Overview
- Michigan State rallied from a large deficit but lost 38-37 when a two-point conversion call in overtime failed on Saturday, Oct. 10, ending the game instead of forcing a second extra period.
- A surprise onside kick that Samson Gash appeared to recover was wiped out by an offside flag that replay could not overturn, a non-reviewable penalty Fitzgerald said cost the Spartans possession.
- Television clips showed Fitzgerald making a middle-finger gesture on the sideline during the fourth-quarter sequence, and he later apologized to his team while saying he will not apologize for fighting for his players.
- The defeat dropped MSU to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten play as the roster battles multiple injuries that forced freshmen and depth players into key defensive roles during the comeback.
- Michigan State will host Northwestern on Oct. 17 in a game that features Fitzgerald facing his former program and Aidan Chiles returning as Northwestern’s starting quarterback, a matchup that adds emotional weight and immediate roster implications.