-3, hurt his right knee on the first series of the period. Scrambling for 3 yards on first-and-10 from the Spartans' 45, he dived forward and the knee appeared to buckle without contact; after trainers checked on him, he made his way off favoring the leg, spent time in the injury tent and emerged without a helmet, the knee wrapped.

The defense absorbed losses as well. Linebacker Caleb Wheatland entered the injury tent during Wisconsin's ensuing possession and was later shown limping on his way to the locker room. Michigan State entered the day already without captain Jordan Hall, with starter Brady Pretzlaff playing as he returned from an injury, and with backups Dion Crawford and Cam Stodghill listed as questionable — Crawford was able to go.

Next for the Spartans is a homecoming matchup against Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 3:30 p.m. on FS1. The Illini were set to welcome Purdue on Saturday afternoon while trying to bounce back from a loss to Ohio State the week before. Their quarterback, fifth-year senior Katin Houser, began his college career at Michigan State, completing 58.5% of his passes for 1,132 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions over 13 games before departing after Mel Tucker was fired in East Lansing. Following two seasons at East Carolina, Houser is in his first year with the Illini and entered Saturday having connected on 68.6% of his throws for 1,021 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions across four starts.