Michigan State rolls to Indianapolis

The Hawkeyes are matching up with Michigan State’s defense at an inopportune time.

The No. 5 MSU football team (11-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) defeated Penn State (7-5 overall, 4-4 Big Ten) 55-16 Saturday evening at Spartan Stadium, solidifying a share of the Big Ten East Division Championship. Elliott carried 30 times for 214 yards.

Cook finished 19-for-26 for 248 yards and three touchdowns, becoming MSU’s all-time leader in total offense in the process.

No. 4 Iowa (12-0, 8-0 Big Ten) and No. 5 Michigan State (11-1, 7-1) will face off in Indianapolis in the biggest game these programs have ever played against each other.

THE COMMITTEE IS WATCHING: The victor of Saturday’s game is all but guaranteed a shot at the four-team playoff, especially after Notre Dame lost to Stanford and dropped out of the running. They just needed a little bit of help from Penn State later in the day to get another chance to advance to the Big Ten championship and keep their playoff chances alive.

The Spartans are 18-7-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record and 6-0 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games. “So, there’s added risk to all of this for us”.

He was questionable entering the game but practiced in full on Thursday and felt strong while warming up. “Cook was comfortable in the pocket”, Penn State coach James Franklin said. This one’s on the players. “I think it will really work out in our favor”. Aaron Burbridge had a good performance for the Spartans, pulling in six receptions for 75 yards and one TD. Junior safety Demetrious Cox returned a fumble 77 yards for a touchdown and sophomore nose tackle Malik McDowell scored on a 13-yard interception return.

There was obviously no letdown from their shocking upset in Columbus. Even as Iowa was piling up win after win, some of their detractors point out that they had a schedule that didn’t include games against the Spartans, Buckeyes or Wolverines. “We didn’t play well enough to win it. We’ll come back with the same drive and aspirations that we’ve had”. Last weekend’s crushing 14-17 loss at the hands of Michigan State seemed to put an end to their playoff ambitions, but there are still a few scenarios that have Buckeye fans cautiously optimistic that their team could sneak back into contention. Hello, Ohio State (11-1, No. 8 CFP). “That on top of the team playing the team up north, there was so much emotion”. “They find ways to win them, and turnovers make a difference”. Penn State settled for a field goal. “My comfort is being in the pocket, throwing on the move here and there”. Iowa is led by quarterback C.J. Beathard, whose clutch play is one of the biggest reasons the Hawkeyes are in a playoff position. Gerald Holmes picked up the go-ahead touchdown with a 6-yard run.

Jalin Marshall stretched OSU’s lead to 21-10 less than three minutes into the second half on a 25-yard touchdown catch, and Barrett’s second touchdown gave the Buckeyes a 28-10 lead with 1:45 left in the third quarter.

MI trailed the entire game and pulled within four points twice in the first half. He’s only the second player in school history to reach 150 receptions…. The Lions trailed 13-3 in the second quarter and were driving when Hackenberg hit tight end Kyle Carter for 10 yards.