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Football

FOOTBALL

Alabama's one and only Michigan-born player hails from a Spartan family

MSU alumni Ron and Diane Posa have been waiting for the Spartans to make it to this stage for a long time, but when MSU takes on Alabama in the College Football Playoff Semifinal on New Year's Eve the Posas will be cheering for the Tide. This is because their son Chris Posa is a junior offensive lineman for Alabama — the only player from Michigan on the Crimson Tide's roster.

FOOTBALL

Looking back at Nick Saban's departure from MSU

Nick Saban has established himself as college football's most successful head coach of the past decade. But before obtaining his four national championships in nine years, he made a decision to depart MSU prior to his 1999 team's Citrus Bowl matchup against Florida.

FOOTBALL

Connor Cook wins 2015 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

Senior quarterback Connor Cook has been regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the country all season long, Tuesday afternoon that talk was validated with some hardware. Cook's play this season has earned him the 2015 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually since 1987 to the nation’s top college quarterback.

FOOTBALL

MSU football's miraculous 2015 journey continues with the College Football Playoff

When freshman running back LJ Scott scored MSU’s game-winning touchdown during MSU’s Big Ten championship victory over Iowa Saturday night, a 6-foot-2 and 268-pound Hawkeye defensive end went on a string to jostle Scott’s extended arm, but Scott moved the ball at the perfect time to evade a devastating turnover and reach it over the goal line. Twenty-seven seconds later, the MSU players stormed the field, reaching their helmets high into the air to celebrate a 16-13 victory over Iowa. They knew what this win meant — a College Football Playoff spot — and the eventual selection on Sunday proved this true as No. 3 MSU (12-1) will be playing No. 2 Alabama (12-1) in the national semifinals — the Cotton Bowl, which the Spartans won last year over Baylor 42-41.

FOOTBALL

MSU football coaches and players look ahead to Alabama during Sunday press conference

In the first press conference after the Spartans were officially named as the #3 seed in the second annual College Football Playoff, the focus was less on the previous night's triumph and more on the challenges to come. "We've got a great opportunity against the University of Alabama," Dantonio The Hawkeyes were awarded the #5 spot in the final College Football Playoff rankings, and they will head to Pasadena, CA to face #6 Stanford in the Rose Bowl on Jan.