Josh McCray runs for three TDs to lead Illinois to a 38-16 win over slumping Michigan State
Illinois running back Ca'Lil Valentine (5) scores a touchdown ahead of Michigan State defensive back Jaylen Thompson (16) during the first half in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. Credit: AP/Matt Marton
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Josh McCray ran for three touchdowns and Luke Altmyer threw two TD passes, leading Illinois to a 38-16 victory Saturday over Michigan State.
McCray had nine carries for 61 yards, Altmyer completed 19 of 32 passes for 231 yards and Pat Bryant caught four passes for a career-high 135 yards and a TD in his final home game as the Illini (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) ended a two-game losing streak.
Aidan Chiles was 23-of-40 passing for 256 yards and two TDs and Aziah Johnson and Nate Carter caught TD passes for the Spartans (4-6, 2-5), who have lost six of seven.
Michigan State didn’t have a sack for the fifth straight game. Illinois sacked Chiles five times.
The Illini finished 6-1 at home. It’s the first time they’ve won six home games in a season since 2001, when they captured the Big Ten title and played in the 2002 Sugar Bowl.
After falling behind 21-9 at halftime, the Spartans closed within 21-16 on a 5-yard TD pass from Chiles to Carter.
Illinois’ David Alano responded with a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter, and McCray scored on a pair of 1-yard dives in the fourth quarter.
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) throws a pass during the first half in an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. Credit: AP/Matt Marton
Altmyer threw a 57-yard TD pass to Bryant and a 4-yard TD pass to Zakhari Franklin, and McCray ran 11 yards for a TD for the Illini in the first half.
It was Bryant’s eighth TD reception of the season, and his career-long catch. It also was Altmyer’s career-long pass completion.
Michigan State scored on a 52-yard TD pass from Chiles to Johnson in the first quarter and a 38-yard field goal by Jonathan Kim with 1:02 left in the half.
Kim missed the PAT after the Chiles-to-Johnson TD pass. It was the first time he’d missed a PAT in his college career. He was 3 of 3 at North Carolina and is 34 of 35 at Michigan State.
Illinois wide receiver Hank Beatty (80) catches a punt as Michigan State defensive back Aveon Grose (30) closes in during the first half in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. Credit: AP/Matt Marton
The takeaway
Illinois: The Illini will hit the road to play at Rutgers and Northwestern in their final two regular-season games. Illinois is 1-2 away from Champaign, with all three games against ranked teams. Two road wins would give the Illini a final 9-3 record and an opportunity to play in a major bowl game.
Michigan State: The Spartans have no margin for error if they want to play in a bowl game in Jonathan Smith’s first season as coach. They need to win their final two regular-season games, home games vs. Purdue and Rutgers, to be bowl-eligible.
Up next
Illinois: At Rutgers next Saturday.
Michigan State: Hosts Purdue on Friday.
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