Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State

Thursday, December 30, 2021, Peach Bowl

No. 11 Michigan State beat No. 13 Pittsburgh 31–⁠21. It was their eighth meeting; Michigan State leads the series 7–⁠0–⁠1.

Neutral site13Pittsburgh11–⁠3 in 2021
21
Neutral site11Michigan State11–⁠2 in 2021
31

Final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaIndoorsTV: ESPNAttendance 41,230

MVPs Jayden Reed (WR, Michigan State); Cal Haladay (LB, Michigan State)Wikipedia

Officials
Referee Steve Marlowe; umpire Walt Hill; head linesman Chad Green; line judge Chuck Rice; side judge Jesse Dupuy; field judge Allan Nicholson; back judge Tra Boger; center judge Chris GarnerGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Pittsburgh777021
Michigan State10002131

Standouts

  • PassingPayton Thorne29 of 50, 354 yards, 3 TD, 1 INTMichigan State
  • ReceivingJayden Reed6 catches, 80 yards, 2 TDMichigan State
  • DefenseCal Haladay11 tackles, 1 INTMichigan State

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Pittsburgh

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Davis Beville14/1814911
Nick Patti2/52100
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Vincent Davis1243012
Jordan Addison128028
Nick Patti327116
Rodney Hammond Jr.42009
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Jordan Addison7114052
Vincent Davis31608
Melquise Stovall21407
Gavin Bartholomew1909
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Phil Campbell12000
Erick Hallett10000
John Petrishen9000
M.J. Devonshire6000
Brandon Hill4001
Devin Danielson3110
Tyler Bentley2110
Bam Brima1110

Michigan State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Payton Thorne29/5035431
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Jordan Simmons1623010
Elijah Collins61505
Harold Joiner2806
Connor Heyward1707
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Jalen Nailor6108050
Jayden Reed680228
Tre Mosley558015
Connor Heyward537115
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Cal Haladay11001
Noah Harvey7100
Angelo Grose7100
Jacob Slade621.50
Simeon Barrow Jr.610.50
Jacub Panasiuk5210
Brandon Wright41.51.50
Drew Beesley20.50.50

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

PittsburghMichigan State
274Total yards410
170Passing yards354
104Rushing yards56
7.4Yards per pass7.1
3.3Yards per rush1.6
14First downs25
2–⁠12Third downs10–⁠21
2–⁠2Fourth downs3–⁠4
1Turnovers2
4–⁠30Penalties6–⁠35
24:51Possession35:09
3Sacks (by defense)5

Efficiency

PittsburghMichigan State
42%Success rate40%
0.00EPA per play0.10
1.05Explosiveness1.46
0.23Rushing EPA−0.14
−0.21Passing EPA0.25
16%Passing-down success39%
−0.29First-down EPA−0.19
0.12Second-down EPA−0.30
0.11Third-down EPA0.89
15%Havoc by its defense22%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Pittsburgh 63% to win. Michigan State won as Elo’s underdog.

The line

Michigan State −3.5, over/under 55.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Michigan State 60%, Pittsburgh 40%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

The money

The Peach Bowl was put on by Peach Bowl, Inc., a nonprofit. Its IRS Form 990 for the year to May 2022, which takes in this game, reports $45.7 million in revenue, $24.9 million of it from kickoff game ticket sales, and $37.8 million in expenses. Its best-paid, president and chief executive Gary P Stokan, was paid $720,000. The largest payments it lists that year:

Alabamasupport$5.0 million
Louisvillesupport$4.3 million
Miamisupport$4.3 million
Ole Misssupport$4.3 million
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Fdn Incsupport$256,000
Atlanta Public Schools Dept of Athleticssupport$110,000

From the organization’s IRS Form 990, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and the IRS’s e-file data. Payments are the grants it lists on Schedule I of that return. See every filing at ProPublica (EIN 58-1052332).

