EAST LANSING - A heavy favorite at home against a team that brought a double-digit losing streak to Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State was expected to win its regular-season finale against Rutgers and did, but not without making it interesting.
The Spartans (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) needed a late rally to push past Rutgers (1-11, 0-9) for a 14-10 victory on a rainy Saturday in East Lansing.
"Gritty wins," Michigan State linebacker Andrew Dowell said. "That's how the season's been."
Following back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the Spartans hosted a Rutgers team that had dropped 10 straight since a season-opening win against Texas State.