Indiana Drops Contest with No. 10/9 Michigan State

Saturday, October 16

Bloomington, Ind.

12:00 PM

Indiana University

2-4 , 0-3

#10/9 Michigan State

7-0 , 4-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan St.

Indiana

Indiana Drops Contest with No. 10/9 Michigan State

10/16/2021 4:00:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes ---WATCH | Tom Allen Postgame Press Conference WATCH | Stephen Carr Postgame Press Conference WATCH | Devon Matthews Postgame Press Conference WATCH | Micah McFadden Postgame Press Conference WATCH | Jack Tuttle Postgame Press Conference

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Opportunity was there at sun-splashed Memorial Stadium.

That it was lost, that a marquee victory over a Top-10 team became a 20-15 heartbreaking defeat to No. 10/9 Michigan State Saturday afternoon, left a frustrated head coach Tom Allen demanding answers that refuse to come.

"It's about making key plays at critical times," he said.

"We have to execute at a high level at critical times. We have to coach them better. Do a better job of putting them in the right position, and they have to make plays."

Running back Stephen Carr was more direct.

"We have to finish, period, point blank."

IU's 2-4 record, 0-3 in the Big Ten, is a big blow given all the preseason optimism.

"The buck stops with me," Allen said. "I'm the head coach. The kids played hard. They've got to execute better."

And then …

"We've got to find a way to win games."

In so many ways, IU did against a 7-0 Michigan State squad positioned to win a Big Ten title.

The Hoosiers had advantages in first downs (24-14), rushing yards (134-100), passing yards (188-141), and time of possession (33:30 to 26:30). Their defense, even without injured All-America cornerback Taiwan Mullen, stripped the big play from one of the Big Ten's most explosive offenses. It made the Spartans look offensively irrelevant.

It wasn't enough.

"The defense did everything we wanted them to do except score," Allen said.

And then …

"The kids played hard," Allen added. "The defense played awesome. It's disappointing without question."

The Hoosiers had three turnovers to Michigan State's two, and gave up a pick-6 that was a backbreaker for an offense that lacks big-play consistency. Three red zone trips resulted in 13 points when 21 was within reach.

"We have to keep evaluating why we can't execute in critical situations," Allen said. "We continue having the same issues. We can't finish in the red zone. We're moving the ball, but we're not getting the touchdowns. We give up a pick-6, which can't happen.

"Protecting the ball is a glaring thing. We're not protecting it and we're not scoring. That's a double whammy. We've got to make plays."

The defense certainly did, but more is needed.

"We are capable (of more)," linebacker Micah McFadden said. "We've got to win the turnover battle. We didn't. We have to continue to do our jobs and continue flying to the ball."

Added safety Devon Matthews: "We have to keep it up. Do our thing. Hope the offense gets it together. Get it all as one."

Want to know why McFadden is an All-American? Consider the two-yard-for-loss tackle he had on Michigan State's 5-10, 210-pound running back Kenneth Walker III, who had pounded out a nation's best 913 rushing yards entering the game with a pair of 200-yard efforts.

That tackle forced a three-and-out on the game's opening possession.

Then there was McFadden's crucial fourth-quarter sack to force the Spartans' seventh punt.

He finished with nine tackles, 2.5 for loss, with a pass breakup.

"Micah was everywhere," Allen said. "He played hard. He always does."

Quarterback Jack Tuttle, in his first start of the season in replacing injured Michael Penix Jr., was 28-for-52 for 188 yards and two interceptions.

"He did some good things," Allen said. "The (second) pick he got hit on. The pick 6 was a bad read. You can't get those back."

Tuttle took "full responsibility" for the interceptions. Michigan State's defensive pressure and poor technique were main factors.

"Some throws were inaccurate," he said. "That's on me. I have to set my feet. Just do it.

"I was comfortable for the most part. They threw some pressures we hadn't seen, which is normal. I have to move around. Take care of it. Take a sack if I get pressure. Throw it away."

Carr rushed for a team-high 53 yards and had a team-leading eight catches for 43 yards.

Last year, IU receivers thrived in making the tough catch, in winning the 50-50 balls.

This year, not so much, and Allen has seen enough.

"Guys have to step up and make a play. Come down with the ball. We work on that. We go Ones on Ones in practice for that purpose. I am frustrated by that. It needs to get fixed. Today. We have to dig deeper, work harder."

The Hoosiers' defense was instantly dominant.

In the first quarter, Michigan State totaled 25 yards on 12 plays. Walker had just 18 on seven carries.

The Hoosiers, by comparison, had 89 total yards on 21 first-quarter plays.

By halftime, the Spartans had six possessions, six punts, two first downs, and 57 total yards. Their only points came on linebacker Cal Haladay's 30-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Michigan State picked up the second-half offensive pace just enough with a touchdown and two field goals. Walker finished with 84 rushing yards, but needed 23 carries to do it.

"Walker is a great player," Allen said. "We wanted to keep him hemmed in and not give him a chance to get out in space and make guys miss. We had a lot of gang tackling."

Offensively, IU's first nine plays were passes in a no-huddle, up-tempo approach that staggered Michigan State.

After a couple of runs, including one by Carr on a direct snap, the Hoosiers settled for a Charles Campbell field goal and a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Tuttle was 7-for-9 in that drive for 75 yards. Receiver Ty Fryfogle had three catches for 37 yards. Tight end Hendershot had one for 22.

After the Hoosiers forced another punt, Tuttle threw a pick-6 for a 7-3 Michigan State lead.

Campbell added field goals of 44-yard and 25 yards to push IU ahead 9-7 midway through the second quarter. His 55-yard attempt at the end of the first half was wide left.

Michigan State got a 51-yard field goal on its first possession of the second half for a 10-9 lead.

IU safety Josh Sanguinetti's third-quarter interception was negated when Tuttle threw his second under heavy Spartan pressure. That led to a Michigan State touchdown and a 17-9 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Hoosiers finally found a way into the end zone, but it wasn't easy.

First, a Miles Marshall touchdown catch was overturned when a review determined his foot was out of bounds. Then Carr's 9-yard touchdown run was also overturned by review. Carr got a second chance on the next play, and this TD run was good. The Hoosiers' 2-point conversion try failed. They trailed 17-15 with 12:56 left.

Three minutes later, Michigan State added a field goal.

IU had a couple of possessions to win.

It couldn't deliver.

"It hurts," Matthews said. "We'll keep coming back. We have to stay together as a team."

Hoosier veterans will ensure IU does, McFadden added.

"When this happens, we have to stay together. That's when leadership steps up and says what needs to be said."

Stepping up is crucial given Top-10 Ohio State comes Saturday night to what will be a sold-out Memorial Stadium.

"They're hurting," Allen said of his Hoosiers. "There's a lot of character in that locker room. They'll stay together. They'll keep fighting.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves because no one else will.

"You find out who's with you and who has your back. That's what grit is all about. This program is built on grit, but you have to learn to have it at all times. It's not fun developing it."