Michigan State wins the Big Ten Championship over Iowa 16-13

Despite all the odds, the Spartans humbled Iowa Hawkeyes 16-13 in the Big Ten football championship game.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, MSU surrendered a three-point lead when Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard launched a perfectly placed pass from the shadow of his own goalpost to wideout Tevaun Smith for an 85-yard touchdown.

The Hawkeyes had managed three total yards of offense in the third quarter, against 116 for their opponent, but in the end, they forced Michigan State to produce that 22-play drive, in a matchup that seemed to promise low-scoring ruggedness and then delivered low-scoring ruggedness. First-year coach Tom Herman helped the Cougars (12-1) to their second 12-win season and first since they went 13-1 in 2011 under former coach Kevin Sumlin and quarterback Case Keenum. “As it got down inside the 10-yard line, pound it, take the game and the clock which I think is a big thing”.

The Dec. 31 game pits Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban against the first team he ever took to a bowl.

“So I feel like I’m going to make even more improvements resting my arm, not throwing as much, and just being in the training room, living in the training room, getting the treatment that I need to get back to full health”. Jordan Canzeri led in rushing with 140 yards and two touchdowns in 17 carries.

They’ll let everyone else debate the hot-button issues – the national championship picture, whether two teams from the same conference deserve to make the playoffs and which league is the nation’s best. A year after winning a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl championship, a second-place finish in the Big Ten East Division and a win in the Cotton Bowl would have to do. We knew whatever happened that drive, we were either going to be in a two-minute situation or a drive situation.

Riley Bullough forced and Arjen Colquhoun recovered the fumbled reception that put the ball in Michigan State hands at the Iowa 27-yard line with 14:09 remaining in the first quarter.

The game will have huge implications for the College Football Playoff. The Spartans made sure that fans got their money’s worth in 2015; five of their 12 regular season games were decided by four points or less. “We’ve had to fight through adversity, fight through hard times, and we’ve earned everything we’ve gotten”.

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two scores in a 45-37 win against North Carolina.

“It’s special to have this opportunity to be Big Ten champions”, defensive end Shilique Calhoun said after Saturday night’s win.

“We’ve been here before”, Dantonio said.

Quarterback Connor Cook led the Spartans (12-1) on a 22-play drive that set up Scott’s one-yard run on third down. The Big Ten has resumed both college football relevance and prominence.

Quarterback Connor Cook went 16 of 32 for 191 yards. However, many experts are picking the Iowa Hawkeyes to come out on top of this one as they have yet to lose a game this year and will be playing for a spot in the College Fooball Playoff.

No. 17 Houston 24, No. 20 Temple 13: HOUSTON – Greg Ward Jr. ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns as Houston (12-1) won the inaugural American Athletic Conference championship game.