Michigan State football fumbles game away in ugly 27-24 loss to Rutgers: How it happened

Michigan State football was on the road Saturday afternoon against Rutgers, and squandered an 18-point fourth quarter lead to lose 27-24 and fall to 2-4.

The game kicked off at noon from Piscataway, New Jersey at SHI Stadium, with Rutgers a 4.5-point home favorite.

MSU redshirt freshman quarterback Katin Houser made his first career start and provided a spark to the team for the first three quarters.

But the Spartans' special teams made two huge mistakes to ignite Rutgers' sudden comeback.

Here's how it happened:

GRAHAM COUCH: Reacting to MSU's brutal loss at Rutgers and the starting debut of Katin Houser

Michigan State vs. Rutgers updates, highlights

Final: MSU falls apart late in 27-24 loss to Rutgers

Michigan State collapsed in all three phases to lose an 18-point fourth quarter lead in the 27-24 loss to Rutgers on the road.

Michigan State led 24-6 at the start of the final quarter thanks to three total touchdowns from new starting quarterback Katin Houser, but gave up three touchdowns in just over four minutes to lose the lead. It started when punter Michael O’Shaughnessy fumbled a snap which was recovered by Rutgers in the endzone for a touchdown.

MSU punted quickly and Rutgers ran all over the Spartan defense for another quick touchdown to cut the lead to 24-21 with 8:30 left. MSU was in complete meltdown mode at that point and made another colossal mistake on the ensuing kickoff, when Tyrell Henry did not catch the kick and Rutgers recovered the live ball. Rutgers scored on the next play to take the lead for good.

The litany of mental errors outweighed any positive progress the Spartans made on the day. MSU turned the ball over four times including the botched kickoff and did not pick up a first down in the fourth quarter on top of failing to stop Rutgers offense in the comeback.

Houser was 18-for-29 passing for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and scored a rushing touchdown in his first collegiate start. Chance Rucker and Jaden Mangham both had interceptions to help MSU build the a big lead before the collapse.

MSU falls to 2-4 on the year and 0-3 in the Big Ten. MSU is in action next Saturday at home against rival Michigan (7:30 p.m., NBC).

8:21, fourth quarter: Rutgers takes lead immediately after kickoff gaffe

The wheels have completely fallen off for Michigan State in the final quarter. Tyrell Henry did not signal for a fair catch or field the short kickoff after the touchdown and Rutgers recovered to regain possession. Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai ran it 21 yards the play after the fumble for the touchdown to take the lead. Rutgers scored 21 points in a four-minute span to regain the lead.

8:30, fourth quarter: Rutgers scores touchdown, MSU lead down to 3

The 18-point lead Michigan State had at the start of the fourth quarter fell apart immediately. Michigan State punted immediately after the gaffe that led to the touchdown and Rutgers capitalized again.

Gavin Wimsatt led his first touchdown drive of the day and finished it with over-the-top touch pass to Isaiah Washington for the score. Rutgers converted the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to a field goal margin.

14:40, fourth quarter: Rutgers scores on fumbled snap on punt

The penalty issues directly led to a touchdown surrendered for Michigan State again this week. Michigan State had to re-punt after an illegal formation penalty and punter Michael O'Shaughnessy had trouble with the snap. The fumbled ball squirted into the end zone and Rutgers recovered for the touchdown to trim the Spartans' lead to 11.

3:41, third quarter: Houser finds Tre Mosley for third touchdown

Katin Houser is having quite the debut at quarterback. The redshirt freshman manufactured another 14-play drive that lasted over six minutes in heavy rain and finished it off with a touchdown pass to Tre Mosley to make it 24-6. Houser patiently waited and went through his progressions before finding an open Mosley on a crossing route. Jalen Berger and Nathan Carter both had big runs in Rutgers territory to set up the touchdown.

Halftime: Michigan State leads Rutgers 17-6

MSU kicker Jonathan Kim hit a 37-yard field goal to extend the lead to two scores going into the break. But both teams will want to put parts of the first half in the rearview mirror. There were five turnovers, three for Rutgers and two for Michigan State, and nine penalties for almost 100 yards combined in the rain-drenched and dreary first half.

MSU came out on top thanks to two touchdowns from new starting quarterback Katin Houser. Houser led the offense down the field on a long opening drive that finished with a nice touchdown pass to Montorie Foster on a post. His second touchdown was came on the ground through a quarterback draw after Rutgers muffed a punt inside its own red zone. MSU would have had more success offensively if it weren't for two fumbles from wide receivers.

