The Spartans rugged defensive line with Shilique Calhoun and Malik McDowell stuffed Ohio State and Iowa’s running game.
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“This is why our seniors came back this season”, Cook said of the Big Ten championship and the likely opportunity to participate in the playoffs.
INDIANA: The Hoosiers are going bowling for the first time since 2007 and just the second time since 1993.
For Michigan State football, since Mark Dantonio came to East Lansing, it has always been about the process. The time off should do wonders, but only time will tell if Cook regains the form he had early in the season.
“They can look at our track record in the past under coach (Urban) Meyer and how we’ve (played) in big games against top teams, and understand that we’re prepared for this moment”, Perry said”.
Utah (7-1) returns at No. 25 and the Utes are on a five-game winning streak, including last week’s win over rival BYU.
Michigan State won the Big Ten championship 16-13 over Iowa on Saturday night, and Saban was pulling for his former team and assistant while watching the epic 22-play drive that ended with freshman L.J. Scott lunging forward for a 1-yard touchdown in the final minute.
The Crimson Tide lost to Ole Miss at home in late September, a game that left Alabama uneasy about its passing game and in need of help just to win the SEC West.
This is the same team that pulled out its two signature regular-season wins in the most clutch of fashions. Alabama opened this season with a 35-17 victory over the Badgers.
A lot of people were mad at Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook on Saturday night.
Michigan State jumped from third to a runaway first following losses last week by then-Nos.
The Spartans emerged victorious on Saturday, winning their ninth Big Ten Championship and giving Iowa its first loss of the season.
Michigan State recovered a fumble on the game’s third play and converted it into a 23-yard field goal.
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where the Tide is preparing for a second straight playoff appearance, it was just another Sunday. In a historic win over undefeated Iowa, and grinding out one of the all-time most important, most impressive, most timely and of the upmost grueling 22-play drives in college football history, MSU earned every bit of its place in its’ sport today.
The Big Ten champion Spartans completed last season on New Year’s Day playing in their first Cotton Bowl. A top 5 team in the preseason, Michigan State had gained the respect it desired.
No. 1 Clemson received 59 first-place votes, No. 2 Alabama got nine, and Michigan State one from media panel.
Two plays later, Beathard gave Iowa the lead. “If we’ve got to go 30, we’re going to go 30”.
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The Spartans (9-0) now are ranked No. 1 for the first time since week five of the 2013-2014 season – a year in which MSU knocked off the previously No. 1 ranked Kentucky Wildcats in the Champions Classic.
