C.J. makes like Baz, Ringer makes it not matter

Bacher looked like he was throwing it out of the back of the end zone on 3rd and Goal from the 1, but Ross Lane snuck in at the other end of it and caught it for the go-ahead touchdown. 12:49 to go in the game and NU has a 34-27 lead. Bacher was 8-of-9 passing on the drive for 67 yards and threw his third touchdown. He is 28-of-34 for 348 yards on the game. Um, hold on a sec. Javon Ringer just ran 80 yards down the right sideline and tied the game up again at 34. 12:36 to go. Get your popcorn out.

End of the 3rd quarter

And we're still deadlocked at 27. But NU is in the midst of a long, methodical drive that started at its own 20 and has taken more than four minutes. They've gone 40 yards on 9 plays and are at the MSU 20 with a 1st and 10. But how well can the Cats finish?

Leads are fleeting

And NU's is gone just as soon as it came. MSU took the ball 80 yards on four plays, culminating in a 47-yard burst down the right sideline from Javon Ringer. Fasten your seat belts. NU 27, MSU 27.

Ever heard of Jeff Yarbrough?

Well, he just caught a post pattern from Bacher in the middle of the field and scampered 78 yards for a touchdown on a 3rd and 15. It was a great read by Bacher and the safety gambled and missed, leaving Yarbrough with nothing but green grass and a Spartan fan section stunned into silence in front of him. NU 27, MSU 20 (11:45 left in 3rd)

Ever been on a see-saw?

Well, that's kind of how this game feels. Michigan State drives 55 yards on six plays to tie up the game yet again. Jehuu Caulcrick reprised his Jerome Bettis impression and plunged in from a yard out for his second score of the game. NU 20, MSU 20

Bacher's drought is over

Let it rain. Bacher found Ross Lane in the back of the end zone to put NU up 20-13 with 13 seconds left in the half. MSU's Aaron Bates shanked a 14-yard punt to give NU prime field position at the 30-yard line. And the Cats capitalized. Bacher went 4 of 4 for 27 yards on the drive, and gave NU a halftime lead for the second week in a row. After a kickoff return to the 45, Hoyer's Hail Mary fell incomplete and the Cats are in the tunnel with a seven-point lead. After a disastrous fourth quarter against Michigan, Bacher's having himself a half against State. He is 17-of-20 passinig for 177 yards and a touchdown. And Kurt Mattes and Dylan Thiry are doing a good job of keeping the Spartans' sack leader Jonal Saint-Dic out of Bacher's face. After giving up 133 yards in the first quarter, the defense has buckled down, giving up only 22 yards and not allowing a first down in the second quarter.

Speaking of...

We've got ourselves a tie ball game. Hoyer pitched Ringer, who runs through an open field into the end zone from 4 yards out. Seriously, it looked like the cops were clearing traffic for him. NU 13, MSU 13.