Michigan State takes division with 55-16 rout of Penn State

The Lions muffed the ensuing kickoff and MSU defensive back Jermaine Edmondson recovered the loose ball at the Penn State 9-yard line. To that, I say ONE WHAT-IF AT A TIME.

You tip your hat to Jim Harbaugh and his staff for squeezing every possible drop out of this MI team that is basically the same roster that went 5-7 last season. The selection committee protocol emphasizes conference championships, and Ohio State can’t win one.

That set up a Michigan State-Iowa, winner-takes-all clash that promises to be bone-rattling.

The Spartans finished tied atop the Big Ten East with Ohio State, and Michigan State upset the Buckeyes last weekend with quarterback Connor Cook sidelined because of a shoulder injury.

A week after his snit fit, Elliott got the ball on Ohio State’s first play against MI, and by halftime he had 10 carries for 99 yards and the Buckeyes had thrown only six passes.

Cook said he worked his way back little by little during the week of practice leading up to the game, throwing some on Tuesday and throwing a little bit more on Wednesday. The chatter surrounding Iowa (“They haven’t played anybody!”) makes fans think the Hawkeyes are a far inferior team to any of the East division’s best, but that’s not the truth, either. “That was a reality check”.

The most important thing for Ohio State on Saturday is to win the game and salvage as much as it can out of this season after last week’s crushing loss against Michigan State.

Ohio State crushed its rival and cruised home, crossing the border and hoping for the best.

Despite Barkley’s success rushing, Penn State was not able to make much out of it. The Nittany Lions fell 55-16 as Barkley was not able to convert any red zone carries into touchdowns.

“It was great to play 60 minutes of football”, said middle linebacker Riley Bullough.

“Credit to the offensive coach and the o-linemen”, he said.

“And on third down, we couldn’t get off the field”.

Smith’s point was made, though, as he hasn’t lost to MI in his four seasons spent with Ohio State.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – #12 Michigan Wolverines ended their regular season football play in a devastating loss to #8 Ohio State, 42-13.

It didn’t matter that the Wolverines – and everyone else in the country – knew Ohio State’s game plan coming into Saturday’s matchup.

So the task now is to rest up and prepare for the bowl game – and wonder whether that contest will be the final one in a Penn State uniform for Christian Hackenberg.

Coach Mark Dantonio said during this past week that Cook’s status might not be determined until the day of the game against Penn State.

“To come and execute the way we did today and dominate, it shows how resilient this team is”, Elliott said. The offensive line completely wore down the undermanned Penn State defense the rest of the way and the Spartans cruised to a blowout victory.

“When you have something taken away from you, you kind of sit back and evaluate yourself and check yourself”, Cook said. MI cut Ohio State’s lead to 14-10 on quarterback Jake Rudock’s 5-yard pass to receiver Jehu Chesson. OSU’s 482 total yards were 219 yards more than MI came in allowing per game.

The extra point was no good, and Penn State kicked a short field goal early in the second quarter, but Michigan State went ahead 13-3 on a 6-yard touchdown run by Gerald Holmes.