EAST LANSING, Mich. – Jeremy Langford rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns to power the host Spartans to their sixth consecutive victory.
View: Boxscore
Recommended Videos
Connor Cook threw for 227 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-22 as Michigan State (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) set up a first-place showdown in the conference with 12th-ranked Ohio State in two weeks. Tony Lippett had three receptions and a 70-yard touchdown for the Spartans, who continued their domination in the series by beating the Wolverines for the sixth time in seven meetings.
Devin Gardner was intercepted twice and threw for 121 yards as Michigan (3-5, 1-3) was limited to 186 total yards en route to its fourth loss in five games. The Wolverines finally got in the end zone on De'Veon Smith's 1-yard run with 4:43 to play - their first touchdown in 12 quarters against Michigan State.
After Michigan won the coin toss and deferred, the Spartans drove 75 yards in eight plays culminating in Langford's 2-yard run up the middle. Matt Wile connected from 48 yards out with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half to cut the deficit to 7-3, but Langford plowed in from the 1 with 21 seconds left in the half for an 11-point edge.
Michigan State broke the game open with two touchdowns in a span of 2:16 midway through the third quarter. RJ Williamson picked off a floater by Gardner and raced 29 yards down the left sideline for a score before Cook connected with Lippett on a 70-yard scoring strike down the right sideline to make it 28-3 with 6:17 left in the third.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Langford registered his 11th straight 100-yard game in Big Ten regular-season play, matching the conference record set by Penn State's Curtis Enis in 1996-97. ... Lippett went over 100 yards for the fourth consecutive game and sixth time this season with his conference-leading ninth TD reception while Michigan WR Devin Funchess had five catches for 64 yards, giving him at least one reception in 21 straight games. ... Michigan State's Chris Frey was ejected in the first quarter for targeting following a helmet-to-helmet hit on Amara Darboh on a punt return.