Indiana Wins Ninth Straight Game, Defeats Michigan State

© Nick King/Lansing State Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten Conference) routed the Michigan State Spartans (4-5, 2-4) 47-10 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich. Indiana has not won nine games since 1967. What else happened that year? The first Super Bowl was played, McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac and Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the Governor of California. 

Now back to East Lansing. The Hoosiers dominated after trailing at the end of the first quarter, but Indiana rallied to put the Spartans away in the second half. It was a tough start for the Hoosiers' offense that stalled out on just three plays in their first two drives. Indiana gained only 52 yards on offense. Michigan State took a 10-0 lead after Aidan Chiles hit Nick Marsh for an 18-yard touchdown pass.

It appeared Spartans fans could be in for a possible upset at home, but then head coach Curt Cignetti’s offense woke up in the second quarter. Indiana outscored Michigan State 21-0 and Kurtis Rourke, who was injured in last week’s win over the Washington Huskies, threw two TD passes in the first half and threw another two in the second half. The Ohio transfer has 19 TD passes this season and has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the Big Ten.

Indiana Takes Command

Then a wacky play to begin the second half handed all momentum to the Hoosiers after a blocked punt resulted in a safety to make the score 23-10 and the rout was on from there.

The following possession for the Hoosiers ended in an 18-yard TD pass to Myles Price. The Hoosiers’ defense, which has been given more publicity recently, held the Spartans to just 205 total yards and forced two turnovers.

© Nick King/Lansing State Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

What's Next?

College football’s biggest surprise this season will attempt to pump up its College Football Playoff resume in the next two weeks at home against Michigan and then a road matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Horseshoe. 

For Michigan State, they’ll look to get back in the win column and more importantly get back to .500 in two weeks against the Illinois Fighting Illini on the road.