BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Matt Coghlin's 51-yard field goal to open the second half Saturday gave No. 10 Michigan State the lead and Payton Thorne's 12-yard touchdown pass provided the margin the Spartans needed to hold on for a 20-15 victory over Indiana.
The Spartans (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) will remain atop the conference's East Division at least two more weeks after reclaiming the Old Brass Spittoon.
And while this one certainly didn't follow the usual script — Kenneth Walker III, the nation's top rusher, carried 23 times for 84 yards and Michigan State punted its first six possessions — the Spartans still managed to hand the Hoosiers (2-4, 0-3) their third loss in four games.