Michigan State 42, Indiana 29

1234T
MSU (4-1)13149642
IND (2-2)7157029

Final

12:00 PM ET, September 27, 2008
Memorial Stadium
BLOOMINGTON, IN

Ringer helps Michigan State score wild win over Indiana

WERE YOU THERE?
Passport

Did you attend this game? If so, start chronicling your sports memories today with ESPN's Sports Passport. Enter the games you attend, upload your photos and share your memories!
I was there »

Team Stat Comparison
 
1st Downs2319
Total Yards497473
Passing261284
Rushing236189
Penalties5-519-89
3rd Down Conversions4-144-14
4th Down Conversions0-01-1
Turnovers03
Possession34:4725:13
Air/Ground Leaders
Michigan State Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Hoyer14/2626120
Indiana Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Lewis12/2117721
Chappell11/2310701
Michigan State Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Ringer44198133
Cunningham229029
Indiana Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Thigpen9113278
Lewis726012
Michigan State Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Gantt292182
Cunningham241033
Indiana Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Thigpen294179
Belcher473024
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTERMSUIND
FG09:07Brett Swenson 45 Yd 30
TD05:59Ray Fisher 8 Yd Pass From Kellen Lewis (Austin Starr Kick) 37
FG02:18Brett Swenson 48 Yd 67
TD00:14Brian Hoyer 1 Yd Run (Brett Swenson Kick) 137
SECOND QUARTERMSUIND
TD09:18Mark Dell 14 Yd Pass From Brian Hoyer (Brett Swenson Kick) 207
TD06:55Marcus Thigpen 6 Yd Run (Austin Starr Kick) 2014
SF03:56Ball Through End Zone 2016
TD01:29Charlie Gantt 82 Yd Pass From Brian Hoyer (Brett Swenson Kick) 2716
TD00:48Marcus Thigpen 78 Yd Run (Two-Point Conversion Failed) 2722
THIRD QUARTERMSUIND
TD13:33Javon Ringer 1 Yd Run (Brett Swenson Kick) 3422
TD12:42Marcus Thigpen 79 Yd Pass From Kellen Lewis (Austin Starr Kick) 3429
SF01:39Penalty On Cody Faulkner In End Zone 3629
FOURTH QUARTERMSUIND
FG13:28Brett Swenson 45 Yd 3929
FG03:45Brett Swenson 32 Yd 4229
Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Michigan State can win games with its supporting cast, too.

Javon Ringer rushed for 198 yards and scored one touchdown Saturday, while Brian Hoyer ran for one TD and threw for two more to lead the Spartans past Indiana 42-29.

It was a wild, wacky game for the Old Brass Spittoon. There were two safeties, three replay reviews, a blocked punt, and Hoyer and Hoosiers quarterback Kellen Lewis each threw career-long touchdown passes.

But the strangest, and most important play, came late in the third quarter when Indiana's backup quarterback, Ben Chappell, connected with Terrance Turner for a 97-yard touchdown pass that appeared to give Indiana the lead. Instead, right guard Cody Faulkner was called for holding in the end zone, giving Michigan State a safety and a 36-29 lead.

Indiana (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) never recovered from the nine-point swing, losing its second straight game.

Michigan State (4-1, 1-0) hasn't lost since its opener against California.

But nothing went according to the script.

All week the buzz surrounded Ringer, who had rushed for 200 yards in two straight games and had a record three straight conference offensive player of the week awards. But Indiana (2-2, 0-1) stuck to its game plan, forcing Ringer to carry 44 times and barely prevented him from topping 200 again -- much of that coming when the Spartans were trying to protect a fourth-quarter lead.

Hoyer had no problem playing the feature role. He finished 14-of-26 for 261 yards, scored on a 1-yard plunge to wipe out Indiana's 7-6 lead and hooked up with Mark Dell on a 14-yard TD pass and Charlie Gantt on an 82-yard score before the first half ended.

Michigan State never trailed again but struggled to put away the Hoosiers.

Marcus Thigpen scored on TD runs of 6 and 78 yards and caught a 79-yard TD pass from Lewis. He finished with 113 yards rushing and 94 receiving, while Lewis was 12-of-21 for 177 yards despite missing more than a quarter with a left leg injury.

College Football Scores

Other Scores:

Saturday, September 27th
9 Wisconsin 25 Final
Michigan 27
22 Illinois 24 Final
12 Penn State 38
Minnesota 21 Final
14 Ohio State 34
Michigan State 42 Final
Indiana 29
Northwestern 22 Final
Iowa 17
Purdue 21 Final
Notre Dame 38