Every drive

Michigan State end zonePittsburgh end zoneQ1 PittsburghPunt, 3 playsQ1 Michigan StateTouchdown, 3 playsQ1 PittsburghTouchdown, 12 playsQ1 Michigan StateField goal, 11 playsQ1 PittsburghPunt, 7 playsQ2 Michigan StateMissed FG, 8 playsQ2 PittsburghPunt, 3 playsQ2 Michigan StatePunt, 7 playsQ2 PittsburghPunt, 3 playsQ2 Michigan StateInterception, 7 playsQ2 PittsburghTouchdown, 6 playsQ2 Michigan StateEnd of half, 3 playsQ3 Michigan StateFumble return TD, 3 plays (Pittsburgh scores)Q3 Michigan StateTurnover on downs, 11 playsQ3 PittsburghPunt, 3 playsQ3 Michigan StatePunt, 3 playsQ3 PittsburghPunt, 3 playsQ3 Michigan StatePunt, 7 playsQ3 PittsburghPunt, 4 playsQ4 Michigan StateTouchdown, 13 playsQ4 PittsburghPunt, 3 playsQ4 Michigan StateTouchdown, 11 playsQ4 PittsburghPick-six, 8 plays (Michigan State scores)Q4 Michigan StateEnd of game, 1 play
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Michigan State drives left to right, Pittsburgh right to left.
  1. Q1 PittsburghPunt, 3 plays, 0 yards
  2. Q1 Michigan StateTouchdown, 3 plays, 29 yards
  3. Q1 PittsburghTouchdown, 12 plays, 75 yards
  4. Q1 Michigan StateField goal, 11 plays, 57 yards
  5. Q1 PittsburghPunt, 7 plays, 2 yards
  6. Q2 Michigan StateMissed FG, 8 plays, 53 yards
  7. Q2 PittsburghPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  8. Q2 Michigan StatePunt, 7 plays, 25 yards
  9. Q2 PittsburghPunt, 3 plays, 7 yards
  10. Q2 Michigan StateInterception, 7 plays, 29 yards
  11. Q2 PittsburghTouchdown, 6 plays, 87 yards
  12. Q2 Michigan StateEnd of half, 3 plays, 2 yards
  13. Q3 Michigan StateFumble return TD, 3 plays (Pittsburgh scores), 0 yards
  14. Q3 Michigan StateTurnover on downs, 11 plays, 47 yards
  15. Q3 PittsburghPunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
  16. Q3 Michigan StatePunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  17. Q3 PittsburghPunt, 3 plays, −3 yards
  18. Q3 Michigan StatePunt, 7 plays, 12 yards
  19. Q3 PittsburghPunt, 4 plays, 26 yards
  20. Q4 Michigan StateTouchdown, 13 plays, 70 yards
  21. Q4 PittsburghPunt, 3 plays, 7 yards
  22. Q4 Michigan StateTouchdown, 11 plays, 71 yards
  23. Q4 PittsburghPick-six, 8 plays (Michigan State scores), 73 yards
  24. Q4 Michigan StateEnd of game, 1 play, −1 yard

