Number 5 Michigan State Beats #7 Oregon 31-28

Ohio State is the consensus #1 ranked team in the nation, not to mention the favorite to win the Big Ten East as well as the conference championship.  But that’s not to say they are going to win the Big Ten East just by showing up and drubbing the other teams in that division.  Okay, they probably will drub some of them, but they won’t have an easy time of it against Michigan State.

The Spartans, #5 in the AP Poll, played #7 Oregon in East Lansing on September 12th, and withstood a fourth quarter comeback to beat the Ducks 31-28.   Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook threw two touchdown passes, and running back L.J. Scott rushed for two TDs.  The Spartan defense also stopped the Oregon offense four times on fourth down.  Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr., the successor to departed Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, completed 22of 39 passing attempts for 309 yards and one touchdown, with two interception.

Michigan State, now 2-0,  will host Air Force (2-0) on September 19th.  The Spartans will have to guard against looking past the Falcons, as Air Force is coming off a 10-3 season.  Also upcoming: Michigan State travels to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan on October 17th.  The Wolverines lost at Utah in their opener but clobbered the other FBS Oregon school, Oregon State, 35-7.  The Spartan’s potentially huge game against Ohio State is November 21st in Columbus.