Turning point, what's next & more from MSU's loss to Wisconsin

TURNING POINT

When LJ Scott opened MSU’s first possession of the second half with a seven yard pickup, it appeared Demetrious Cox’s dropped interception three plays earlier might be forgiven. But on second down, Badger safety D’Cota Dixon smacked Scott on a counter to the left side, popping the ball up in the air and into the secondary. Safety Leo Musso scooped the ball up on the second bounce and found the edge, needing only to spin off a grasping Tyler O’Connor on the way to a 66-yard touchdown and 14-point Wisconsin swing.

UNSUNG HERO

Playing in his first career start behind a battered offensive line, redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook showed poise in the pocket, picking apart the Spartan secondary and converting on several third-and-long situations — including a 31-yard third quarter completion to Jazz Peavy that set up Andrew Endicott’s boot to give the Badgers a three-possession lead. Against a defense capable of capitalizing on the smallest mistake, Hornibrook made very few of them, completing 16-of-26 for 195 yards and a score. Head coach Paul Chryst took a big risk by going with a first-time starter on the road against the No. 8 team in the country, but Hornibrook showed Chryst’s trust was not misplaced.

Reality check: Wisconsin 30, Michigan State 6

QUOTABLE

“People have been saying a lot of good things about us lately, and now we’re going to take some shots,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio.

WHAT’S NEXT

MSU (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten) travels to Bloomington Saturday for an anything-can-happen matchup against perennial chaos team Indiana (8 p.m., BTN). The Spartans have won the last seven battles for the Old Brass Spittoon, but Indiana’s quick-paced offense has given the MSU defense early fits in recent years. It’s early in the season, but MSU looks to right the ship and keep its rivalry trophy case full.

Three Michigan State players raise fists during national anthem