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then Michigan State 10, Pittsburgh 7
Pittsburgh Punt, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Stephen Rusnak kickoff for 63 yds , Israel Abanikanda return for no gain to the Pitt 2
14:501st & 10 at own 2Israel Abanikanda run for no gain to the Pitt 2
14:152nd & 10 at own 2Nick Patti pass incomplete to Lucas Krull
14:093rd & 10 at own 2Nick Patti pass incomplete to Jordan Addison
13:564th & 10 at own 2Kirk Christodoulou punt for 43 yds , Jayden Reed returns for 16 yds to the Pitt 29
Michigan State Touchdown, 3 plays
13:511st & 10 at opp 29Jordon Simmons run for 1 yd to the Pitt 28
13:172nd & 9 at opp 28Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jalen Nailor
13:113rd & 9 at opp 28Payton Thorne pass complete to Jayden Reed for 28 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK)Michigan State 7, Pittsburgh 0
Pittsburgh Touchdown, 12 plays
13:113rd & 9 at own 35Stephen Rusnak kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
13:031st & 10 at own 25Israel Abanikanda run for 5 yds to the Pitt 30
12:382nd & 5 at own 30Nick Patti pass complete to Jordan Addison for 13 yds to the Pitt 43 for a 1ST down
12:171st & 10 at own 43Israel Abanikanda run for 5 yds to the Pitt 48
11:402nd & 5 at own 48Nick Patti run for 8 yds to the MchSt 44 for a 1ST down
11:101st & 10 at opp 44Israel Abanikanda run for 7 yds to the MchSt 37
10:392nd & 3 at opp 37Nick Patti run for 3 yds to the MchSt 34 for a 1ST down
10:111st & 10 at opp 34Nick Patti pass complete to Jordan Addison for 8 yds to the MchSt 26
9:412nd & 2 at opp 26Vincent Davis run for 1 yd to the MchSt 25
9:063rd & 1 at opp 25Vincent Davis run for 3 yds to the MchSt 22 for a 1ST down
8:361st & 10 at opp 22Vincent Davis run for 6 yds to the MchSt 16
8:072nd & 4 at opp 16Nick Patti pass incomplete to Lucas Krull, broken up by Noah Harvey
7:573rd & 4 at opp 16Nick Patti run for 16 yds for a TD, (Sam Scarton KICK)Tied at 7
Michigan State Field goal, 11 plays
7:573rd & 4 at own 35Ben Sauls kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
7:521st & 10 at own 25Jordon Simmons run for a loss of 3 yards to the MchSt 22
7:232nd & 13 at own 22Jordon Simmons run for no gain to the MchSt 22
6:473rd & 13 at own 22Payton Thorne pass complete to Jalen Nailor for 17 yds to the MchSt 39 for a 1ST down
6:401st & 10 at own 39Joiner, Harold rush for 4 yards to the MICHIGANST43, PENALTY PITTSBURGH offside (Baldonado, Habakkuk) 5 yards to the MICHIGANST44, NO PLAY.
6:241st & 5 at own 44Payton Thorne pass complete to Maliq Carr for 25 yds to the Pitt 31 for a 1ST down
6:161st & 10 at opp 31Payton Thorne pass incomplete
6:102nd & 10 at opp 31Harold Joiner run for 6 yds to the Pitt 25
5:523rd & 4 at opp 25Payton Thorne run for 12 yds to the Pitt 13 for a 1ST down
5:171st & 10 at opp 13Payton Thorne pass complete to Tre Mosley for 5 yds to the Pitt 8
4:402nd & 5 at opp 8MICHIGAN ST Penalty, False Start (Matt Allen) to the Pitt 13
4:242nd & 10 at opp 13Harold Joiner run for 2 yds to the Pitt 11
3:493rd & 8 at opp 11Timeout PITTSBURGH, clock 03:49
3:433rd & 8 at opp 11Joiner, Harold rush for 4 yards to the PITTSBURGH7, PENALTY MICHIGANST holding (Brown, Spencer) 10 yards to the PITTSBURGH21, NO PLAY.
3:193rd & 18 at opp 21Payton Thorne pass complete to Harold Joiner for 3 yds to the Pitt 18
2:394th & 15 at opp 18Matt Coghlin 36 yd FG GOODMichigan State 10, Pittsburgh 7
Pittsburgh Punt, 7 plays
2:394th & 15 at own 35Stephen Rusnak kickoff for 57 yds , Israel Abanikanda return for 24 yds to the Pitt 32
