I am live from Evanston, IL, today as the Northwestern Wildcats (5-1, 1-1) play host to the Michigan State Spartans (7-0, 3-0) in a Big Ten tilt at Ryan Field. For my preview of the game from Friday afternoon at the National Football Post, click here.
It’s a drizzly, gloomy day here — perfect for football. Actually quite pleasant in terms of temperature, though. Should stay in the mid-60's for this contest.
Stay with the NFP all throughout the game as I will be keeping you up to date on all the action.
START OF GAME
MSU ball: NU kicks off and the ball goes through the end zone. On the first play from scrimmage for MSU, Edwin Baker rips off a nice run but it is called back for holding.
Le'Veon Bell stopped on third and short, forcing the Spartans to punt.
NU ball: The Wildcats continue to have problems with penalties. Nice run by Persa called back. Wildcats punt.
MSU ball: The 'Cats look like they may be ready to contain this MSU rushing attack. Spartans punt again.
NU ball: Persa is continually on the run. Spartans are getting good pressure from the front four. Good thing No. 7 can run. Persa to a wide-open Sidney Stewart for a 20-yard gain. Two plays later, Persa hooks up on a 44-yard pass with Rashad Lawrence. Great grab. 'Cats are going hurry-up offense.
TD -- Northwestern. 10 plays, 72 yards. 3:35. Persa with a 3-yd QB keeper up the middle.
MSU ball: Baker fumbles after breaking through a tackle. NU recovers at own 47-yard line.
NU ball: Some trickery from the 'Cats. A 28-yard HB pass to Stewart. After driving down the field, though, Schmidt fumbles on the MSU 1-yard line.
MSU ball: The 'Cats force the Spartans to punt after they are unable to move the ball deep in their own territory.
NU ball: End of the first quarter here in Evanston. 7-0 'Cats.
FG -- Northwestern. 37-yarder by Demos. 10 plays, 19 yards. 3:31 on the drive. Also, NU RB Schmidt doubtful for return with an ankle injury.
MSU ball: The Spartans on the move down 10-0. Down to the NU 32-yard line. Kirk Cousins to Keith Nichol for a gain of 10 on third down.
Overall, NU playing some really tight defense. Getting some pressure consistently and getting hands on the ball in the passing game before it gets to the receiver.
MSU MISSED 38-yard FG by Conroy. Score remains 10-0 NU.
NU ball: NU is having no problem moving the ball right now. Already down to the MSU 10-yard line. A 46-yard pass to Ebert. A 22-yard TD rush by Persa.
TD -- Northwestern. 6 plays, 79 yards. 2:35. Persa with a 1-yd QB keeper. 17-0 NU. Wow.
MSU ball: MSU is on the move. The Spartans are a desperate team right now. WRs Cunningham and Dell the usual suspects through the air.
TD -- Michigan State. 8 plays, 68 yards. 3:18. Dell with a 7-yd TD reception. 17-7 NU.
NU ball: The Wildcats punt it away. They do not want to have the Spartans drive down the field right here.
MSU ball: And the Spartans go nowhere. They punt it away to the 'Cats. Halftime in Evanston.
And the sun has made an appearance in Evanston. Very intriguing second half in store. Did the Spartans look past the Wildcats toward next week and the Hawkeyes in Iowa City?
Second half, 17-7 NU leads.
NU ball: False start turns a 3rd and 7 into a 3rd and 12. NU forced to punt it away.
MSU ball: Cousins down the field to Cunningham for a 27-yard gain. And now Fowler goes in pretty much untouched for a 22-yard TD.
TD -- Michigan State. 3 plays, 48 yards. 1:20. 17-14 NU.
NU ball: And the tide has turned in this one. The Spartans force the Wildcats to punt. They take over at their own 42-yard line.
MSU ball: Big stop on 3rd and 9. Spartans to punt.
NU ball: On 3rd and 4, Persa keeps it and gets the first down with the 'Cats in 5-wide. On 3rd and 6, Persa scrambles again and picks up a gutsy first down. NU channeling its inner Oregon with the up-tempo pace.
Persa is just a one-man machine on the ground. 24-14 'Cats.
TD -- Northwestern. 15 plays, 80 yards. 5:22. 6-yd TD rush by Persa.
MSU ball: The crowd is back into this one. But the Spartans still manage to convert on 3rd and 7. Cousins hooks up with Nichol.
End of the third quarter. MSU has the ball on NU's 35-yard line. First and 10 after the timeout.
On 3rd and 10, Spartans go underneath and come up well short. Timeout called as they line up for the fourth-down conversion try. Spartans now take delay of game penalty after the timeout. Wow. Fake punt successful. On very next play, Cousins hits Dell for the touchdown.
TD -- Michigan State. 11 plays, 75 yards. 4:38. 13-yd TD catch by Dell. 24-21 NU. 13:05 left in the game.
NU ball: HUGE 3rd and 10 for the 'Cats. And Persa finds Charles Brown for a 28-yard gain, and follows it up with a big 15-yard run. But back-to-back sacks push the 'Cats back. And they settle for 3.
FG -- NU. 8 plays, 33 yards. 3:25. 27-21 NU. 9:47 left in the game.
MSU ball: Incomplete pass on 3rd and 2. Davie with the QB hurry. Spartans to punt, and it's not a very good one. 'Cats at midfield. Great field position.
NU ball: Quick three and out for the 'Cats.
Something tells me this is going to be a 28-27 Spartans win, with Demos missing a FG at the end for NU. Just saying.
MSU ball: The Spartans are keeping it in the air, and why not? Dell, Nichol and Cunningham are very good options in the passing game. 5:28 left.
MSU recovers its own fumble after a sack of Cousins, and then Nichol comes up just short of the first. Fourth and 1. Shotgun, and Cousins hits his tight end for the first. Wow.
Chalk up another first. And then Cunningham just makes an unbelievably good grab for the score. The Spartans now have a one-point lead.
NU ball: The 'Cats have two minutes here to get a GW FG. And a 15-yard facemask penalty on NU. Horrendous. Penalties continue to kill this team, just like against Purdue.
3rd and 12 with 1:36 left. Overthrown passes on third and fourth downs, and MSU takes over.
It looks like the Spartans are going to win this game and remain unbeaten after Baker takes it in from 25 yards out. A 3-play, 31-yard, :19 scoring drive.
The Wildcats will have 1:02 to drive 68 yards with 0 timeouts. MSU leads 35-27.
And an interception will end this ballgame. Final score: Michigan State 35, Northwestern 27.
I'll post some notes from today's game, along with thoughts from the other contests across the country, Sunday here at the NFP.
Have a college football question? Send me an email at dave.miller@nationalfootballpost.com. Or follow me on Twitter at Miller_Dave