Iowa’s Ferentz adds coach of year

Riley has an especially unique perspective on Saturday’s game, because his team is one of four to have played both opponents.

Should Michigan State lose, it would be unlikely that the Spartans remain the next-highest-ranked Big Ten team, because they would have two losses and Ohio State would still be 11-1. Ferentz has led Iowa to a school-record 12 victories this season, the fifth time the Hawkeyes have recorded 10 or more wins under his leadership. In 2014, Michigan State averaged 58.0 penalty yards per game; the second-most in the conference: (Indiana – 60.7).

“The insane thing about it is, what Pitt did against them is what we’ve done against them in the past and what they did against Pitt is a lot like what they’ve done against us in the past”, Tressel said. “We’ll do what we do. But I’m sure they have similar thoughts that go through their head that we’ve had”. “You just get the job done”. Prior to Mark Dantonio’s arrival in 2007, Michigan State had never recorded more than 11 wins in a season and had only two 10-win seasons (1965 and 1999). It’s a game that will be won on the strength of the interior lines on both sides. Maybe that’s because Iowa, for whatever criticism you’d like to throw out about its schedule, is 12-0. Michigan State’s defense proved playoff worthy forcing four Penn State turnovers, including an interception by Malik McDowell, which was returned for a touchdown.

“Of course it’s going to be very important for our defense to try to create havoc in the backfield, create some distress and take him out of the comfort zone”, Calhoun said. These players will look to get the Spartans their second Big Ten Championship. “We lost in double-overtime to Iowa that year”. “We’ve been in that environment”.

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

Iowa hasn’t had to face a great (even good, maybe?) quarterback like fifth-year senior Connor Cook all season.

“Caldwell stated to CBS Detroit:” ‘I think most guys that have played our game and been involved in it, their alma mater is a special place, ‘ Caldwell said when asked if he would have to quietly root for Iowa since they’re playing the relatively-local Spartans.

Ferentz’s win also means that it’s now been 36 years since an Ohio State coach was named Coach of the Year and, yes, this drives Ohio State fans absolutely bonkers. And with Iowa occupying one of those four spots, whether or not at least one of those four teams stumble is entirely in the Spartans’ control. “We know that we’re going to have to bring our best”. Tough teams, hard-nosed football. “I knew my time would come”, Beathard said, making a comment that easily could have come from Cook. “We played great in the first half”. “I think there are a lot of parallels, a lot of differences too, but a lot of parallels”. “Big Ten title game Kirk”.

Dantonio hedged when pressed to detail similarities to Cook, the first MSU quarterback to be named first-team All-Big Ten in 50 years. The Buckeyes won’t have a conference championship, have few quality wins, and their body of work looks a little lacking at first glance.

-QB Connor Cook will, once again, be the center of Michigan State’s offense. The Spartans don’t have much of a reason to dislike Iowa – although that could always change once this weekend’s clash kicks off.

Getting an early score to put the pressure on the Spartans is the best way to go about things.