2:331st & 10 at own 32PITTSBURGH Penalty, False Start (Gavin Bartholomew) to the Pitt 27
2:261st & 15 at own 27Israel Abanikanda run for a loss of 1 yard to the Pitt 26
1:532nd & 16 at own 26Davis Beville pass complete to Melquise Stovall for 7 yds to the Pitt 33
1:193rd & 9 at own 33Davis Beville pass complete to Vincent Davis for 8 yds to the Pitt 41
0:384th & 1 at own 41Davis Beville run for 1 yd to the Pitt 42 for a 1ST down
0:291st & 10 at own 42Davis Beville pass incomplete to Vincent Davis
0:242nd & 10 at own 42Davis Beville pass complete to Vincent Davis for 1 yd to the Pitt 43
Q2 14:543rd & 9 at own 43Davis Beville sacked by Brandon Wright for a loss of 9 yards to the Pitt 34
Q2 14:014th & 18 at own 34Kirk Christodoulou punt for 43 yds , Jayden Reed returns for 9 yds to the MchSt 32
2nd quarter7 drives, then Pittsburgh 14, Michigan State 10
Michigan State Missed FG, 8 plays
13:561st & 10 at own 32Elijah Collins run for 1 yd to the MchSt 33
13:272nd & 9 at own 33Elijah Collins run for 4 yds to the MchSt 37
12:513rd & 5 at own 37Payton Thorne pass complete to Keon Coleman for 9 yds to the MchSt 46 for a 1ST down
12:201st & 10 at own 46Payton Thorne pass complete to Jalen Nailor for 50 yds to the Pitt 4 for a 1ST down
12:071st & goal at opp 4Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jayden Reed
12:072nd & 0 at opp 4MICHIGAN ST Penalty, False Start (Matt Allen) to the Pitt 9
11:592nd & goal at opp 9Payton Thorne run for a loss of 6 yards to the Pitt 15
11:173rd & goal at opp 15Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jalen Nailor
11:134th & 0 at opp 15Matt Coghlin 33 yd FG MISSED
Pittsburgh Punt, 3 plays
11:061st & 10 at own 20Rodney Hammond Jr. run for 2 yds to the Pitt 22
10:412nd & 8 at own 22Rodney Hammond Jr. run for 3 yds to the Pitt 25
9:593rd & 5 at own 25Davis Beville pass incomplete
9:514th & 5 at own 25Kirk Christodoulou punt for 53 yds, fair catch by Jayden Reed at the MchSt 22
Michigan State Punt, 7 plays
9:431st & 10 at own 22Elijah Collins run for 1 yd to the MchSt 23
9:112nd & 9 at own 23Payton Thorne pass complete to Tre Mosley for 15 yds to the MchSt 38 for a 1ST down
8:361st & 10 at own 38Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Elijah Collins
8:272nd & 10 at own 38Payton Thorne run for 11 yds to the MchSt 49 for a 1ST down
8:111st & 10 at own 49Elijah Collins run for 3 yds to the Pitt 48
7:402nd & 7 at opp 48Jordon Simmons run for a loss of 5 yards to the MchSt 47 Jordon Simmons fumbled, recovered by MchSt Payton Thorne
7:003rd & 12 at own 47Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Montorie Foster
6:464th & 12 at own 47Bryce Baringer punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Jordan Addison at the Pitt 11
Pittsburgh Punt, 3 plays
6:401st & 10 at own 11Vincent Davis run for a loss of 1 yard to the Pitt 10
5:562nd & 11 at own 10Davis Beville run for 8 yds to the Pitt 18
5:333rd & 3 at own 18Davis Beville pass incomplete to Jordan Addison
5:204th & 3 at own 18Kirk Christodoulou punt for 40 yds, downed at the MchSt 42
Michigan State Interception, 7 plays
5:141st & 10 at own 42Jordon Simmons run for 7 yds to the MchSt 49
4:452nd & 3 at own 49Jordon Simmons run for 1 yd to the 50 yard line
4:333rd & 2 at the 50MICHIGAN ST Penalty, False Start (Spencer Brown) to the MchSt 45
4:123rd & 7 at own 45Payton Thorne pass complete to Tre Mosley for 15 yds to the Pitt 40 for a 1ST down
3:391st & 10 at opp 40Jordon Simmons run for 2 yds to the Pitt 38
