Recap: Michigan State wins wild shootout vs. Michigan, 37-33

Well that was fun.

No. 8 Michigan State rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat rival No. 6 Michigan at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, 37-33.

Second half

McNamara throws interception in crunch time to seal Michigan State win

Michigan takes over at the 33.

Cade McNamara is hit hard on first down, which draws a roughing the passer call and gives the Wolverines 15 yards for free.

McNamara throws an interception on the next play, and this one is over.

FINAL: Michigan State 37, Michigan 33

Michigan gets ball back after turnover on downs

Michigan takes over at its own 25 after the Michigan State touchdown. The Wolverines trail, 37-33, with 5:08 to go in the game.

Cade McNamara tries a deep throw on first down, but Cornelius Johnson can't come down with it. After a 7-yard completion Erick All, Johnson again can't hang onto a throw, as the third-down pass bounces off his hands. 

Michigan is going for it on fourth-and-3 from its own 32.

Mike Sainristil comes up with a huge catch that's good for 7 yards and will move the chains.

Blake Corum is dropped for no gain on first down. McNamara's next pass is complete to Andrel Anthony for a gain of 12 to keep the chains moving into Michigan State territory.

Johnson finally hauls in a throw; it's good for 8 yards. Corum rushes for 2 to keep those chains moving. 2 minutes remaining.

McNamara tries Andrel Anthony, but he can't get a toe in-bounds on what would have been a big completion down the sideline. He goes back to Anthony on the next play, and this time it's good for 7, bringing up third-and-3 at the Michigan State 31.

McNamara misses deep to Sainristil on third down.

Injury timeout: Michigan State DL Jacub Panasiuk was hurt on the play.

This is pretty much the game. Fourth-and-3 at the 31.

McNamara's pass misses on fourth down, and that'll be a turnover on downs.

Michigan State 37, Michigan 33 (1:43 4th)

Michigan State takes over at the 31 and can ice the game with a first down. Michigan has all three timeouts left.

Kenneth Walker rushes for 2.

Timeout #1 Michigan (1:37 4th)

Walker rushes for 2 more.

Timeout #2 Michigan (1:33 4th)

Payton Thorne fakes the handoff, tries to roll right, but sacks himself for a loss of 6.

Timeout #3 Michigan (1:27 4th)

Michigan State recovers fumble, takes lead on ensuing d

J.J. McCarthy is in at quarterback for Michigan. The Wolverines take over at their own 45.

McCarthy and Blake Corum fumble the exchange, and Michigan State recovers at the 41 of Michigan. That's a massive swing.

Michigan 33, Michigan State 30 (7:12 4th)

Michigan State takes a holding penalty on first down, so the Spartans will set up first-and-18 from the 49.

A 1-yard run and 9-yard completion sets up third-and-8, where Michigan jumps offsides before the snap. It's third-and-3 now.

Kenneth Walker bullies his way to a first down on a gain of 6.

Michigan is then flagged for illegal substitution, and it'll be first-and-5 at the 23.

Thorne's second throw is swatted by a defender in pursuit and falls incomplete.

On the next play, Walker scores his fifth touchdown of the game, and this time it's a 23-yard run for the Michigan State running back.

Michigan State 37, Michigan 33 (5:08 4th)

Michigan State goes 3-and-out after Michigan takes lead

Michigan State takes over at its own 25 after the Michigan touchdown. The Spartans trail by 3 with 9:20 to go in the game.

Kenneth Walker rushes for 8 yards on first down, but Payton Thorne is sacked for a loss of 7 on second down. Thorne is sacked again, and this time he's also stripped by David Ojabo. Michigan State recovers for a loss of 5.

A.J. Henning returns the punt 24 yards to the Michigan 45.

Michigan 33, Michigan State 30 (7:17 4th)

Michigan regains lead with another field goal

Michigan takes over at its own 25, tied at 30 with just over 12 minutes to go in the game.

Blake Corum is smacked for no gain on first down, and Cade McNamara's pass is batted at the line on second down. Spartan Stadium is rocking.

Until Mike Sainristil silences them with a 43-yard reception on third down, reaching the Michigan State 30.

Cornelius Johnson hauls in a 6-yard pass and Hassan Haskins moves the chains with a 4-yard run. 

