Champaign, Ill. – To say Michigan State was a long shot on Saturday would be generous.
Down eight players because of suspension and a handful more because of injury, the Spartans were facing No. 16 Illinois at Memorial Stadium with no momentum, the home team sitting atop the Big Ten West.
Instead of crumbling though, Michigan State responded with arguably its most spirited effort of the season, upsetting Illinois, 23-15, in front of 56,092 stunned Fighting Illini fans.
The Michigan State defense, a unit that has struggled all season and was down three starters, didn’t allow Illinois to convert any of its first five fourth-down chances, including two in the fourth quarter, to secure the victory and send the Spartans (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten) into the final three games of the season with a realistic shot at reaching a bowl game.