Michigan State upsets No. 13 Michigan behind freshmen receiver Ricky White and quarterback Rocky Lombardi

ByTOM VANHAAREN
October 31, 2020, 4:39 PM

Michigan State stunned 13th-ranked  Michigan in a 27-24 win in Ann Arbor on Saturday, and did it with the help of true freshman wide receiver Ricky White.

The Marietta, Georgia, receiver had 196 yards and one touchdown on eight receptions in the win over Michigan State's rival.

White only had one reception for five yards in the first game of the season against Rutgers, but dominated against the Wolverines. He's the first Spartans receiver with 190 receiving yards or more in a game since R.J. Shelton had 190 yards against Northwestern in 2016 and it's the most by a Michigan State receiver since Mark Dell had 202 yards against Cal in 2008.

Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi only completed 17 of his 32 pass attempts in the win, but had 323 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Lombardi had two interceptions and a fumble in the loss to Rutgers, but took care of the ball in week two.

The Spartans defense gave up 300 yards passing to Michigan quarterback Joe Milton, but the Wolverines did not have a touchdown through the air. All three touchdowns came on the ground, but Michigan was held to 4.5 yards per carry and 152 total yards in the game while struggling to run the ball up the middle of the Michigan State defense.

This was Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker's first game against rival Michigan and the win gives Jim Harbaugh a 1-6 record at home against Michigan State and Ohio State.

Tucker joins Nick Saban (1995) as the only Michigan State head coaches to defeat Michigan in his first game against the Wolverines at the school.

Mark Dantonio, who retired as the Spartans' coach after 13 seasons, tweeted congratulations to his former team.