3:022nd & 8 at opp 38Jordon Simmons run for 3 yds to the Pitt 35
2:313rd & 5 at opp 35Jordon Simmons run for 6 yds to the Pitt 29 for a 1ST down
2:031st & 10 at opp 29Payton Thorne pass intercepted Brandon Hill return for no gain to the Pitt 13
Pittsburgh Touchdown, 6 plays
1:551st & 10 at own 13Vincent Davis run for 12 yds to the Pitt 25 for a 1ST down
1:471st & 10 at own 25Davis Beville pass complete to Jordan Addison for 10 yds to the Pitt 35 for a 1ST down
1:291st & 10 at own 35Davis Beville pass complete to Jordan Addison for 52 yds to the MchSt 13 for a 1ST down
1:211st & 10 at opp 13Vincent Davis run for 12 yds to the MchSt 1 for a 1ST down
1:081st & goal at opp 1Vincent Davis run for a loss of 3 yards to the MchSt 4
1:032nd & 0 at opp 4Timeout PITTSBURGH, clock 01:03
1:022nd & goal at opp 4Davis Beville pass complete to Jared Wayne for 4 yds for a TD, (Sam Scarton KICK)Pittsburgh 14, Michigan State 10
Michigan State End of half, 3 plays
1:022nd & 13 at own 35Ben Sauls kickoff for 65 yds , Jalen Nailor return for 16 yds to the MchSt 16
0:521st & 10 at own 16Payton Thorne pass complete to Connor Heyward for 9 yds to the MchSt 25
0:432nd & 1 at own 25Payton Thorne sacked by Tyler Bentley for a loss of 8 yards to the MchSt 17
0:013rd & 9 at own 17Elijah Collins run for 1 yd to the MchSt 18
3rd quarter7 drives, then Pittsburgh 21, Michigan State 10
Michigan State Fumble return TD, 3 plays (Pittsburgh scores)
15:001st & 10 at own 35Ben Sauls kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:541st & 10 at own 25Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jalen Nailor, broken up by A.J. Woods
14:502nd & 10 at own 25Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jayden Reed
14:403rd & 10 at own 25Payton Thorne run for 1 yd Payton Thorne fumbled, forced by John Morgan III, recovered by Pitt Cam Bright , return for 26 yds, (Sam Scarton KICK)Pittsburgh 21, Michigan State 10
Michigan State Turnover on downs, 11 plays
14:401st & 10 at own 35Ben Sauls kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:331st & 10 at own 25Jordon Simmons run for 10 yds to the MchSt 35 for a 1ST down
14:131st & 10 at own 35Payton Thorne run for 3 yds to the MchSt 38
13:352nd & 7 at own 38Payton Thorne pass complete to Connor Heyward for 4 yds to the MchSt 42
12:573rd & 3 at own 42Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jalen Nailor
12:524th & 3 at own 42Connor Heyward run for 7 yds to the MchSt 49 for a 1ST down
12:121st & 10 at own 49Payton Thorne pass complete to Tre Mosley for 8 yds to the Pitt 43
11:472nd & 2 at opp 43Jordon Simmons run for 3 yds to the Pitt 40 for a 1ST down
11:031st & 10 at opp 40Thorne, Payton pass incomplete, PENALTY PITTSBURGH roughing passer (Petrishen, John) 15 yards to the PITTSBURGH25, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN MICHIGANST.
10:561st & 10 at opp 25Jordon Simmons run for a loss of 4 yards to the Pitt 29
10:242nd & 14 at opp 29Payton Thorne run for 1 yd to the Pitt 28
9:433rd & 13 at opp 28Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jayden Reed
9:374th & 13 at opp 28Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jalen Nailor, broken up by A.J. Woods
Pittsburgh Punt, 3 plays
9:281st & 10 at own 28Davis Beville sacked by Jacob Slade for a loss of 8 yards to the Pitt 20
8:572nd & 18 at own 20Vincent Davis run for 12 yds to the Pitt 32
8:223rd & 6 at own 32Davis Beville pass complete to Shocky Jacques-Louis for 5 yds to the Pitt 37
7:294th & 1 at own 37Kirk Christodoulou punt for 47 yds, downed at the MchSt 16
