EAST LANSING — A screen pass to Alante Thomas. Minus-6 yards.
A drop back by Brian Lewerke ... sack. Minus-4 yards.
A holding penalty on a Lewerke scramble under duress. Minus-5 yards.
An attempted screen pass from in Michigan State’s own end zone. Incomplete.
That fourth-quarter drive, which came after a missed Northwestern field-goal attempt, summed up the problems on offense for the 19th-ranked Spartans on Saturday.
MSU got another chance, and more problems forced a turnover on downs at its own 11-yard line. The Wildcats took advantage for a 29-19 victory, delivering the Spartans a crushing defeat to its preseason goals of a Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff berth.