In order to truly stake its claim as college football’s top league, the Big Ten is going to have to make the most of the coming weeks. So pardon the Spartans if they’re not intimidated by what’s next.
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Alabama (12-1, No. 2 CFP) held the Gators to 3 yards of offense in the second and third quarters, assuring itself of a spot in the semifinals at either the Cotton or Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve. And in many ways, it’s as fitting as it is daunting. In addition, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State and Wisconsin collected bids as part of the largest and most diverse postseason lineup in conference history. Players that know how to win in college usually end up becoming the guys who stick around for the long-term in the NFL.
But then there’s the conspiracy theory that the committee didn’t want to put Oklahoma in Dallas in the No. 2-3 matchup, where No. 2 Alabama would have been a de facto road team.
“Whatever game we get, we’re going to treat it like it’s the national championship”, linebacker Cole Fisher said.
Michigan State needed a miracle.
Michigan State – LJ Scott 1-yard run.
But don’t mistake aura for invincibility.
Iowa returns to the Rose Bowl Game for the first time since a matchup with Washington to conclude the 1990 season. 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.
“We’re not in yet, so we’re just enjoying the night as Big Ten Champions”. Both have one loss on the road to a conference foe. Hugs all around, the fight song blaring, celebrations in the locker room.
Sounds like the Spartans. Unlike a few other conferences, it may not always be pretty and full of highlight reel action, but at its core it’s arguably the purest form of the game.
On Saban’s staff in East Lansing as a defensive backs coach was Mark Dantonio, now the Michigan State coach, trying to bring the Spartans their first national title since it finished first in the coaches’ poll in 1965. In the aftermath of the victory over Iowa, there wasn’t a wild locker-room celebration.
“We gave it all that we had”, Lomax said. Winning the way we did is kind of surreal. The Wolverines got a nice break getting Florida in the bowl game otherwise known as the Lloyd Carr Invitational.
That’s not boasting, just goal-setting.
That’s your CFP final four. They beat MI and Ohio State with:00 on the clock.
The teaching and coaching always continues with Dantonio and the Spartan program.
Some might revive images of the Crimson Tide’s 49-7 romp in the 2011 Citrus Bowl, but the Spartans have grown immeasurably since then.
“We still have a lot to prove”. “I think we’re ready for the next step”. They showed they belonged on the big stage and impressed several national pundits with their play, albeit in a heartbreaking defeat.
“We’ve had some insane things happen this year, going all the way back to Nebraska”, left tackle Jack Conklin said. That’s provided by our upperclassmen who have been here to this game before. About two-thirds of the Big Ten title game record crowd of 66,985, clad in Iowa black and gold, went home with heartache.
Heisman Trophy hopeful Deshaun Watson threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two scores, and No. 1 Clemson captured the ACC championship by holding off No. 10 North Carolina 45-37 on Saturday night. Michigan State rushed 46 times for 174 yards, including Scott’s 22 carries for 73 yards. They had seven games decided by seven points or less, although injuries were a factor.
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MSU-M.Geiger 29 yard field goal, 4:23. Can you hang in there, grind it out and win in the end when things didn’t really go well for you. Is it possible they will soon own the nation?
