After it appeared to be a virtual lock that No. 8 MSU (10-2 overall) was heading to South Beach for New Year’s Day, the selection committee threw a curveball as now the Spartans can set their sights on the lone star state this holiday season. MSU will take on No.
MSU finished the season 10-2 and most likely will play in one of the New Year’s Day six non-playoff bowl games. That’s a pretty successful season and something Spartan fans should be pleased with in the end. However, MSU gets only a B+ grade simply because the Spartans didn’t live up to the high expectations.
With the regular season over, MSU football now turns its attention to bowl game season. Here's a breakdown of the bowl games MSU could potentially play in on New Years or New Years Eve.
Although MSU's College Football Playoff dreams may have ended with their Nov. 8 loss to Ohio State, the Spartans (10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) remain very interested in the College Football Playoff rankings. The top 10 teams in the rankings are in the running for one of the selection committee's non-playoff bowl games, also referred to as the "New Year's six" bowl games.
On Monday evening, the Big Ten announced its regular season award winners and all league teams, and as many would expect No. 7 MSU had its share of winners and representatives.
It wasn’t pretty in the first half, but eventually No. 7 MSU pulled away Saturday, topping Penn State, 34-10, from Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Although the Spartans have the week off, they took home a few honors Monday with nine players being selected to All-Big Ten teams. This included a couple of individual awards. Senior wide receiver Tony Lippett won the Richter-Howard Big Ten Receiver of the Year award and senior free safety Kurtis Drummond won the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year award.
No. 7 MSU entered the week already eliminated from the Big Ten race, but in the minds of players and coaches there was still a lot on the table to play for.
MSU football has moved up three spots to No. 7 in the latest AP Poll after knocking off Penn State, 34-10, on Saturday from Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa.
No. 10 MSU (10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) survived a slow offensive start that turned into a late resurgence to beat Penn State (6-6 overall, 2-6 Big Ten) 34-10.
MSU football will look for its 10th win of the season against Penn State Saturday, and football beat writers Geoff Preston and Robert Bondy believe the Spartans will have no problem getting the victory.
Four years ago, MSU football traveled to Beaver Stadium looking to achieve something the program hadn’t done in 20 years — win a Big Ten Championship.
No. 10 MSU (9-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) will travel to Penn State (6-5 overall, 2-5 Big Ten) this Saturday for its final game of the regular season. Head coach Mark Dantonio addressed the media on Tuesday, breaking down the importance of this week’s game, the secondary’s current situation and disrespect from Big Ten officials.
No. 10 MSU (9-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) cruised to a 45-3 victory over Rutgers (6-5 overall, 2-5 Big Ten) on Saturday in the Green and White's final game of the season at Spartan Stadium.
Football is a serious, physical and intense game. Especially at a high competitive level like in the Big Ten. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Head coach Mark Dantonio made it fun for MSU Saturday with some unconventional play calling that led to a number of smiles following the 45-3 victory over Rutgers in the Spartans’ final home game of the season.
Going into Saturday's game against Rutgers, senior wide receiver Tony Lippett only needed one yard to join the 1,000 receiving yards club as only the eighth Spartan to reach that milestone.
It was a day that the seniors were supposed to shine, and they did.
It's senior day for the MSU football team, and football beat writers Robert Bondy and Geoff Preston predict healthy wins for the Spartans over Rutgers on Saturday.
By Robert Bondy rbondy@statenews.com Saturday will serve as a beginning and ending for MSU and its players. No.
With the Big Ten's expansion east No. 10 MSU (8-2 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) is getting the opportunity to play against teams they haven't seen in many years, and a chance for some recruits to play local teams that aren't from the midwest.