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No.8 Northwestern’s hopes of making the college football playoffs were already slim on Saturday, but are pretty much nonexistent now. The Wildcats fell at Michigan State 29-20 on Saturday afternoon, dropping from the undefeated ranks to 5-1 this season.
Northwestern got off to a slow start, and he didom the Wildcats in the end. They drove 41 yards on their initial possession and entered the red zone, but returned the ball on low rather than attempting a field goal. Michigan State responded with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor two games later to take a 7-0 lead.
After a Northwest roll over on its next possession, Michigan State got a basket to come back 10-0 and had a 17-6 lead at halftime. The Wildcats struggled in the second half, taking a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Michigan State added two more field goals – including the kickoff with less than 4 minutes remaining – to take the lead. A dropped return touchdown in the last second of the game provided the nine-point margin.
The good news for Northwestern is that this loss does not eliminate him from the Big Ten title. The Wildcats still sit first in the Big Ten West and can reach the conference championship game. The problem now? If Northwestern doesn’t face the Ohio State’s No.4 for the Big Ten title (which has become less likely with the cancellation of another Ohio State game this week), a win over the Indiana at the end of the season would probably not be enough to convince. the CFP Selection Committee that the Wildcats are one of the top four teams in the country.
Northwestern has two regular-season games to play – at Minnesota next week before ending against rival Illinois on December 12.
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