ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten): Senior Connor Cook (2,730 yards, 24 touchdowns, four interceptions) was named the Big Ten’s top quarterback and senior Aaron Burbridge (75 receptions for 1,158 yards and seven touchdowns) was selected as the top receiver, and the duo lead an offense averaging 33.4 points per game.
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Freshman running back L.J. Scott was the difference maker for the Spartans late in the fourth quarter. While the game was not always pretty, it was a classic Big Ten battle that featured an impossibly dramatic final drive as Michigan State slowly marched its way to a win, its second Big Ten title in three years and its first bid to the College Football Playoff, where it will likely join Clemson, Alabama and Oklahoma. The problem is that the Spartans and head coach Mark Dantonio are poised for and live for these types of moments and are still on a mission.
Scott ran for 73 yards and a touchdown and Michael Geiger nailed three-of-five field goals as the Spartans ground out the victory.
Iowa and Michigan State won division championships because of shared fundamental beliefs centered around the development of physical lines on both sides of the ball, a tough-edged approach on defense and a 60-minute approach to the game.
Michigan State came out with a huge Big Ten title win in one of the most exciting games of the season in any conference.
Iowa is making its first Big Ten championship game appearance…. However, as was normal in the first half, the Spartans had trouble capitalizing.
HOUSTON (AP) – Greg Ward Jr. ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns and Houston beat Temple in the inaugural American Athletic Conference championship game.
Five times in the final 2 minutes, the Spartans snapped the ball from the Iowa 5-yard line or closer.
It looked like the Hawkeyes had him stopped again, but Scott refused to go down.
Iowa’s C.J. Beathard finished 18 of 26 with 216 yards, one interception and an 85-yard TD pass to Tevaun Smith on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Iowa a 13-9 lead.
That’s how it stayed until Scott’s score.
Michigan State comes in as a slight a favorite to take the Big Ten title, and for good reason. They have continued to post a win each week and still get questioned by the national media, despite having what many feel is one of the softer regular season schedules among the nation’s highest-ranked teams. Desmond King fields the kickoff and kneels in the end zone. Jordan Canzeri leads the Iowa rushing attack with 964 yards on 176 carries (5.5 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns. Michigan State got the ball back with 31 seconds left, which transitioned into a field goal opportunity.
A three-and-out by Iowa on the ensuing possession led Geiger to his third field goal of the game, a 47-yarder with:56 remaining in the quarter.
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“We were confident right up to the last play that we’d make a stop down there”, Ferentz said.