J.J. McCarthy enters, takes off, and fumbles. But the ball rolls out of bounds, and it'll be second-and-11. McNamara tucks it on second down for a gain of 3. McNamara looks for A.J. Henning in the end zone on third down, but he misses the target.

Jake Moody's 46-yard field goal is good.

Michigan 33, Michigan State 30 (9:20 4th)

Michigan State ties game in fourth quarter

Michigan State takes over at its own 14-yard-line, trailing by 8, with 14:36 to go in the game.

The Spartans try a flea flicker, but Payton Thorne is chased from the pocket and misses his receiver high on first down. Thorne's second-down pass is batted by a Michigan linebacker.

Jayden Reed picks up 11 yards on third-and-10 to keep the drive alive.

Injury alert: Michigan DB D.J. Turner was hurt on the play and is helped off the field by the training staff.

Thorne's first-down pass goes incomplete; the second-down throw is complete for a gain of 6, bringing up fourth-and-4. Connor Heyward catches a pass on third down that's good for 4 yards and just barely picks up the first down.

R.J. Moten nearly has his second pick of the game on the next play, as Thorne is hit as he throws and delivers a wobbling throw to Reed. But he can't corral it. Thorne rushes for 7 yards to bring up third-and-3.

Walker finds a hole on third down, and he breaks free for a 58-yard run that goes all the way to the house for a Michigan State touchdown.

The Spartans can tie the game with a successful two-point attempt.

Timeout #1 Michigan State (12:29 4th)

Thorne throws a fade to Reed, and it's caught. We've got ourselves a tie game.

Michigan 30, Michigan State 30 (12:29 4th)

Michigan can't halt Spartan momentum, punts

Michigan takes over at its own 20, leading 30-22, with 3:58 left in the third quarter.

Blake Corum rushes for an 11-yard gain on first down to move the chains. 

Cade McNamara delivers to Cornelius Johnson for a gain of 6, then hands to Hassan Haskins for 2 to bring up third-and-2. Haskins gets to the Michigan 47-yard-line for a gain of 8 to keep the drive alive.

Corum loses 2 yards on first down, then Erick All gets it back with a 3-yard reception on second down.

END 3RD: Michigan 30, Michigan State 22 

McNamara is absolutely hammered while letting go of his third-down pass, and it falls to the ground short of his receiver, incomplete.

Brad Robbins' punt is downed at the 12.

Michigan 30, Michigan State 22 (15:00 4th)

Michigan State chips into Michigan lead in third quarter

Michigan State takes over at its own 25, trailing 30-14, with 6:47 to go in the third quarter.

A pass interference penalty sets up Michigan State with first-and-10 at the 43 of Michigan State.

Kenneth Walker rushes for 5. Jayden Reed hauls in a 7-yard catch on the next play near the sideline, but the officials get together after the play and decide it was incomplete. Then Michigan State goes back to the original line of scrimmage, and the whistles blow again. They're going to review it this time, and guess what: it's a catch! Big Ten refs...

After a 3-yard run by Walker, Reed catches a pass for 3 more. Walker catches a pass out of the backfield on third down, but he's got nothing except white and yellow in front of him; he'll go down for no gain. Thorne goes over the top to Reed on fourth down, and it's placed perfectly for a 28-yard gain to the Michigan 1-yard-line.

Walker rushes it in on the next play, and then the Spartans convert their two-point try. It's a one-score game.

Michigan 30, Michigan State 22 (3:58 3rd)

Michigan takes 30-14 lead in third quarter

Michigan takes over at its own 46, leading 23-14, with 8:33 to go in the third quarter.

J.J. McCarthy steps in to take the first snap at quarterback, and he gets to the Michigan State 42 for a gain of 12.

Then Cade McNamara steps back in, and he takes off for a gain of 20 yards to the Michigan State 22.

Michigan's flea flicker nearly works to perfection, but McNamara can't put the ball in Andrel Anthony's hands in the end zone, and his pass falls incomplete.

McCarthy throws to Erick All for a gain of 3, and McNamara comes back in to throw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mike Sainristil. Michigan will lead by 16 after the PAT.

Michigan 30, Michigan State 14 (6:47 4th)

Michigan State goes 3-and-out on first offensive series of third quarter

After the turnover on downs, Michigan State takes over at its own 40, trailing 23-14, with 10:27 to go in the second half.

