Pass-happy Purdue upsets No. 3 Michigan State
A week after rallying late to beat previously unbeaten Michigan, No. 3 Michigan State suffered its first loss of the season Saturday, falling 40-29 at Purdue.
It was the second time this season the Boilermakers (6-3, 4-2) upset a top-three team; they beat then-No. 2 Iowa 24-7 a week after the Hawkeyes had beaten previously unbeaten Penn State.
The Spartans’ loss leaves Ohio State alone in first place in the Big Ten East; Michigan State and Michigan each have one league loss. Purdue, meanwhile, is tied in the loss column for the Big Ten West lead. But the Boilermakers have lost to Minnesota and Wisconsin, who also are tied for first, meaning division title hopes are somewhat of a long shot. Plus, the Boilermakers play at Ohio State next week.
Perhaps the key stretch came about five minutes into the fourth quarter. Trailing 34-21, Michigan State (8-1, 5-1) faced a third-and-4 from Purdue’s 8. Instead of relying on star running back Kenneth Walker III, the Spartans threw. Incomplete. Payton Thorne threw again on fourth down, and it was picked off at the 1.
Michigan State’s pass defense has been shaky all season — the Spartans came in allowing 300.5 passing yards per game, 127th in the nation — and Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell took advantage; he was 40-of-54 for 536 yards and three touchdowns. David Bell was his favorite receiver, with 11 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown. It was Bell’s school-record 15th 100-yard game; he has played 26 career games for the Boilermakers.
Those two also torched Iowa; O’Connell was 30-of-40 for 375 yards and two scores against the Hawkeyes, with Bell catching 11 passes for 240 yards and a score.
Bad news for Michigan State is that the next two teams on its schedule, Maryland and Ohio State, went into the weekend second and first, respectively, in the Big Ten in passing offense.
Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III, a leading Heisman contender, had his sixth 100-yard outing of the season, with 23 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown.
The Spartans played without two offensive starters, wide receiver Jalen Nailor and left tackle Jarrett Horst.