League title could be start for Spartans, Hawkeyes, Big Ten

Matt VandeBerg, Iowa’s leading receiver, is much more of a possession, move the chains type.

“A conference championship game, not having one or having one can help or hurt you, depending on the circumstances of that particular season”, Long said.

The third-ranked University of Iowa football team is a run-first offense, averaging 203.6 yards per game.

The victor of the Michigan State-Iowa game is in, so any change to the playoff lineup would have to start with a loss by Clemson and/or Alabama in their conference title games, which could open a possible path for Stanford.

Elliott topped 100 rushing yards in every game – with the notable exception of the Buckeyes’ loss to Michigan State. But the Big Ten, still glowing from Ohio State’s title last season, has a chance to retain the spotlight. The bigger debate would be between Ohio State and Iowa. “We weren’t in the best of shape. If we do that, we can live with the result”.

“His exact words to me were: “I want to win another championship, ‘ ” coach Mark Dantonio recalled, referring to the Spartans” Big Ten title in 2013. “That’s what we’re working for”. But somehow, this weekend’s Big Ten Championship Game feels like a culmination of sorts.

Iowa’s opening day starting center for the past three years, Blythe has made 43 consecutive starts for Iowa while Allen has started 40 times at center for Michigan State after beginning his career at left guard.

“It’s the dreams of the players and the coaches to be in games like this”, Delany told ESPN.com.

Plenty of this year’s seniors played key roles in the win in 2013.

Mark Dantonio insists he had no preconceptions about Michigan State’s brand prior to taking over the head coaching position in 2007. The Hawkeyes had 363 yards against a blitz-heavy Pitt defense, but only 105 yards came on the ground. The Spartans will be tied with Iowa in the fourth quarter when this happens and it will be reminiscent of his other big catches he had against Rutgers, Michigan, Indiana and Nebraska – although the one against Nebraska turned out to be all for naught.

Of course, that’s easier said than done, especially because Michigan State will be heading into this game with a very similar chip on its shoulder. But he doesn’t make many mistakes, either, and that could be the key against Michigan State’s opportunistic defense. They always went to work, they always played people tough, they always seemed to win consistently. The Spartans also draw more penalties than they take, with their opponents at 5.8 minutes a night compared to their 4.5. He could become the first Iowa player to reach 1,000 rushing in a season since Marcus Coker in 2011 – and he would do it while missing nearly three games with an ankle injury.

“They have a speed guy (Calhoun), who is an athlete, who will get around the edge”, said Croston. Their power play is producing at a 16.67 percent clip, though their penalty killing is fantastic at 89.4 percent, good enough for ninth-best in the NCAA. Whoever walks away from what will be a physical contest is more than likely going to end up with one of the four coveted playoff spots. “You have to take those things into consideration when you’re getting ready”. It will be strength-on-strength in the trenches. All that said, if Iowa wins this game, it’ll be 13-0, and if you don’t think going 13-0 in a Big Ten conference that now has five teams ranked in the top 15, then that’s your own twisted agenda.