A holding penalty backs the Spartans up to first-and-20.

Kenneth Walker's first-down carry goes for no gain; his second-down reception is for a loss of 3. Jayden Reed can't come up with the third-down throw, and that'll be 3-and-out.

Bryce Baringer's punt is returned by A.J. Henning to the 46 of Michigan.

Michigan 23, Michigan State 14 (10:27 3rd)

Michigan fails to convert fake punt on first drive of half

Michigan State takes over at its own 25, leading 23-14, to start the second half.

Hassan Haskins rushes for 1. There's nobody open on second down, and Cade McNamara is forced to make a tough pass that is broken up. Erick All is open on third down over the middle for a gain of 15 yards. 

After a 2-yard completion, McNamara hits Haskins for a gain of 8 to move the chains.

Haskins rushes for a yard on the next play. Blake Corum puts a defender on skates after coming down with the pass on second down, and picks up 8 yards to bring up third-and-1.

Corum is stuffed for no gain, but Michigan is going for it — at least until Luke Schoonmaker is flagged for a false start. Michigan will now punt on fourth-and-6.

Michigan tries running a fake punt, but punter Brad Robbins is crushed near the line of scrimmage while trying to make the line to gain. It'll be a turnover on downs.

Michigan 23, Michigan State 14 (10:27 4th)

First half

First half leaders

Passing

UM - Cade McNamara: 14/20, 232 yds., TD

MSU - Payton Thorne: 9/14, 116 yds., 2 INT

Rushing

UM - Hassan Haskins: 9 atts., 43 yds.

MSU - Kenneth Walker III: 12 atts., 87 yds.

Receiving

UM - Andrel Anthony: 4 recs., 136 yds., 2 TD

MSU - Jalen Nailor: 5 recs., 89 yds.

Michigan adds field goal before halftime, gets ball back to start second half

Michigan takes over at its own 29, leading 20-14, with 1:25 to go in the half.

Cade McNamara is back in at quarterback. He throws another easy pitch-and-catch to Erick All that goes for 21 yards to the Michigan 46.

After a first-down incompletion, Blake Corum hauls in a 5-yard pass. Andrel Anthony catches a pass near the sideline on first down that's good for 6 to the 35, where Michigan will have a new set of downs with 36 seconds left.

Michigan State is offsides on first down. It's first-and-5 at the 30.

McNamara's next pass to All is good for 8, and the Wolverines will have a first down at the 22.

Roman Wilson catches a 5-yard pass on first down.

Timeout #3 Michigan (0:14 2nd)

McNamara's throw to Anthony is over his head, as is the third-down pass.

Timeout #1 Michigan State (0:06 2nd)

Timeout #2 Michigan State (0:06 2nd)

Timeout #3 Michigan State (0:06 2nd)

Michigan Stat uses all three of its remaining timeouts to throw Michigan kicker Jake Moody off-rhythm.

It does not work.

Moody's 35-yard try is good.

Michigan 23, Michigan State 14 (0:02 2nd)

Michigan State takes a knee to end the half.

END 2ND: Michigan 23, Michigan State 14

Big sack of Thorne gives Michigan all the momentum before half

After the Michigan touchdown, Michigan State takes over at its own 10 due to a penalty on the kick return. The Spartans trail, 20-14, with 3:36 to go in the half.

Kenneth Walker tries to bounce it outside on first down, but he's wrapped up by David Ojabo for no gain. Walker takes a screen pass on second down to the 24-yard-line, a gain of 14.

Aidan Hutchinson gets around his man and sacks Payton Thorne for a loss of 2, but he had to fight through holding to get there. Michigan accepts the penalty, making it first-and-20.

Jalen Nailor catches a pass for no gain on first down.

Ojabo comes around the corner and absolutely destroys Thorne on the next play, forcing a fumble that's recovered in the end zone by Hutchinson for a Michigan touchdown.

The play is under review to see if Thorne was down before he lost the ball, and eventually, the call is overturned.

It's third-and-a lot at the 3-yard-line. Walker rushes for 2.

Timeout #2 Michigan (1:25 2nd) 

Bryce Baringer's punt travels 66 yards and is downed at the Michigan 29.

Michigan 20, Michigan State 14 (1:13 2nd)

McCarthy throws touchdown pass to give Michigan lead back

Michigan takes over at its own 22, trailing 14-13, with 7:10 left in the first half.

