ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Liam Boyd made five field goals on five attempts and Michigan State's defense forced four turnovers and had five sacks in a 15-6 win over Michigan on Saturday night.
The Spartans (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) snapped a six-game losing streak and helped coach Pat Fitzgerald end a 13-game Big Ten losing streak, dating to the 2022 season-opening game at Northwestern.
The Wolverines (5-4, 2-4) scored with 1:35 left on Savion Hiter's 1-yard
run to avoid being shut out for the first time since 2014 and Tommy Carr was sacked on a 2-point conversion to seal the defeat.
In a matchup of two of the worst offenses in college football, points were precious.
Michigan State connected on two field goals to take a 6-0 lead at halftime.
The Spartans went ahead 9-0 late in the third quarter with another kick that capped a 17-play, 79-yard drive that started at their 1 and took nearly 11 minutes off the clock.
Michigan was held scoreless in the first half for a third straight home game. The last time the Wolverines didn't have a point by halftime three times in a season was 1979, according to Sportradar.
Michigan had a chance to score in the second quarter, but Jacob Baggett hit the left upright on a 26-yard kick for the team's fifth missed field goal in three games. After Trey Butkowski missed four field goals in the previous two games, he lost his job to Baggett in a competition during practice.
Michigan State's Alessio Milivojevic, who missed the previous game with an injury, was 21 of 32 for 188 yards without a turnover. Milivojevic threw six passes for 92 yards to Chrishon McCray.
Brandon Tullis ran for a career-high 86 yards for the Spartans, making the most of opportunities to play with four running backs out with injuries.
Michigan's Tommy Carr was 14 of 26 for 138 yards with two interceptions. Running back Bryson Kuzdzal and receiver Andrew Marsh each lost a fumble in the second half.
The Wolverines were held to 54 yards rushing on 26 carries.
Michigan State: Fitzgerald and his players desperately needed a victory after going 0-5 in the Big Ten, following a loss to the Fighting Irish, and it will be a little sweeter that the win was the Spartans' first against their rival since 2021.
Michigan: Kyle Whittingham's debut season has fallen short of expectations after being ranked No. 16 in the preseason AP Top 25 with an offensively challenged team that hasn't been able to take advantage of having a strong defense.
Michigan State hosts Washington (5-4, 2-4) on Saturday.
Michigan plays at Oregon (6-3, 4-2) on Saturday.
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