FOOTBALL
MSU fans pregame in anticipation of the Cotton Bowl
MSU fans in Arlington tailgate the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31, 2015.
FOOTBALL
Video: AT&T Stadium, "Jerry World" quick sights and facts
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — AT&T Stadium is often referred to as “Jerry World” after the celebrity owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones. There might not be a stadium grander than his anywhere else on this planet.
FOOTBALL
Dueling column: Why MSU will defeat Alabama in the CFP
Many Alabama fans seem pleased to have drawn MSU as their opponent in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, I've seen it described as "the perfect matchup" by some. In a way this is also the perfect matchup for the Spartans, not necessarily the easiest matchup— but without a doubt the perfect matchup.
FOOTBALL
Dueling column: Why Alabama will defeat MSU in the CFP
When ESPN finally revealed the bracket, Alabama fans everywhere cheered. Don’t misunderstand me, no one in SEC country had a doubt that Alabama deserved one of the top seeds in this year’s playoff. Alabama fans wanted the easiest path to the title game, and many feel they got it.
FOOTBALL
4 is better than 8, a phone call to Saban and a teacher named Salem
Before No. 3-ranked MSU takes on No. 2-ranked Alabama in the Cotton Bowl for a berth in the national championship game, here are a few facts you might not know.
FOOTBALL
Battle of the Bands: MSU Spartan Marching Band versus Alabama Million Dollar Band
The MSU Spartan Marching Band and Alabama Million Dollar Band presented a dueling performance at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas.
FOOTBALL
Video: Preview of No. 3 MSU's Cotton Bowl matchup against No. 2 Alabama
Watch as our football beat reporters Matthew Argillander and Ryan Kryska preview the upcoming College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup between MSU and Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. Matthew's prediction: MSU 27-24 Ryan's prediction: MSU 37-34
FOOTBALL
Column: Enough is enough, MSU is an elite program, and that's old news
Alright everybody, listen up. Enough is enough. Enough of the talk of whether or not MSU is an “elite” football program. In case you’re late to the party, I’ve got some old news for you -- Yes, they are.
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
A 50-year evolution: The 2015 Spartans through the eyes of MSU's 1965 national champions
The world was a much different place back in 1965, but since then the MSU football team has reestablished themselves as one of the elite programs in the country, trying to repeat history and achieve national success.
FOOTBALL
Christmas night sees the Spartans arrive in Dallas for Cotton Bowl preparations
The week of CFP preparation has begun for the No. 3-ranked MSU football team as it arrived at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport late on Christmas evening.
FOOTBALL
MSU ranked 19th on Forbes' 'College Football's Most Valuable Teams 2015' list
According to Forbes' 'College Football's Most Valuable Teams 2015' list, the Spartans have the 19th most valuable football program in the country.
FOOTBALL
Top 10 plays of the 2015 MSU football season so far
Top 10 plays of the 2015 MSU football season so far
FOOTBALL
Mind games are an advantage for linebackers Jon Reschke and Riley Bullough
Football is a sport that requires a lot of mental fortitude, the minute another player is in your head and you hesitate even for a brief moment you have lost. There's that cliched quote that sports are 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical and while there is no way to truly quantify this, it really does take a sound mind to make it in football.
FOOTBALL
Mark Dantonio and Nick Saban by the numbers
MSU head coach Mark Dantonio and Alabama’s Nick Saban have a lot more in common than meets the eye. Let’s take a closer look with the help of some numbers.
FOOTBALL
His teammates' promise comes true: Senior safety RJ Williamson will play against Alabama
When senior safety RJ Williamson went down in week five with a torn biceps, his teammates promised him there would be two games left when he returned to the lineup. The trainers told Williamson he would probably not be ready until the postseason, so in other words— Williamson's teammates promised him the playoffs and they delivered.
FOOTBALL
Mark Dantonio appears as 'Mike' in most recent Sports Illustrated cover
MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio was incorrectly identified as 'Mike' Dantonio on the most recent cover of Sports Illustrated.
FOOTBALL
MSU tight ends crucial to passing game against Alabama
The relationship between fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook and the tight end position began the day Cook was born. His father, Chris, was a tight end at Indiana University in the 1980s.
FOOTBALL
MSU defensive line primed to take on Alabama's Heisman Trophy-winner Derrick Henry
In MSU’s 42-41 win over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl last season, then-redshirt junior defensive tackle Joel Heath had a split sack with then-redshirt junior defensive tackle Shilique Calhoun and a split tackle-for-loss with then-redshirt junior linebacker Darien Harris.