Cade McNamara throws low to Erick All on first down, and the tight end gets low to scoop it off the grass for a pickup of 15 yards. 

After Hassan Haskins rushes for 2, McNamara's pass is batted at the line, incomplete. McNamara finds an open Luke Schoonmaker on third down for a pickup of 13 to the Michigan State 48.

Blake Corum rushes for 6 on first down. Haskins bounces off tacklers and squeezes through a hole on second down and, dragging another tackler before going down at the 18. There was initially a targeting call on Michigan State's Chester Kimbrough, but after review, it's wiped off the board. 

First-and-10 at the 18.

J.J. McCarthy enters at quarterback for Michigan. He hands to Hassan Haskins for a yard, then places a perfect throw to Andrel Anthony for a 17-yard Michigan touchdown pass, Anthony's second of the day and second of his career.

Michigan 20, Michigan State 14 (3:45 2nd)

Michigan State takes lead with Walker's second touchdown

Michigan State takes over at its own 25, trailing 13-7, with 9:18 to go in the second quarter.

Kenneth Walker III is starting to find his legs. He again meets a crowded line with agility, bounces to the outside, and gets to the 43-yard-line for a gain of 18 on first down.

Walker evades a tackler in the backfield on the next play and instead of a tackle-for-loss, Walker gets 9 yards. Payton Thorne in play-action is rushed and throws a wobbly pass that falls incomplete. Thorne pulls the read option on third down and goes out of bounds short of the line-to-gain. Michigan State is going for it on fourth-and-1.

The Spartans run a beautifully designed play that fools everyone and opens up Jalen Nailor over the middle for a pickup of 40 yards to the Michigan 8-yard-line.

Walker gets the next carry and he can skip into the end zone on this one, as the Spartans are a PAT away from taking their first lead of the day.

Matt Coghlin is money.

Michigan State 14, Michigan 13 (7:16 2nd)

Michigan kicks another field goal, leads Michigan State by 6

Michigan takes over at its own 25, leading 10-7, with 14:52 to go in the second quarter.

Blake Corum rushes for 9, then 3, to give Michigan a first down at the 37.

J.J. McCarthy fires a dart to Erick All near the sideline that's caught for a gain of 3. All comes up with another reception on the next play from Cade McNamara, and this time he drags a Michigan State defender all the way to the Michigan State 39 for a gain of 21.

Corum rushes for 1 on first down. Hassan Haskins hauls in a throw in the flat that goes for 10 yards to the Michigan State 28, where the Wolverines will have a first down.

Corum rushes for 4 yards on first down and 3 on second down, to bring up third-and-3. Haskins is stuffed up the middle on third down for a gain of only 1.

Jake Moody drills a 38-yard attempt to put Michigan up 6.

Michigan 13, Michigan State 7 (9:18 2nd)

Michigan State cuts into deficit on Walker's 27-yarder

Michigan State takes over at its own 25, trailing 10-0, with 1:18 to go in the first quarter.

Payton Thorne finds Jalen Nailor near the left sideline for a first-down completion that goes for a gain of 19 to the 44.

Jayden Reed gets open on the next play, and he hauls in a strike from Thorne that's good for 16 to the 40 of Michigan. The Spartans run to the line and catch the Wolverines with their pants down; Michigan is flagged for having 12 men on the field.

It's first-and-5 at the 35.

Kenneth Walker is taken down for a gain of 2. Thorne finds Connor Heyward for a 6-yard gain on second down that will move the chains and end the first quarter.

END 1ST: Michigan 10, Michigan State 0

It's first-and-10 for Michigan at the 27.

Kenneth Walker crashes up the middle into a mess of linemen, steps back, bounces to the outside, and nobody can get him from there, as Walker gets Michigan State on the board with a 27-yard rushing touchdown.

Michigan 10, Michigan State 7 (14:52 2nd)

Michigan capitalizes on interception, takes 10-0 lead

Michigan takes over at the Michigan State 34 after the interception and penalty.

Cade McNamara throws complete to Andrel Anthony on first down for a gain of 15 yards to the 19.

A holding penalty wipes out a 10-yard gain by Cornelius Johnson on the next play. It's first-and-13. Hassan Haskins takes a handoff from J.J. McCarthy for 5 yards. He does the same on the next play, but this time it goes for a gain of only 1.

