Michigan State no match for No. 6 Oregon in 31-10 loss

EUGENE, Ore.

Friday night was the latest stinging reminder of the separation between Michigan State and the nations best teams.

Six days after No.

3 Ohio State spanked the Spartans in East Lansing, Michigan State proved to be no match for No.

6 Oregon, which rolled to a 31-10 win.

Coach Jonathan Smith said the goal this season was to get better as the season rolls on.

But Fridays game was more or less status quo for the Spartans, who were overwhelmed in nearly every way by the Ducks.

Missed opportunities, an early goal-line fumble and penalties hurt Michigan State.

So did its inefficient run game and a crushing Oregon defensive line, which feasted on Aidan Chiles like a chew toy.

The Spartans knew the challenge they had heading to one of the loudest and toughest venues in college football.

Oregon had a slow start but had started to look like the team it was expected to be with dominating wins against Oregon State and UCLA over the last two weeks.

And yet, Michigan State still allowed the Ducks to have their way as they agitated the Spartans all night.

The Spartans defense did a good job disturbing the Ducks' accurate quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, who threw two picks in the end zone.

But Oregon found other ways to offset those mistakes.

Ducks running back Jordan James had a career night as he ran for 166 yards and a touchdown and helped Oregon outgain Michigan State in total yards, 477-250.

Michigan States offense couldnt sustain drives, going 2-for-11 on third downs.

That resulted in the defense looking gassed by halftime.

Gabriel, the nations most accurate passing quarterback, threw two end zone interceptions to the speedy Malik Spencer and Charles Brantley.

But Gabriels experience showed as he never appeared fazed by his mistakes.

Gabriel got his team on the board first, rushing for a 9-yard score with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Ducks wore down Michigan State as the game went on and took a 21-0 lead at halftime.

Things didnt get any better for the Spartans after the break.

Oregon players were joyfully dancing along with the crowd Friday night as the Isley Brothers hit Shout! blared from the speakers between the third and fourth quarters.

Michigan State, on the other side of the field, stood mostly still in a huddle as the team tried to find ways to stop the bleeding.

In the end, though, Smith and his team had few answers for the Ducks.

Kayron Lynch-Adams punched a 1-yard run into the end zone to get his team on the board in the fourth quarter, allowing the Spartans to avoid the shutout.

With about 30 seconds left, Jonathan Kim booted in a 42-yard field goal to make it 31-10.

Oregon improved to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in Big Ten play.

Meanwhile, the Spartans fell to 3-3 and 1-2 in league play.

Michigan State is off next week before continuing a grueling stretch of the schedule.

Three of the Spartans next four opponents entered this weekend ranked in the top 25.

Michigan State is scheduled to play Iowa out of the bye week on Oct.

19.

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