Win, and the sky’s the limit for MSU. Lose, and all of the preseason goals and aspirations are thrown out the window.
It's not often that the big guys up front get the glory in football, but for For No.
When No. 8 MSU (7-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) started the season, they thought when they played No. 13 Ohio State (7-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) it would be for the east division championship, and they would have to go through sophomore sensation quarterback Braxton Miller. Miller went down with an injury before the season, but according to junior linebacker Taiwan Jones, freshman starter J.T. Barrett may present a larger problem than Miller. “I feel like with this offense, Barrett works better in this offense,” Jones said. “I feel like he has a better arm, he’s a way better quarterback than Braxton.” Barrett has thrown for 1,856 yards with 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. Jones said the offense under Barrett is not very different schematically with Barrett running it. “They tried to make it a little simpler for Barrett at the beginning, but he’s picking it up a lot more now,” he said. “Guys had to step up, so it’s a little different but it’s the same thing we’ve been seeing the last three years we’ve been playing them.” Jones said while Miller is the more mobile quarterback, Barrett fits OSU head coach Urban Meyer’s offense like Tim Tebow did when Meyer was down at Florida. “As an athlete I feel like Miller was better,” he said. “But to fit in that offense I think he fits like Tebow did in Florida. He controls the game better.”
For all of his career, senior defensive end Marcus Rush has lived in the shadows of the guy opposite of him. Whether it be five star All-American recruit William Gholston or NFL first round projection junior defensive end Shilique Calhoun, Rush has always flew under the radar earning the title “silent but deadly” by one teammate. Regardless of not receiving as much attention from national and local media as his teammates, Rush has built a resume at MSU that some would consider untouchable.
In East Lansing, no one needs to ask who the main rival of No. 7 MSU (7-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) is. Michigan is the clear rival, and the same thing can be said about MSU’s opponent this week in No. 13 Ohio State (7-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten), as the Buckeyes have a hatred as old as time for Michigan.
MSU did not move after a bye week in the recent College Football Playoff rankings, remaining at No.
The Maxwell Football Club released its list of semifinalist for a couple of prestigious awards on Monday and a pair of Spartans made the cut. Junior quarterback Connor Cook was selected as one of 20 semifinalists for the 2014 Maxwell Award for collegiate player of the year, and junior defensive end Shilique Calhoun was selected as one of 20 semifinalists for the 2014 Chuck Bednarik Award for outstanding defensive player of the year.
In the past November has been known as the final drive for a championship and will again serve as a final important stretch for No. 7 MSU starting with No. 13 Ohio State on Saturday
When No. 7 MSU (7-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) takes on No. 13 Ohio State (7-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) Saturday night in East Lansing, it will not only be for a commanding lead in the East Division, but to stay alive for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
This week’s already colossal matchup between No. 8 MSU and No. 13 Ohio State got even bigger on Sunday when ESPN announced College GameDay is coming to East Lansing on Saturday.
The College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday, and the talk hasn’t stopped yet, including for head coach Mark Dantonio.
By Geoff Prestongpreston@statenews.comAfter an emotional win against hated rival Michigan, No.
MSU football has the week off, but its postseason fate still was in action on Tuesday.The Spartans came in at No.
No. 8 MSU football never trailed on Saturday, knocking off in-state rival Michigan, 35-11, at Spartan Stadium.MSU (7-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) used three touchdowns in a 9:08 stretch that ranged from the second to third quarter to pull away against U-M (3-5 overall, 1-3 Big Ten). With the win MSU remains in the College Football Playoff conversation and will turn its focus to No. 13 Ohio State in a couple of weeks.
The game against Michigan is always one of, if not the biggest, game of the year for MSU.
For years, Spartan football had been marked with uncertainty from fans. It seemed like whenever the program was ready to turn the corner and become elite, one game would be dropped and the season would fall into uncertainty.
MSU's rankings in both the coaches and AP poll remain the same after their 35-11 win Saturday against Michigan. MSU is No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 5 in the coaches poll.
Before No. 8 MSU (7-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) took on Michigan (3-5 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) U-M players took a metal tent stake and drove it into the ground at the 35 yard-line.
No. 8 MSU (7-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) put a stake in the heart of Michigan (3-5 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) by winning 35-11 Saturday at Spartan Stadium.It was a different stake, however, that grabbed the attention of players and coaches before the game.
No. 8 MSU football used a couple of second half scores and stifling defense to roll past Michigan, 35-11, at Spartan Stadium on Saturday. The win was MSU’s sixth in the last seven matchups against U-M, including the Spartan’s fourth straight victory at home against the maize-and-blue.