Rutgers football vs. Michigan State: Score, live updates as Scarlet Knights aim for 5th win
PISCATAWAY − When Rutgers football played Michigan State last season in East Lansing, the Scarlet Knights put up one of their best offensive outputs of the season.
The defense, though, was the issue in what became a six-point loss.
Rutgers will need a complete performance today against the Spartans at SHI Stadium − if it has one, it'll win its fifth game of the season and move one win closer to bowl eligibility. Kickoff is 12 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a disappointing and frustrating loss to Wisconsin, while the Spartans had a bye week.
It's unclear who MSU will start at quarterback, whether it'll stick with Noah Kim or go with second-year QB Katin Houser.
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said earlier in the week that the Scarlet Knights will be prepared for both.
It's a big opportunity for the Scarlet Knights.
FINAL: Rutgers 27, Michigan State 24
That was a wild, improbable win for Rutgers, which is now 5-2 and one win from bowl eligibility.
4Q, 8:30: Rutgers TD and it's a whole new game
Wimsatt throws a 4-yard touchodwn pass to Isaiah Washington and Rutgers converts the two-point conversion to cut the Scarlet Knights' deficit to 24-21.
Offense has woken back up. We'll see if Rutgers can pull this off.
4Q, 14:40: Rutgers takes advantage of a big opportunity
Too little, too late?
Might be, but the Scarlet Knights have another touchdown as the Spartans fumble a punt and Aaron Young recovered in the end zone for a TD.
It's now 24-13 Michigan State.
2Q, 3:41: Michigan State scores again
This time it's a four-yard touchdown pass from Houser to Mosley.
24-6 Michigan State.
2Q, 0:05: Michigan State adds to its lead
The Spartans got the ball back after Wimsatt's pass was intercepted by Jaden Mangham.
A pass interference call on Longerbeam helped Michigan State on that drive, and while the Spartans couldn't get into the end zone, they got a 31-yard field goal to make it 17-6 at halftime.
2Q, 1:46: MSU touchdown
Brutal sequence for Rutgers.
Rutgers' defense got a big stop, forcing an MSU punt. But Rashad Rochelle muffed it and the Spartans recovered at the 12. Houser ran it in from there for a touchdown.
14-6 Michigan State.
2Q, 13:21: Jai Patel with a 47-yard field goal
Rutgers cuts its deficit to one. It's 7-6 Michigan State.
Wimsatt hit Ian Strong for a 27-yard pass on the first plat to cross midfield, then later had a big 14-yard pass to Christian Dremel on 2nd-and-11 from the MSU 49.
But Wimsatt later took an 11-yard loss on a sack that helped kill the drive. The Scarlet Knights had to settle for another field goal.
1Q, 2:52: Rutgers is on the board
The drive started with Gavin Wimsatt hitting Christian Dremel over the middle for a 29-yard pass. Rutgers got down to the four, but Wimsatt's pass on third-and-goal was incomplete, forcing the Scarlet Knights to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Jai Patel.
7-3 Michigan State.
1Q, 7:32: Strong opening drive for Michigan State
Michigan State caps a 75-yard scoring drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Katin Houser to Montorie Foster Jr. The drive chewed 7:28 off the clock.
Houser was 4-of-4 for 42 yards on the drive.
7-0 Spartans.
Can Rutgers respond?
Rutgers availability report
Nothing surprising this week.
Here's who is OUT:
WR Chris Long
WR Naseim Brantley
DB Bo Mascoe
DB Carnell Davis
DB Kessawn Abraham
OL Tyler Needham
OL Joe De Croce
DL Rene Konga
Follow along here for updates during the game.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: RU football vs. Michigan State: Score, live updates