Cade McNamara back in at quarterback. He's pressured immediately by the Spartan defense, and gets off a pass to that only goes for a gain of 4.

Jake Moody nails the 26-yard field-goal attempt, and Michigan is up by 10.

Michigan 10, Michigan State 0 (1:18 1st)

Michigan State's Thorne throws second interception of quarter

Michigan State takes over at its own 19, trailing 7-0, with 6:49 to go in the first.

After a 4-yard run by Jordon Simmons, Payton Thorne takes off with the pocket collapsing and gets all the way to Michigan State's 45 for a gain of 22.

Simmons rushes for 3 on the next play. A second-down completion goes for 2 yards, bringing up third-and-5. Thorne's next throw is batted into the air by Daxton Hill and caught by Michigan's Mike Morris for an interception.

Then, some pushing and shoving ensues, and that lands the Spartans a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. It'll be first-and-10 in Spartan territory when we return.

Michigan 7, Michigan State 0 (4:09 1st)

Third-down drop now ends Michigan drive early

Michigan takes over at its own 20, leading 7-0 early in the first.

Hassan Haskins rushes for 7, then 1, to set up third-and-2: Cade McNamara fires a dart to A.J. Henning near the sideline for a pickup of 7 yards to move the chains.

McNamara's next pass is behind Blake Corum, incomplete. Corum carries for 5 yards on second down. Corum drops a third-down throw with nobody near him that had a chance to go a long way.

Brad Robbins' punt is fair caught at the 19.

Michigan 7, Michigan State 0 (6:49 1st)

Third-down drop ends Michigan State drive early

Michigan State takes over at its own 25, trailing 7-0 early in the first quarter.

After a 3-yard run by Kenneth Walker, Michigan is flagged for a face mask that sets up first-and-10 at the 43.

Walker rushes up the middle for a yard on first down. Thorne on second down is flushed from the pocket and forced to throw it away. Thorne's third-down throw to Jayden Reed goes through the receiver's hands and falls incomplete.

Michigan 7, Michigan State 0 (9:32 1st)

Michigan capitalizes on turnover with 93-yard touchdown

Michigan takes over at the 2 after the interception.

A false start backs the Wolverines up to the 1, where it'll be first-and-11.

Hassan Haskins gets a yard on first down, and Cade McNamara fires a 5-yard completion to Cornelius Johnson on second down.

Andrel Anthony catches a pass over the middle on third down, hits the jets, and nobody's gonna catch him. Michigan takes the early lead on a 93-yard receiving touchdown.

Michigan 7, Michigan State 0 (11:03 1st)

Spartans throw interception on opening drive

Michigan has won the toss, and will defer to the second half.

The Spartans start their opening drive at the 25.

Payton Thorne gets the ball to Jalen Nailor in open space on the first play, and Nailor gets to the 41 for a gain of 16.

Kenneth Walker rushes for 8, then 7, to move Michigan State into enemy territory at the 44, where it'll take over first-and-10.

Tyler Hunt hauls in a 3-yard pass on first down and Walker rushes for 2 more on second down. It's third-and-5. 

Thorne winds up for a deep shot to double coverage, and it's picked off by R.J. Moten at the 2-yard-line. That's the first huge play of this game.

Michigan 0, Michigan State 0 (12:38 1st)

Pregame

Michigan comes into Saturday's showdown fresh off a 33-7 over Northwestern last week — in a potential letdown spot — and is led by the backfield of Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum. Michigan touts the nation's 10th-ranked defense, and that'll be put to the test when it rolls into East Lansing.

Michigan State's explosive offense is led by Heisman contender Kenneth Walker III at running back and Jayden Reed at wide receiver, but perhaps nobody on the Spartan sideline is more beloved — and important — than head coach Mel Tucker, who's looking to keep Michigan State's momentum rolling through the banks of the Red Cedar.

No. 6 Michigan at No. 8 Michigan State

► Kickoff: Noon Saturday, Spartan Stadium, East Lansing

► TV/radio: Fox/950, 760, 104.3

► Records: UM 7-0, 4-0 Big Ten; MSU 7-0, 4-0

► Line: Michigan by 4

► Series: Michigan leads 71-37-5

► Last meeting: Michigan State 27-24 (Oct. 31, 2020)