MSU Athletic Communications
Michigan State needed every ounce of toughness Jonathan Smith keeps preaching. The Spartans erased multiple deficits, traded blows for four quarters, then won it in double overtime when Aidan Chiles powered in from three yards and hit Omari Kelly for the walk-off two-point conversion to beat Boston College, 42–40, in an electric Spartan Stadium on Saturday night.
“It was a beautiful football game… it came down to us getting a stop on a two-point conversion and us executing to finish the deal,” Smith said, praising the crowd and his locker room’s resolve. “I’m really proud of the guys just continuing to fight.”
How it happened
Early swing: MSU’s defense turned a would-be Eagle touchdown into a touchback on BC’s second drive when Jordan Hall punched the ball free at the goal line and Armorion Smith recovered. The Spartans capitalized with an 11-play, 80-yard march capped by Nick Marsh’s physical 11-yard score.
BC answers: Dylan Lonergan (390 yards, 4 TD) steered three first-half TD drives and the Eagles led 21–14 at the break.
Halftime response: Smith’s offense came out humming. Four plays into the third, Chiles dropped a 41-yard dime to Marsh to tie it 21–21. True freshman kicker Martin Connington later drilled a 50-yarder in his college debut and added a 39-yarder to push MSU ahead 27–24 before BC forced overtime with a late field goal.
OT madness: In the first OT, Chiles hit fullback Jay Coyne from five yards; BC matched. In the second OT, Turbo Richard scored for BC but the two-point try failed after tight coverage. Chiles then ripped a 13-yard keeper, finished the drive with a 3-yard TD, and, on the mandatory two-point, trusted Kelly in the back corner for the winner. “We wanted it. We needed that game… everything went right [in OT],” Chiles said.
Stars of the night
Aidan Chiles, QB: 19–of-29 for 231 yards and a career-high four TD passes, plus 39 rushing yards and the double-OT touchdown. His poise and escape ability repeatedly punished BC’s contain. “I know the kid’s tough,” Smith said.
Nick Marsh, WR: Five grabs, 68 yards, two TDs — including the muscle-through slant in the first quarter and the 41-yard shot right out of halftime that flipped momentum. Smith: “He’s a competitor… we had to continue to find ways to get him the ball.”
Jordan Hall, LB: Career-high 15 tackles and the goal-line forced fumble that changed the opening script. Smith also lauded safety Armorion Smith for a big night highlighted by that recovery and a late pass breakup on the two-point.
Special teams edge:
- Martin Connington: perfect from 50 and 39 in his debut — the 50-yarder tied it late in the third.
- Ryan Eckley: three punts, 54.7 average, all inside the 20, two downed at the 1 to flip the field.
- Alante Brown: momentum-swinging 63-yard kick return set up MSU’s second TD.
What it means
Smith called it “a step forward” to finish a close game early in the season. Last year’s matchup at BC got away late; this time, MSU’s second-half offense found rhythm, the defense bowed up in critical downs, and the kicking game delivered. The Spartans still have cleanup items — penalties, some third-down leakage, and rush-lane discipline against an on-schedule passer — but they showed the “more than 60 minutes” toughness their head coach emphasized all week.
BC coach Bill O’Brien tipped his cap to Chiles and MSU’s pass protection afterward, while noting his Eagles have “a lot to build on” with Lonergan’s command and a defense that generated four sacks. The difference: Michigan State’s situational execution and that final two-point stop-and-score sequence.
By the numbers
- MSU 42, BC 40 (2OT) — Spartans are now 2–0 and 6–4 all-time in home OT games; this was their first OT since Nov. 19, 2022.
- Chiles: 231 pass yards, 4 TD; rushing TD in 2OT.
- Marsh: 5–68–2; Kelly: 4–60 and the decisive 2-point snag.
- Hall: 15 tackles (9 solo), FF; Armorion Smith: 8 tackles, FR.
- Eckley: 3 punts, 54.7 avg, 2 downed at the 1.
- Connington: 50 and 39 FGs in debut.
Up next
Michigan State hosts Youngstown State on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m. ET on BTN.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
