A week after taking down Ohio State in Columbus, No. 5 Michigan State continued to roll, taking down Penn State, 55-16. The Spartans’ win allowed them to finish the season 11-1 and clinch a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game, where they will meet Iowa in what has essentially become a play-in game for the College Football Playoff.
Michigan State dominates Penn State, clinches trip to Big Ten Championship against Iowa
The Spartans are rolling to Indianapolis.
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
MSU’s offense got back on track with injured quarterback Connor Cook returning this week, and the Penn State defense held for a quarter before giving up 28 combined points in the second and third quarters to go down 34-10. The offense showed why it’s been one of the best in the Big Ten this year behind the hard running of Gerald Holmes and L.J. Scott and the incredible play of wide receiver Aaron Burbridge, who must lead the country in acrobatic plays.
In the fourth quarter, it was the defense that came up big with interceptions to turn this one into a blowout. And one that set up this all-time Piesman play, with center Jack Allen running the ball like it’s his job.
Now, MSU’s attention turns to 12-0 Iowa, which came in just in front of the Spartans at No. 4 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The Hawkeyes are coming off a win at Nebraska, which is the only place where Michigan State lost this year.
The Spartans and Hawkeyes last met in 2013 in Iowa City, when MSU won, 26-14. Iowa has won four of the last seven meetings and last won, 19-16, in East Lansing in 2012. After a one-year break, this year’s matchup will take place on Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Game time is set for 8:17 p.m. ET.
These two teams are built pretty similarly. Both have better offenses than they’re used to, though MSU relies more on the passing game and Iowa more on the running game, and although they’ve shown weaknesses on defense this year, they have specialized making big plays.
The winner of the Big Ten title game will almost certainly make the College Football Playoff, so those who are fans of an eight-game playoff get their national quarterfinal.
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