Yet, the feel-good story on Tobacco Road hasn’t resonated where it matters most.
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Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg, center, is sacked by Michigan State’s Joel Heath (92) and Lawrence Thomas, right, during the second quarter of Saturday’s game in East Lansing, Mich.
There’s plenty of room for that as the Lions try to find a way to compete with the Big Ten’s elite. That’s heaven for Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany but a cruel ending for the Buckeyes, who figured out their offensive formula one week too late.
There was never a better time for Michigan State to stand up and shout for all to hear: Never doubt that they’re the dominant football program in this state. That leaves one open spot for one of three teams. And best of all: Nobody can sensibly argue that point.
Wide receiver Amara Darboh said of Rudock: “I thought he played a great game”. He didn’t have to say anything else.
Wormley agreed that the gap to be closed on the leaders isn’t wide, adding, “I don’t think anyone really gave us a chance this year except for us”. But this is pretty simple.
The Ohio State Buckeyes got a win against the Michigan Wolverines to stay alive for a berth in the Big Ten title game, but the Michigan State Spartans didn’t let them get in the back door after blowing out the Penn State Nittany Lions to clinch the division.
One week after pointing fingers, the Ohio State Buckeyes were doing it again Saturday. They beat OR, which has since improved to 9-3.
Hackenberg completed 22 of 39 passes against Michigan State for 257 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw a season-high two interceptions. And that should be that.
The powerhouse team everyone expected to see this year likely arrived just in time to haunt Ohio State’s offseason. Before, people groaned that Big Ten football was full of fat, slow, exceedingly polite people with bad haircuts and ugly sweaters who didn’t belong in the national title conversation. The Buckeyes held MI to 57 yards rushing, and though the Wolverines did pass for 307, it turned to be of little outcome. Your offensive linemen, controlling the trenches and getting a touchdown of their own.
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio wouldn’t disagree, remembering that Cook had a shaky outing the previous week against Notre Dame, but then rewarded his coach’s loyalty by rallying the Spartans in the second half against the Hawkeyes. The narrative would ignore those.
Three of the four playoff spots are all but locked up at this point, leaving one potential opening for a team like Ohio State to claim. Michigan State got all the credibility it needed by winning in Columbus last weekend. Iowa would get all the credibility it needs if it beats Michigan State in Indianapolis.
Like Ohio State past year, Michigan State did not look like a champion for most of September and October.
Nickel back and special-teams performer Damon Webb, playing in his home state, suffered a lower leg injury that knocked him from the game. And, the Spartans continue to prove they’re a quality all-around football team, capable of notching big wins over tough competition and lighting up the scoreboard.
The Urbanization of the Buckeyes offense had resulted in a 42-13 demolition, the most lopsided victory over MI in Ann Arbor since 1961.
Nebraska lost to Iowa but came away with two commitments from the weekend, including Florida safety Brandon Drayton.
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Not only did Jack Allen score a 9-yard touchdown in Michigan State’s 55-16 stomping of Penn State, he scored it by taking it off tackle out of the shotgun.
