MI State quarterback Connor Cook out against Ohio State

He took part in pre-game warmups but evidently was not cleared to play against Ohio State. The war on MI is up next, with Sparty and the Wolverines occupying the next two spots on the schedule. The wind was whipping and rain swirling against the unbeaten defending national champion, Ohio State. 44 sacks, leads the Big Ten Conference, physical, very physical front, physical linebackers, thumpers. They can clinch the East division, which would send them to the championship game against Iowa.

But at least MI State’s title chances are looking better in the eyes of Las Vegas oddsmakers after Saturday’s big win at Ohio State. “We have to rise up to the challenge”. Now, when the game is tight in the fourth quarter, who doesn’t expect the Spartans to pull it out? “You don’t beat good teams by kicking field goals”. “As long as they’re getting in there, it’s all good”.

“We know how to win”. “This is not a flawless team”. We really don’t, and we’ve got to cherish the moments that we have together, and we’ve got to go out there and compete for the rest of the season, no matter what. “I’m sorry about tonight, and we’re going to come out a different team next week”. “We’ll have to throw a few passes and drop back”.

The arrival of Harbaugh at MI, coinciding with the establishing of Ohio State as the nation’s alpha dog, still took attention away from East Lansing. Then a win over Penn State for MI State to play presumably Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Frustrated by an 11-carry, 33-yard, one touchdown performance in the Buckeyes’ first loss since last September against Virginia Tech, also at Ohio Stadium, Elliott let known his intentions to leave Ohio State with one year of eligibility remaining.

MI State football fans thought the season was effectively finished following a 1-point loss to Nebraska a couple weeks ago.

Cook said the three have unusually strong chemistry: “The laughter that goes on in our meetings, how often we hang out outside of football … we think we have the best (meeting) room out of all the positions on our team”. The latest victory came without Connor Cook, the winningest quarterback in school history. Less than two months later, the IL defensive tackle re-opened his recruitment in order to pursue other opportunities.

“We’ll see how it all shakes out”.

“It’s hard to think three years is almost over”. “A lot of people live and die Penn State football, and it’s very, very important to them”.

“This is a direct result of what’s going on around the world”, Athletic Director Gene Smith said.

Those 62 wins compare favorably with OR (67 wins), Ohio State (66), Florida State (66), LSU 59, Clemson (58) and Notre Dame (54).