Replay: No. 7 Michigan State defeats Maryland, 40-21, to set up Ohio State showdown

The Michigan State football was riding an emotional wave of positivity after beating Michigan two weekends ago.

But last weekend, the Spartans ran into an inspired Purdue team, led by junior quarterback Aidan O'Connell, who threw for 536 yards as the Boilermakers came away with a 40-29 win.

A Big Ten East title and College Football Playoff berth are still within grasp for MSU, though. The Spartans have to beat today's opponent, Maryland, to have a chance a both. Follow along for updates throughout this afternoon's contest.

Fourth Quarter

FINAL: Michigan State 40, Maryland 21

Michigan State moves to 9-1 overall, and 6-1 in the Big Ten, with the win.

Payton Thorne was 22 of 31 for 287 yards and four touchdowns. Kenneth Walker ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. Jayden Reed had 8 receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns, and Tre Mosley had four catches for 52 yards.

Up next: Ohio State in Columbus. Gonna be a big one.

Playing out the string

Both teams have traded possessions as the clock ticks down toward the end of the game. Michigan State 40, Maryland 21, 5:18 4Q.

Walker scores second TD to extend MSU lead

Maryland is gonna be thinking about all its missed chances in the third quarter.

After the Spartans got a stop defensively on fourth down, Kenneth Walker had a big drive, rushing five times for 48 yards- capping off the drive with a 3-yard score.

Walker cleared the 100-yard mark during the drive on a 36-yard run, and now has 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Michigan State 40, Maryland 21

Third Quarter

End Third Quarter: MSU 34, Maryland 21

Maryland will have second-and-1 at the MSU 45-yard line when play resumes. MSU recovered a Taulia Tagovailoa fumble two plays ago, but he was ruled down.

Before the third quarter ended, the MSU defense lost another player when defensive lineman Maverick Hansen was ejected for throwing a punch after he got tangled up with a Martland lineman.

Timely blitz, Maryland error lead to Terps' missed FG

Welp, it might be time to worry.

Michigan State turned the ball over on its ensuing possession, as tight end Tyler Hunt got the ball poked away and was recovered by the Terrapins on the MSU 28-yard line.

Maryland eventually had first-and-goal at the 2, but the Spartan defense held its ground. And, on third down from 5, Taulia Tagovailoa was whistled for intentional grounding all the way back at the 23-yard line, which is a spot foul penalty.

And Maryland proceeded to miss the 40-yard field goal, wide right by a country mile. Spartans hold. Michigan State 34, Maryland 21, 5:37 3Q

No rest for MSU as Maryland scores again

Welp.

Maryland just scored its second touchdown that took less than a minute off the clock. Taulia Tagovailoa hit Chigoziem Okonkwo for a 32-yard touchdown - the exact same distance they hooked up on earlier for a Terrapin score.

That Maryland drive went 64 yards on only three plays. Tagovailoa is currently 17 of 29 for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Michigan State 34, Maryland 21, 8:33 3Q.

MSU takes advantage of turnover, Thorne-to-Reed TD again

Michigan State takes advantage of the Noah Harvey interception.

The Spartans marched 64 yards in eight plays, scoring a third-down pass from Payton Thorne to Jayden Reed for a 3-yard TD. That's the second TD for Reed, who now has 83 yards receiving. Michigan State 34, Maryland 14, 9:37 3Q

Noah Harvey redeems himself

Just one play after MSU linebacker Noah Harvey was called for pass interference, Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa threw a killer interception.

I'm not sure what was Tagovailoa saw there because Harvey was standing directly in the path of the pass and Harvey had the easy pick that he returned to near midfield. Michigan State 27, Maryland 14, 12:51 2Q.

Second Quarter

Halftime: Michigan State 27, Maryland 14

Kenneth Walker III has been held to 45 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, but Michigan State's passing game has been more than efficient this afternoon. Payton Thorne is 17 of 23passing for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

MSU had a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the second half that was picked off and returned to near midfield, but Thorne made the potential touchdown-saving tack

Maryland quickly scores TD

Whatever MSU's defense was doing there, it wasn't great. Maryland needed less than a minute to grab a touchdown, as Taulia Tagovailoa hit Chigoziem Okonkwo for a 32-yard touchdown. The Terps went 4 plays, 80 yards, and Tagovailoa was 4-for-4 on the drive. Michigan State 27, Maryland 14, 0:56 2Q.

Another long drive ends in MSU TD

Michigan State's last scoring drive was 13 plays, and this latest one went 12 plays and 64 yards, capped off by Heisman Trophy candidate Kenneth Walker III, who plunged in from a yard out. Walker only has 45 yards on 16 carries, but the Spartans are rolling. Michigan State 27, Maryland 7, 1:42 2Q.

13-play drive ends with MSU TD

On third-and-goal from the 2-yard line, MSU got a little fancy. After four straight runs, Thorne faked play action to the left, came back to his right and hit Connor Heyward in the flay for a 2-yard touchdown. Matt Coghlin was back in to take the extra point, and he made it. Michigan State 20, Maryland 7, 8:11 2Q.

First Quarter

Impressive Maryland drive gets Terps on the board

Maryland is finally on the board, as Michigan native Peny Boone capped off a seven-play 76-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown.

The key play in the drive came courtesy of Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa, who rumbled 45 yards around left end to get the Terrapins inside the 10-yard line.

We're also at the end of the first quarter. Michigan State 13, Maryland 7

Thorne drops it in the bucket to Reed for TD

Pretty nice pass by Payton Thorne. Two plays after Kenneth Walker ripped off a 21-yard run, Thorne hit his main target, Jayden Reed, on a deep route down the left sideline for a 29-yard touchdown.

Thorne dropped it right in the bucket behind a pair of Maryland defenders as Reed caught it in the end zone. Stephen Rusnak missed the extra point. Michigan State 13, Maryland 0, 6:51 1Q

MSU, Maryland trade punts

One thing to note: MSU freshman WR Keon Coleman came in for Jayden Reed on the second drive. Hopefully, we'll see more of the Louisiana native this afternoon.

LOL MSU hits flea flicker again

Hey, opposing defenses facing MSU - you've got to plan for the flea flicker. It is a core play of MSU offense.

But it still caught Maryland off-guard, as Kenneth Walker flipped the ball back to QB Payton Thorne. Thorne then found a wide-open Montorie Foster for a 52-yard touchdown.

That's the fourth time this season the Spartans have scored on a flea flicker. That's got to be an NCAA record, right?

Michigan State 7, Maryland 0, 13:43 1Q.

Pregame

Full list of MSU players out for Maryland game

These come from Matt Charboneau of MLive:

CB Charles Brantley, LB Quavaris Crouch, WR Jalen Nailor, LT Jarrett Horst, OL Matt Carrick and DT Simeon Barrow.

MSU key players missing in pregame

Based on a few tweets from MSU beat writers, at least three starters are not participating in pre-game warmups.

On offense, left tackle Jarrett Horst appears to be out. On defense, there has been no sign of CB Charles Brantley or LB Quavaris Crouch. Brantly isn't a surprise, as there have been rumors that he's out for the rest of the season, but nothing is official in that regard. But a potential Crouch injury is new information.

Kicker Matt Coghlin, who missed last week's loss to Purdue, participated in pre-game warmups, but both he and Stephen Rusnak were kicking.

Pregame Reading Material

A selection of stories to check out for MSU's game Saturday vs. Maryland.

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Contact digital sports reporter Phil Friend at 517-377-1220 or pfriend@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State vs. Maryland football: Score, live updates