Rutgers has been able to move the ball into Michigan State territory when it isn't throwing the ball to the wrong team, but they can't crack MSU's defense to find the end zone. Rutgers has 158 yards but settled for three field goals and made two of them.

1:33, second quarter: Jaden Mangham snags interception

There have now been five total turnovers in the half. Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt overthrew a receiver at the start of the two-minute drill directly to MSU safety Jaden Mangham for the interception. MSU will have one final chance to score before the half.

1:46, second quarter: Katin Houser rushes for second touchdown

The sloppy game got even sloppier. Michigan State had to punt after penalties were too much to overcome after the interception. On the ensuing punt, Rutgers muffed the catch and MSU recovered at the 12-yard line. The next play, Houser took a quarterback draw to the endzone for an 8-point lead and his second career rushing touchdown.

2:36, second quarter: Chance Rucker records first career interception

The play is starting to match the dreary, rainy weather in New Jersey. Immediately after the fumble, Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt just missed on a slant and it was tipped into the hands of true freshman cornerback Chance Rucker for his first career takeaway. Rucker returned it to the Rutgers 35 but a blindside block put MSU back at the 50.

4:01, second quarter: Rutgers forces fumble

If you need evidence of karma in college football, look at the last sequence of this game. Michigan State was stuffed on fourth down at the Rutgers' 40-yard line but Tyreem Powell was called for targeting for his hard hit on Nathan Carter on the stop.

The very next play, Houser found Montorie Foster on a crossing route but he was leveled and fumbled the ball and Rutgers recovered.

6:24, second quarter: Rutgers misses field goal

The fumble did not come back to bite MSU. Rutgers only managed one first down to reach MSU's 35 before having to settle for a field goal. Greg Schiano put his kickoff specialist Jude McAtamney in to attempt it instead of Jai Patel, who made the first two kicks. McAtamney hooked the 53-yard attempt badly to give MSU the ball back in good field position.

9:27, second quarter: MSU drive ends on Alante Brown fumble

Michigan State moved the ball out near midfield on its third drive thanks to a roughing the passer penalty but the drive ended there. Katin Houser hit Alante Brown on a short crossing route but couldn't maintain his possession through the punching from Rutgers' defenders. Rutgers jumped on the fumble and returned it to MSU's side of the 50. It was Michigan State's 13th turnover through five games and one half.

13:21, second quarter: Rutgers adds another field goal

Michigan State could not continue the magic on its second drive and had to punt. Rutgers hit another big pass on play-action to start the drive and reach MSU's side of the 50. MSU's defense tightened up after the shot and forced Rutgers to settle for a 47-yard field goal. Rutgers kicker Jai Patel split the uprights to cut MSU's lead to one.

2:52, first quarter: Rutgers responds with a field goal

Rutgers was unfazed by MSU's first opening drive touchdown of the season. Scarlet Knights quarterback Gavin Wimsatt hit a 29-yard pass to start the drive and Rutgers was in the red zone a few plays later. MSU stood strong inside its own 10 to force a field goal and maintain the early lead.

7:32, first quarter: Katin Houser throws first career TD on opening drive

Katin Houser had a perfect start in his first drive as the starter. Houser and Nathan Carter moved the offense into the red zone with time-consuming runs, which set up the redshirt freshman to throw the first touchdown of his career.

Houser found Montorie Foster on a post between the safety and cornerback in zone coverage for the 13-yard touchdown and early lead. He finished the drive 4-4 for 42 yards and the score, and also converted a fourth down with a run on a zone read run after recovering his own fumble. Michigan State's drive was 14 plays and lasted over seven minutes.

Pregame notes

The Spartans had last week off after the last-minute defeat to Iowa two weeks ago. The time off allowed interim head coach Harlon Barnett and the coaching staff revisit the issues that led to three straight losses and let new players get snaps.

Barnett said the bye week came at the perfect time to reset and put the focus on the rest of the season instead of the past month. MSU went 0-3 after former head coach Mel Tucker was suspended, then fired, for alleged sexual misconduct with a former school vendor. The time off allowed coaches and players to fully process what happened and refocus on football.

Houser will start at quarterback because of the offense's lack of production with Noah Kim at quarterback, and his struggles protecting the ball against Maryland and Iowa. MSU is averaging only 21.6 points per game on the season and 10.7 points during the three-game losing streak.

Rutgers’ defense will be a formidable test. The Scarlet Knights only surrender an average of 14.7 points and 165.5 passing yards per game.

Linebacker Darius Snow, one of the vocal leaders on defense, will also be playing a bigger role as he continues to return from the significant leg injury that kept him out nearly all of 2022 and the start of 2023.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football fumbles game away vs. Rutgers: How it happened