Alabama-Michigan St in CFP semifinal at familiar spot

The Broncos (7-5) earned a share of the Mid-American Conference West title and are in their second straight bowl after winning six of their past eight.

The Spartans closed out one of the more heart-stopping, legendary victories in school history with a mammoth late-game touchdown drive. The Blue Raiders are led by a pair of freshmen in QB Brent Stockstill and receiver Richie James. They beat MI and Ohio State with:00 on the clock. This is a humble, blue-collar football team. The Spartans lost in the Independence, Sun and Aloha bowls in Saban’s first three seasons, but did win the Citrus Bowl over Florida his final season – after he had already left to start his job at LSU.

The matchup is just the second between the teams. Michigan State may have been a stepping stone job for Saban but Mark Dantonio has shown that it can be a destination – a label that will be cemented with a playoff win over the Crimson Tide.

It almost seems definitive now (knocking on wood, Spartans fans?) that MSU can’t be counted out of any close game, despite nearly all the circumstances. The committee has to sleep and then come up with decisions by the next afternoon. MSU ran 22 plays on the drive, forwarding the legend of names such as Cook, Burbridge and Dantonio. “They’ve just been absolutely fantastic to work with from day one”.

Scott kept powering forward and stretched the ball into the end zone for a touchdown with 27 seconds that sent the Spartans past No. 4 Iowa 16-13 Saturday night in the Big Ten championship game. With a chance for a trip to the National Championship Game now on the line, all eyes will be tuned to AT&T Stadium.

At best, MSU seemed stuck in neutral, perhaps a good team at times and contending, but never much of a long-term threat.

It wasn’t a game, it was a grind and for most of the showdown between Iowa and Michigan State, it was a defensive masterpiece on both sides.

Finally, we have our playoff pairings!

SEC victor Alabama plays the Big Ten champion Spartans in what will likely be a bruising College Football Playoff semifinal between two 12-1 teams at the Cotton Bowl. The ball was quickly recovered by Arjen Colquhon of Michigan State with 14:09 to play in the first quarter.

The national championship game is set for Monday, Jan. 11 in Glendale, Arizona. For the third time in the last five years and the second time in last three years, the Spartans have won the Big Ten Championship.

Clemson goes into the playoffs as the only undefeated team. North Carolina A&T got the bowl spot because of a higher Sagarin rating.

Date and time: Thursday, Dec. 31, 4 or 8 p.m.

Clemson (13-0) has been No. 1 since the committee began its rankings the first week of November, and committee chairman Jeff Long said that the Tigers were clearly No. 1 in the final rankings.

Several Big Ten rivals are too far behind the Spartans, with Ohio State (No. 5/No. 7), Iowa (No. 7/No. 6) and Northwestern (No. 12/No. 12) all landing in the top 12.

LJ Scott had 13 carries for 37 yards on the game-winning drive including a 1-yard TD.

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) throws an 85-yard touchdown pass during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Indianapolis. Iowa held Michigan State to its lowest point total of the season.

Oklahoma remained No. 3 in the coaches poll.

Clemson and Oklahoma have split four meetings, dating back to 1963.