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Football

FOOTBALL

PREVIEW: Senior day at MSU hopes to spark Spartans against No. 2 Ohio State

Nathaniel Bott
November 18, 2016

State News football beat writer Nathaniel Bott (Twitter: @Nathaniel_Bott) breaks down what to expect from MSU-Ohio State, gives an injury report and offers his prediction for the contest. The Spartans play host on senior day to the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, who since their lone blemish on the road to No. 8 Penn State have outscored their next three opponents 148-26, winning all three contests.

COMMENTARY

COLUMN: Rutgers win provides minor reprieve in dismal year

Stephen Olschanski
November 16, 2016

The battle of this year’s bums of the Big Ten turned out to be nothing more than a cask of pent up frustration finally splintering then exploding all over Spartan Stadium on Saturday as MSU captured its first win in nearly seven weeks. In the time between wins, the FBI sifted through a trove of newly found Clinton emails and came up empty handed, the Cubs won the World Series, the United States elected Donald Trump as President-elect, Dos-a-Cero came to an end and Ohio State fell from the top five only to wind up at No. 2 by Sunday.

FOOTBALL

Dantonio previews Rutgers, addresses team concerns

Nathaniel Bott
November 9, 2016

MSU head coach Mark Dantonio took the podium on Tuesday in what he described as a “broken record” as the team has yet to improve upon the things he has consistently talked about during the Spartans seven game losing streak. The offense against Illinois was only able to generate nine points in their first six possessions, all which found their way into Illinois territory.

COMMENTARY

COLUMN: It's time for Dantonio to shake things up for MSU football

Nathaniel Bott
November 8, 2016

For all intents and purposes, let’s say MSU beats Rutgers next Saturday. Then we can assume an Ohio State team that just manhandled No. 10 Nebraska embarrasses the Spartans in East Lansing and MSU proceeds to fall to No. 12 Penn State to end the season. That would mean MSU football finishes the season 3-9 with one Big Ten win just a year removed from a College Football Playoff appearance.

FOOTBALL

HALFTIME: MSU trails Illinois 7-6 despite defensive performance

Nathaniel Bott
November 5, 2016

The MSU football team (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten) traveled to Champaign, Ill. to battle the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-6, 1-4). The Spartans are still in search of their first conference win, and despite coming into the game with some confidence, trail the Illini 7-6 at the break. Illinois was able to get on the scoreboard with just 14 seconds left in the half following an 11-play, 73 yard drive capped off by a 19-yard touchdown run from Kendrick Foster. MSU had two drives successful scoring drives in the first half, but couldn’t find their way to the end zone.