After C.J. Beathard hit Tevaun Smith for an 85-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, Michigan State answered back with an impressive drive of their own, and punched in a late touchdown to seal the Big Ten Championship over the Iowa Hawkeyes, 16-13. Another 14-yard pass on third-and-18 set up another field goal in the third quarter that gave Michigan State a 9-6 lead.
Advertisement
The Spartans ground out a 16-13 comeback victory over unbeaten Iowa in the Big Ten championship game, all but assuring their spot in the playoff bracket as a result.
Michigan State actually allowed fewer yards passing in conference play this season than Iowa, although the Hawkeyes had a Big Ten-best 12 interceptions in league games. “I don’t think that anybody really had to make an announcement to know that Michigan State was going to be in the playoff”. Instead, they opted to come back to Michigan State. Cook returned strong last week against Penn State and threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Geiger put the ball down the middle of the uprights to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead with 11:11 to play in the first quarter.
TEXAS 23, No. 12 BAYLOR 17 (at Waco, Texas) – Tyrone Swoopes threw for 151 yards with a TD and ran for a score in his first Texas start since the opener in a game that knocked the Bears out of Sugar Bowl contention.
“I feel they kind of lull the other team to sleep and catch them in the wrong gaps and that’s when they gash them for those explosive gains”.
BEATING No. 1: UCLA’s 87-77 victory over Kentucky last week was the Bruins’ 11th win over a top-ranked team.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) The recent history of Michigan State football includes some of the most extraordinary plays anywhere in college football.
As well, that team will know Ohio State isn’t appearing in this Big Ten championship game because it suffered defeat when it lost the trenches.
MSU and ACC champ Clemson, SEC champ Alabama and Big 12 champ Oklahoma are the four teams that are expected to get invitations, with many projecting MSU to meet Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. “Wherever they put us, we’ll be OK with it”. The team has a fearsome front four, dominating the line of scrimmage on defense and giving up just 37 total points in the three games since the loss to Nebraska.
“Let’s get on and party”, Coach Mark Dantonio shouted to the crowd when it was over.
As for the matchup of wits, he said, “We’ve got a seven-year book on these guys”. “Every time we’ve been in the locker room after a game it’s been exciting”.
“(Going to the playoffs) means a lot, because when I came in this program getting to the Outback Bowl was like a championship”, senior defensive lineman Lawrence Thomas said. Michigan State also forced three turnovers, one an interception in the end zone when linebacker Riley Bullough jarred a ball loose from Iowa tight end Henry Krieger Coble.
Advertisement
“Credit to Michigan State”, Ferentz said. Connor Cook has only gotten better and established himself as one of the better quarterback prospects in college football and the defense, while only some parts remain from that team a couple seasons ago, has played like that defense MSU made a staple of their success.
