The Purdue Boilermakers played spoiler once again, as they upset the undefeated Michigan State Spartans on Saturday.
The Michigan State Spartans were riding high entering this weekend. They defeated the Michigan Wolverines last week and secured the No. 3 spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings. But, they ran into the momentum killers, the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday afternoon.
Purdue defeated Michigan State 40-29 on Saturday to hand them their first loss of the season and no doubt careening down the Playoff rankings.
College football fans lost it once Purdue won, and so did the college football media world.
Top 3 football teams trying to get past Purdue..
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) November 6, 2021
pic.twitter.com/cd3LPcR1Ou
Michigan should buy Purdue a steak dinner. Big Ten East is definitely back in play with MSU's loss.
— Josh Newkirk (@JoshNewkirk7) November 6, 2021
Purdue’s win over Michigan State is a huge boost for Ohio State, as Purdue will no longer have the element of surprise in their game next week, which is their biggest natural advantage.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 6, 2021
Currently at a housewarming party full of Purdue fans, who seemed to have embraced their role as the Great Ruiner of Things.
— Robert Mays (@robertmays) November 6, 2021
Purdue @BoilerFootball beats @MSU_Football giving the outstanding Spartans their 1st L of the season . It is party time in West Lafayette Baby ! pic.twitter.com/Q79V2r0G4k
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) November 6, 2021
Per @MattBrownCFB, Purdue is the first team since 2007 Illinois to beat two Top 5 teams while unranked.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 6, 2021
Those Illini knocked off No. 1 Ohio State and went from unranked to the Rose Bowl in two weeks.
Whoever wins the national championship should have to play Purdue the following week
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) November 6, 2021
Down goes Michigan State. Ohio State won’t face an unbeaten Michigan State in two weeks, but likely will get another ranked team on their schedule in Purdue next week.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) November 6, 2021
unranked Purdue is college football's greatest weapon
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 6, 2021
Most wins against AP top-5 teams while unranked
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownCFB) November 6, 2021
Purdue 17
Illinois 11
USC 11
Michigan State 10
UCLA 9
Stanford 8
Pitt 8
Purdue Boilermakers pull off huge upset over Michigan State
Purdue was not messing around, as evidenced by the ridiculous trick play that put them up 21-7 in the second quarter. Michigan State did fight back to cut their deficit to 37-29, but a 22-yard field goal in the closing seconds by Purdue kicker Mitchell Fineran sealed the victory.
Boilermakers quarterback Aidan O’Connell had himself a game, as he completed 40-of-54 pass attempts for 536 yards and three touchdowns. Wideout David Bell shined as well, hauling in 11 passes from O’Connell for 217 yards and one touchdown.
Michigan State running back and Heisman favorite Kenneth Walker III ran for 136 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
Purdue will get to end another conference rivals’ Playoff hopes next week when they play the Ohio State Buckeyes. Michigan State looks to get back into contention with a victory over Maryland.
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