Michigan State Punt, 3 plays
7:221st & 10 at own 16Elijah Collins run for 5 yds to the MchSt 21
6:522nd & 5 at own 21Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Elijah Collins
6:483rd & 5 at own 21Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jayden Reed
6:404th & 5 at own 21Bryce Baringer punt for 53 yds , Jordan Addison returns for no gain to the Pitt 26
Pittsburgh Punt, 3 plays
6:311st & 10 at own 26Davis Beville pass complete to Jordan Addison for a loss of 1 yard to the Pitt 25
6:212nd & 11 at own 25Vincent Davis run for 1 yd to the Pitt 26
5:423rd & 10 at own 26Davis Beville sacked by Drew Beesley and Brandon Wright for a loss of 3 yards to the Pitt 23
4:584th & 13 at own 23Kirk Christodoulou punt for 41 yds, fair catch by Jayden Reed at the MchSt 36
Michigan State Punt, 7 plays
4:471st & 10 at own 36Payton Thorne pass complete to Jalen Nailor for 5 yds to the MchSt 41
4:212nd & 5 at own 41Jordon Simmons run for no gain to the MchSt 41
3:473rd & 5 at own 41Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Maliq Carr
3:414th & 5 at own 41Payton Thorne pass complete to Jalen Nailor for 9 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
3:221st & 10 at the 50Payton Thorne sacked by Bam Brima for a loss of 10 yards to the MchSt 40
2:452nd & 20 at own 40Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Connor Heyward
2:343rd & 20 at own 40Payton Thorne pass complete to Harold Joiner for 8 yds to the MchSt 48
2:114th & 12 at own 48Bryce Baringer punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Jordan Addison at the Pitt 9
Pittsburgh Punt, 4 plays
2:011st & 10 at own 9Jordan Addison run for 28 yds to the Pitt 37 for a 1ST down
1:381st & 10 at own 37PITTSBURGH Penalty, False Start (Carter Warren) to the Pitt 32
1:211st & 15 at own 32Rodney Hammond Jr. run for 6 yds to the Pitt 38
0:522nd & 9 at own 38Davis Beville sacked by Simeon Barrow and Jacub Panasiuk for a loss of 12 yards to the Pitt 26
0:093rd & 21 at own 26Rodney Hammond Jr. run for 9 yds to the Pitt 35
Q4 14:534th & 12 at own 35Kirk Christodoulou punt for 35 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the MchSt 30
4th quarter5 drives, then Michigan State 31, Pittsburgh 21
Michigan State Touchdown, 13 plays
14:481st & 10 at own 30Payton Thorne pass complete to Tre Mosley for 15 yds to the MchSt 45 for a 1ST down
14:191st & 10 at own 45Payton Thorne pass complete to Jayden Reed for 2 yds to the MchSt 47
13:522nd & 8 at own 47Payton Thorne pass complete to Jayden Reed for 11 yds to the Pitt 42 for a 1ST down
13:261st & 10 at opp 42Payton Thorne pass complete to Jalen Nailor for 13 yds to the Pitt 29 for a 1ST down
12:531st & 10 at opp 29Payton Thorne pass complete to Jordon Simmons for 5 yds to the Pitt 24
12:162nd & 5 at opp 24Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jalen Nailor
12:113rd & 5 at opp 24Jordon Simmons run for a loss of 1 yard to the Pitt 25
11:304th & 6 at opp 25Payton Thorne pass complete to Connor Heyward for 8 yds to the Pitt 17 for a 1ST down
10:581st & 10 at opp 17Payton Thorne pass complete to Jayden Reed for 6 yds to the Pitt 11
10:112nd & 4 at opp 11Payton Thorne run for 6 yds to the Pitt 5 for a 1ST down
9:561st & 0 at opp 5MICHIGAN ST Penalty, False Start (Maliq Carr) to the Pitt 10
9:281st & goal at opp 10Jordon Simmons run for 1 yd to the Pitt 9
8:432nd & goal at opp 9Payton Thorne sacked by Devin Danielson for a loss of 6 yards to the Pitt 15
8:063rd & goal at opp 15Payton Thorne pass complete to Connor Heyward for 15 yds for a TD, (Two-Point Conversion failed )Pittsburgh 21, Michigan State 16
