Big Ten Says Officials Used “Proper Officiating Mechanics” on Nebraska’s

The Michigan State Spartans looked to remain unbeaten on the season when they visited the Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday evening and bettors were firmly behind them to cover the -3.5.

Watson has completed 70.3% of his passes for 1,936 yards and 20 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions with just under 400 rushing yards and an additional four scores on the ground. Two plays later, he threw the victor to Reilly, who had gone out of bounds and come back in to make the catch. The referees ruled that he was forced out by the defensive back, which allowed him to remain an eligible receiver.

Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said he had a long talk Sunday with Big Ten supervisor of officials Bill Carollo but wouldn’t comment on the nature of their conversation. Ohio State (9-0) had 26 first-place votes and 1,460 points. Swinney isn’t mentioned in the same breath as guys like Les Miles and Nick Saban, but considering how good his recent Clemson teams have been, he deserves to be.

“All the little things we do, all the practice and all the drills coach (Tony) Elliott has us doing, it clicked probably in the middle of the year last year”, Gallman said.

Sparty led by 12 points with under two minutes to play, but Nebraska scored two straight touchdowns by exploiting MSU’s porous secondary. “We missed a couple of kicks, and obviously that had something to do with it”.

He ran for a short touchdown with 1:47 left to make it 38-33. After Michigan State (8-1, 4-1, No. 7 CFP) went three-and-out, he led the drive that defines his career so far.

“We still control our fate in the East”, Dantonio said afterwards. “I’m doubting myself if I don’t think that way”, Gallman said.

Michigan State got the ball back and quickly got to the Nebraska 41, but time ran out on a Connor Cook pass out of bounds. Ohio State and Alabama both made last year’s field of four with a loss to their names, and this season’s inaugural rankings had a one-loss Alabama team ranked ahead of several undefeated teams from Power 5 conferences, including Michigan State. But the Spartans would respond with a touchdown to get their first lead of the night as Kings Jr. would catch another touchdown pass, this time from 18 yards out to put the Spartans up 17-13 as the teams would head into their respective locker rooms for the halftime festivities. The Huskers kept partying on the field.

First of all, given FSU’s record (65-12, 39-7 in ACC) under six-year coach Jimbo Fisher, it’s doubtful anyone would think getting beaten by the Seminoles is any kind of dishonor. “The kids earned this win tonight”. He’s also had them prepared each and every week as we haven’t seen a letdown from them. Those things are so haunting. “We made the plays to win the game and, boy, were those big plays”. And he’s not sorry.

With quarterback Everett Golson out due to a concussion and running Dalvin Cook sidelined by an ankle injury, Sean Maguire stepped up to toss for 348 yards and three touchdowns and Jacques Patrick gained 162 yards and three more scores in last week’s 45-21 blasting of Syracuse. “That would be the hot topic right now had we lost the game”, said Riley, understanding how fickle this game can be. Michigan State is a plus-10 in turnover differential, which is tied for fifth nationally, while Nebraska is a minus-8. “That’s pretty clear at this point”.

Harbaugh had a lot to be encouraged about, but he was livid about a penalty that negated a 51-yard pass to Butt late in the first half. “There was so much energy, so much passion around it that I think it got to be a distraction for us”.