Underdog Hawkeyes Out to Prove Doubters Wrong in Big Ten Title

So the best course of action for the least amount of controversy, would be for Iowa to take care of their business against Michigan State, who with two losses, would be out of the discussion. It would also mean less pressure on the Spartans to have success on the ground against Iowa’s run defense, which ranks second in the Big Ten (110 yards per game).

It’s been a memorable season in the Big Ten, and it culminates with a de facto national quarterfinal game between the Michigan State Spartans and Iowa Hawkeyes. Michigan State has wins this season over Western Michigan, Oregon, Air Force, Central Michigan, Purdue, Rutgers, Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State and Penn State.

Iowa linebacker Ben Niemann (concussion) practiced from the midweek on and should play on Saturday, Ferentz said. With just three games left in the season there was a lot of doubt as to whether they could bounce back and reach the Big Ten Championship game for the third time in five seasons.

“It’s a statement for college football in this conference”, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. “We’ll do what we do”. “I think C.J. Beathard makes plays, makes good decisions, obviously hasn’t thrown (many) interceptions”. “We are going to be just as hungry, just as those seniors were, especially for us guys sitting up here, knowing that each game is coming down to our last game wearing the green and white”.

On the season, Michigan State has an overall record of 11-1 straight up and 5-7 against the spread, while Iowa is 12-0 SU and 7-5 against the spread.

Mark Dantonio has belief in what he does, he has belief in his program and that belief is what drives the culture for Michigan State football.

Two years later, that defeat would be one of the biggest assets in MSU’s successful return to Indy.

“I’ve watched the four games on the couch in front of the fireplace”, Ferentz said.

Beathard will get his chance to prove hes every bit as clutch as Cook on Saturday in the Big Ten championship game. “We’ve been in that environment”. Thank you for a regular season that we won’t soon forget – and here’s to hoping there’s still a few more wins to come in 2015, too. “That can only help us”.

QB QUOTIENT: Connor Cook is the first Michigan State quarterback to earn first-team all-conference honors in 50 years.

While Iowa went through their regular season slate with little-to-no issues, the Spartans battled back after a one-point loss to Nebraska on November 7th. That’s because the teams aren’t that different.

Kirk Ferentz was named the Big Ten’s Coach of the Year this week, and rightfully so. “Just two really good programs that respect each other and understand what they bring to the table and understand that it’s going to be a 60-minute fight”. They’re a physical football team offensively, they run the ball very, very well. “He thinks that that’s a lot of games”. The Spartans and Hawkeyes each finished with turnover margins of plus-1.17 per game, tied for the Big Ten lead and fourth in the nation.

He attended camp at Michigan State and was recruited by Michigan State, but the Spartans never offered King a scholarship, although it wasn’t because of a lack of effort on the part of his high school coach. The Hawkeyes are the better team.

He scored on a nine-yard touchdown run to give the Spartans their final points in last week’s win over Penn State, a run designed as a tribute to the senior.

King filled a need with the Hawkeyes and moved into the starting lineup in the second game in 2013 as a true freshman after a hamstring injury sent Jordan Lomax to the sidelines.