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Key play
The Spartans were in position to go for the win after Brandon Denson appeared to force Minnesota tight end Nick Tow-Arnett to fumble into the hands of MSU's Chris L. Rucker. But replay officials said Tow-Arnett never had control. Minnesota got the ball back and got a 59-yard touchdown on the next play, with a pass bouncing off Tow-Arnett and into the hands of teammate Duane Bennett, who raced into the end zone untouched.
Unsung hero
MSU's defense looked a step slow for most of the evening, but that was not true of junior defensive end Colin Neely. Neely continues to quietly handle his blockers and make plays in the backfield. On a key series in the third quarter, Neely blasted in and stopped a running play for a loss of seven, then combined with Blake Treadwell for a sack on the next play. Neely wasn't the problem Saturday.
Quotable
"We beat a really good Michigan State football team without our best player. And I think that says something about our team."
Minnesota coach Tim Brewster
What's next
MSU returns home for its next-to-last game at Spartan Stadium this season, a nonleague matchup with Western Michigan (noon, Big Ten Network). The Spartans will try to avoid going 0-2 against the Mid-American Conference against the Broncos, who are 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the MAC after Saturday's 26-14 loss at Kent State. MSU lost to Central Michigan on Sept. 12. MSU leads the all-time series with WMU 8-2, losing in 1917 and 1919.
