Milivojevic, Special Teams Lift Spartans Past Maryland in Season Finale

The Spartans took a 24–7 lead into halftime — looking better than they have at any point this season. It was Alessio Milivojevic and the entire Spartan defense setting the tone, and for the first time in months, hope filled Ford Field.

They just had to hold on for one more half. One more half to end this brutal season on a high note.

Third Quarter

Maryland opened the second half with purpose. Malik Washington — who struggled for most of the first half until his late surge — came out firing. Play after play, first down after first down, and on a crucial 3rd-and-10, Washington scrambled left and threw a dart on the run to keep the drive alive. A few plays later, DeJuan Williams punched in a touchdown to pull Maryland within ten, 24–14.

Michigan State’s first drive of the half began with Milivojevic once again showing poise in a collapsing pocket, but the offense quickly stalled. That’s when the momentum shifted — and you could feel it across the state of Michigan.

Maryland got the ball back and, again facing 3rd-and-10, Washington delivered a bullet for a first down. Then another pass. Another first down. Then another. And then a 26-yard strike to Shaleak Knotts for a touchdown. Suddenly, the Spartan lead shrunk to just three, 24–21.

Ford Field went quiet.

And then — everything changed.

On the ensuing kickoff, the sixth-year senior who had been out since Week 3 took the ball 96 yards to the house, flipping the game and the stadium on its head. The Undertaker rose from the casket. Michigan State punched the lead back to 31–21.

Maryland responded immediately. A 40-yard catch-and-run by Williams put them in scoring range, and Washington — now sitting over 400 yards passing — carved MSU up again. The defense was exhausted and Maryland scored to cut the lead to 31–28.

Michigan State tried to answer with a big completion to Marsh, but stalled. Even worse, they burned a timeout because they had ten players on the field before a punt — a mistake that loomed large.

With a tired defense needing a stop, MSU finally delivered: a quick three-and-out.

Milivojevic followed with a brilliant 3rd-and-7 scramble and fake pitch for a first down, extending the drive into the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

As the fourth quarter began, both teams stared down the barrel of the longest conference losing streak in Michigan State history. It was witching hour. The Spartans clung to a three-point lead, and everything — pride, frustration, the whole miserable season — sat on the table.

Michigan State’s drive sputtered, and Washington trotted back onto the field. Again, he converted a big third down to Knotts. MSU finally got their first sack of the night, but it was just a bandaid on a severed limb. Washington kept delivering off his back foot, under pressure, on the move — it didn’t matter.

But in the red zone, Michigan State finally held. Maryland lined up for the tying field goal… and Sean O’Haire pulled it left. A massive miss, and the Spartans kept the lead.

With 7:30 left, it was Milivojevic’s moment.

On the first play, Tau-Tolliver ripped off a 38-yard run — the longest of the game — flipping the field. But Maryland forced a 3rd-and-4, and then the mistake came. Milivojevic, trying to hit Nick Marsh, held the ball just a beat too long. Intercepted.

Maryland ball. Down three. 3:22 left.

Washington immediately looked deep twice but came up empty. On 4th down, Maryland kept the offense out there — and that’s when the MSU defense made the biggest defensive play of the entire season. A perfectly timed blitz blew up the Maryland line, leading to a sack and a turnover on downs.

Two minutes and change from ending the nightmare.

Milivojevic hit Omari Kelly on the first play, and as Kelly fought forward for the first down, Maryland ripped his helmet off in frustration — tacking on 24 yards.

Up three, ball in plus territory, 2:45 left.

Michigan State went nowhere on three plays. Fourth-and-7. Normally, Jonathan Smith kicks the field goal and takes the six-point lead. But it’s the final game. There’s nothing left to lose.

He kept the offense out there.

Milivojevic delivered the throw of his young career — a dart to Kelly for the dagger touchdown. Michigan State led 38–28.

The Spartans added an interception for good measure to close it out.

Finally. A Big Ten Win.

After eight straight losses, Michigan State finally gets a conference win in 2025. I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t sure it would ever actually happen. But here we are. A win is a win — and after the season this fanbase endured, we take it and we celebrate it.

Spartans win, 38–28.