8:063rd & 0 at opp 3MICHIGAN ST Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the Pitt 8
Pittsburgh Punt, 3 plays
8:063rd & 25 at own 35Stephen Rusnak kickoff for 56 yds , Vincent Davis return for 13 yds to the Pitt 22
7:551st & 10 at own 22Vincent Davis run for no gain to the Pitt 22
7:142nd & 10 at own 22Davis Beville pass complete to Gavin Bartholomew for 9 yds to the Pitt 31
6:253rd & 1 at own 31Vincent Davis run for a loss of 2 yards to the Pitt 29
5:374th & 3 at own 29Kirk Christodoulou punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Jayden Reed at the MchSt 29
Michigan State Touchdown, 11 plays
5:321st & 10 at own 29Jordon Simmons run for 2 yds to the MchSt 31
5:022nd & 8 at own 31Payton Thorne pass complete to Connor Heyward for 1 yd to the MchSt 32
4:283rd & 7 at own 32Payton Thorne pass complete to Jayden Reed for 11 yds to the MchSt 43 for a 1ST down
4:111st & 10 at own 43Payton Thorne pass complete to Keon Coleman for 11 yds to the Pitt 46 for a 1ST down
3:531st & 10 at opp 46Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Tre Mosley, broken up by Erick Hallett
3:492nd & 10 at opp 46Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jalen Nailor
3:443rd & 10 at opp 46Payton Thorne pass complete to Maliq Carr for 10 yds to the Pitt 36 for a 1ST down
3:131st & 10 at opp 36Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Tre Mosley
3:062nd & 10 at opp 36Payton Thorne pass incomplete to Jalen Nailor
3:063rd & 10 at opp 36Timeout PITTSBURGH, clock 03:06
3:003rd & 10 at opp 36Payton Thorne pass complete to Jalen Nailor for 14 yds to the Pitt 22 for a 1ST down
2:511st & 10 at opp 22Payton Thorne pass complete to Jayden Reed for 22 yds for a TD, (Payton Thorne pass to Jalen Nailor for Two-Point Conversion)Michigan State 24, Pittsburgh 21
Pittsburgh Pick-six, 8 plays (Michigan State scores)
2:511st & 10 at own 35Stephen Rusnak kickoff for 40 yds fair catch by Vincent Davis at the Pitt 1
2:431st & 10 at own 25Vincent Davis run for 2 yds to the Pitt 27
2:252nd & 8 at own 27Davis Beville sacked by Jacub Panasiuk and Jacob Slade for a loss of 7 yards to the Pitt 20
2:243rd & 15 at own 20Timeout PITTSBURGH, clock 02:24
2:123rd & 15 at own 20Davis Beville pass complete to Vincent Davis for 7 yds to the Pitt 27
1:504th & 8 at own 27Davis Beville pass complete to Jordan Addison for 8 yds to the Pitt 35 for a 1ST down
1:351st & 10 at own 35Davis Beville pass complete to Jordan Addison for 24 yds to the MchSt 41 for a 1ST down
1:151st & 10 at opp 41Davis Beville pass complete to Melquise Stovall for 7 yds to the MchSt 34
0:442nd & 3 at opp 34Davis Beville pass complete to Lucas Krull for 8 yds to the MchSt 26 for a 1ST down
0:221st & 10 at opp 26Davis Beville pass intercepted for a TD Cal Haladay return for 78 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK)Michigan State 31, Pittsburgh 21
Michigan State End of game, 1 play
0:221st & 10 at own 35Stephen Rusnak on-side kick recovered by MICHIGAN ST at the Pitt 22
0:201st & 10 at opp 22TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the Pitt 23

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

Michigan State leads 7–⁠0–⁠1 in eight meetings.

Recent meetings
2021Michigan State 31, Pittsburgh 21Peach Bowl
2007Michigan State 17, Pittsburgh 13
2006Michigan State 38, Pittsburgh 23
1960Michigan State 7, Pittsburgh 7
1958Michigan State 22, Pittsburgh 8
1951Michigan State 53, Pittsburgh 26

Around this game

Pittsburgh