EAST LANSING – The pass landed just out of the reach of a diving Rodney Bullard in the end zone but there was a flag on the turf.

The Michigan State receiver had his jersey pulled by Minnesota defensive back Kerry Brown, who was called for pass interference.

Then, a full minute after the penalty was announced at Huntington Bank Stadium and marked off, officials said never mind and picked up the flag. Instead of the Spartans facing first-and-goal from the 3-yard line, it was fourth-and-3 from the 18 in overtime. They settled for a field goal before losing 23-20 at Minnesota two weeks ago.

“You make a call like that that’s 50-50 and then for the announcement and the ball to get spotted and us to line up in a formation and then go turn that back,” Smith said on Monday, “that mechanic could

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