Backup quarterback Michael Clayton II hit Hudson Clement for a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first overtime to give Illinois a 38-37 win over Michigan State in a Big Ten contest Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.
On its overtime possession, Michigan State pulled within one point on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jaziun Patterson, his third score of the game.
Michigan State went for the game-winning two-point conversion, but the pass fell incomplete to end the game.
Clayton entered in the third quarter for injured starter Katin Houser (wrist) and completed 6 of 8 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns for Illinois (3-3, 1-2).
Houser completed 20 of 29 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game.
Alessio Milivojevic completed 22 of 26 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns for Michigan State (2-4, 0-3), which has lost four straight.
Illinois took a 31-17 lead with 13:14 remaining in regulation on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Clayton to Collin Dixon and a two-point conversion run by Aidan Laughery.
Michigan State responded, cutting the Illinois lead to 31-24 on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Milivojevic to Fredrick Moore with 7:47 left.
The Spartans then tied the game at 31 with 1:17 remaining on a 2-yard touchdown run by Patterson.
The score came after Michigan State stopped Illinois on a fourth-and-inches play at the Michigan State 34-yard line.
Leading 20-7 at halftime, Illinois extended its lead to 23-7 with 8:48 remaining in the third quarter on a 38-yard field goal by Ethan Moczulski.
Michigan State answered, cutting the Illinois lead to 23-17 on a 42-yard field goal by Liam Boyd and an 11-yard touchdown run by Patterson with 1:30 left in the third.
Patterson’s score came one play after Michigan State’s Devin Vaught returned an interception 37 yards to the Illinois 11-yard line.
Illinois got off to a strong start, taking a 10-0 lead with 3:21 remaining in the first quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Houser to Laughery.
With 8:57 remaining in the second quarter, Illinois extended its lead to 17-0 on a 2-yard touchdown run by Houser.
–Field Level Media
