Despite QB Cook injury, MSU football returns to top 10

The MI State Spartans need a bounce back win in the worst way in today’s game against the Maryland Terrapins on ESPN2 live TV and Watch ESPN3 live streaming. The Sooners might also catch a break if TCU star quarterback Trevone Boykin is impaired by an ankle injury he suffered Saturday against Kansas.

The Spartans (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) have been dealing with injuries all season, particularly on the offensive line and in the secondary, but if Cook is limited, MI State could be a significant underdog against the unbeaten Buckeyes.

After going from presumably healthy and out of the game, Connor Cook came back in just to come out. He returned to the game briefly but Tyler O’Connor played the entire second half and led the Spartans to the 24-7 win over the Terps. Maryland didn’t let many receivers get open, and Ngakoue and co.’s performance rushing the quarterback definitely helped their cause. The puck drops between MI State and BC on Friday night at 7:00 PM, and as usual BCI will have you covered.

“There were a lot of players in this program that might not say it but wanted a little revenge from the Big Ten Championship”, co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash said. However, teams such as Maryland, Purdue and IN will be expected to finish stronger. Those four games were against teams with a combined record of 33-5 and yet Maryland was outgained by a miniscule 0.15 ypp. There’s certainly something to be said for that. Despite getting hurt, he stayed in to finish the first 30 minutes only completing six of 20 passes for 77 yards. He was again removed from the game.

To Dantonio, the real preparation takes place throughout the week during practice, and one thing MI State has been very good at over the past few years has been refocusing after a tough loss or a big victory. The Terps return home to face IN next Saturday before closing out the season on the road against Rutgers on November 28.

“This was a must-win for MI State”, Cook said. They just didn’t hit the ball in the right area and shanked it. That can probably be improved upon. Everybody has to raise their level of play to get back to where we were accustomed to being. O’Connor finished the game 6 of 11 for 44 yards with a touchdown and an interception. That’s the seventh time this season Maryland has completed less than half of its passes. Rowe maintained his rap sheet as a turnover machine as he threw his FBS leading 14th interception, in about a third as many pass attempts as UVA’s Matt Johns.