After a challenging opener against (2) Alabama, Michigan State hosted Penn State in the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy. There was no contest, as Penn State's 4 turnovers gave unnecessary help to the Spartans.
Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State found themselves destined for another Game of the Century. No, this was not the National Championship. It was only Week 2. The Spartans got all they expected for out of No. 2 Alabama.
Defenses on both sides were punishing. The Spartan offense was held to 4 field goals and less than 200 offensive yards.
The Spartan defense intercepted Alec Morris three times. They also scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery.
Boise State would be offended. You may ask why. Despite the 54-9 victory, (coming as a result of 47 unanswered second-half points), the Spartans were in a tough fight to get most of them.
You can accredit 7 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) as fuel for multiple scoring drives, but the first and second halves felt like two completely different games.
Boise made two huge 4th down stands early. They went into the locker room with a 9-7 lead! Unfortunately, what happened for them this evening must remain in their minds for the entire offseason. What a sour exit from the Big East...
Another season has ended, and it is once again time to re-determine the landscape of college football.
Two offseasons ago, the BCS was set to dissolve in favor of a playoff. Instead, the commissioners of the FBS Conferences, and AD's of the Independent FBS schools met and compromised.
All conference ties to bowl games were eliminated. AQ status was maintained, however.
To combat radical conference alignment, the NCAA established the FBS Quality Committee. Their goal is to maintain quality in the FBS with multiple, viable conferences who preferably determine their champions via a Conference Championship game. Additionally, the committee wants to reward consistently well-performing underdogs. Lastly, the committee wants to punish underperforming members of AQ conferences.
The FBS Quality Committee has power to alter qualifications for former BCS bowls. They also have absolute control over conference realignment.
This year, the FBS Quality Committee mandates that:
Iowa State leaves the Big 12 East Division and joins the Big 10 Legends Division.
Toledo leaves the Big 12 East Division and join the Big 10 Leaders Division.
Tulane leaves the Conference USA West Division and moves to the Sun Belt.
Oregon State leaves the Pac-12 North Division and joins the Big East West Division.
The FBS Quality Committee promotes:
Boise State University to the Pac-12 North Division.
In a rather controversial B1G season, we still found a way to crown the "correct winner". Michigan State represented the Legends division, despite contending all season long with Iowa. Since the Spartans won the head-to-head matchup, they played in the Championship.
In the Leaders division, Ohio State had a worse overall record but better in-conference record than favorited Wisconsin. The run for the conference championship by Ohio State was ended with the Spartan victory today.
The "new" Michigan State "Pro Spread" continued to wreak havoc on defenses.
In terms of defensive superiority, there was no surprise here.
However, MSU tried out a new playbook. It is based off of Texas State, but was edited while keeping current personnel in mind. Austin Olsen started, but was injured during the game. Both Tyler O'Connor and former starter Connor Cook took snaps and were generally successful.
Michigan State Spartans at Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Spartans finally capitalized on their specialized personnel usage. The short-passing game was on all afternoon, and Austin Olsen broke loose with the use of his famous "Read Option" play.
The only undefeated teams left in the Big 10 squared off today. The Spartans came into Kinnick Stadium and made sure that they left unblemished. Two early fumbles nearly thwarted their chances, but 28 2nd half points kept the hopes of a perfect season alive.
Offense, defense, and special teams put up at least one touchdown each in order to blow #21 Georgia out of the water.
Graham had 2 PR TDs and 1 KR TD.
Waynes and Jones both had pick 6's.
Cook threw 2 TD passes in his return as the starter.
Once again, the future is bright, as MSU has finally completed their non-conference schedule. After a potential BCS busting game (@ #4 Iowa), MSU ends with Nebraska, Northwestern, and Minnesota.
In the only opportunity for the Spartans to lose possession of the Paul Bunyan Trophy, they managed to keep it. Turnovers are still an issue, but the backup (Tim O'Connor) revived the Spartan offense to a resounding victory.
MSU has opted to return to their former "West Coast", hurry-up, Pro-Style offense. The "Spread" experiment will return next season. As a result, Connor Cook returns to the starting position; however, Austin Olsen and Brad Givens will remain in the "rotation". After becoming a campus hero, Tim O'Connor is the odd man out. He will likely only see action in blowouts or via injury.
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