No. 6 Michigan State avenges 2014 loss to Oregon
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Breaking down No. 6 Michigan State's 31-28 win against No. 5 Oregon on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium:
THE BIG PICTURE: In the biggest non-conference matchup of the season — at least as measured by the current rankings — the Spartans’ trademark defense was the difference. Their performance included a goal-line stand in the first quarter, a stop of Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams on fourth-and-1 midway through the fourth quarter and a huge sack with just more than a minute left with Oregon nearing range for a tying field-goal try — or more.
Along with Connor Cook's efficient passing and running game that gradually became more effective as the game wore on, the defense was enough to give Michigan State the win.
WHAT WE’LL BE TALKING ABOUT: Michigan State gets a huge, résumé-building win, the kind that could loom very large in the collective eyes of the College Football Playoff’s selection committee. The Spartans have to keep winning, of course, and their season probably will still come down to whether they win Nov. 21 at Ohio State. But with the win against Oregon, it’s not out of the question that Michigan State could contend for a playoff berth even with a close loss to the Buckeyes.
Meanwhile, the loss doesn’t end Oregon’s hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff, but it leaves them with very little margin for error. The loss was reminiscent of several other notable losses in recent years: a bigger, more physical team wore the Ducks down.
THE DECIDING PLAY: Michigan State’s lead had been sliced to three points early in the fourth quarter, but the Spartans answered emphatically, needing only three plays to score. Freshman running back L.J. Scott’s 38-yard touchdown run came when he bounced away from contact on the right side of the line, then outran several Ducks to the front corner of the end zone. One play earlier, he’d run for 9 yards.
KEY STAT: Oregon prides itself on running the football from the hurry-up spread. But against Michigan State, that was a difficult chore. The Ducks finished with 123 yards on 43 carries, a 2.9-yard average with a long run of 17 yards. Though Adams threw for 309 yards, Oregon’s inability to run was decisive.
TOP PLAY: With the score tied at 14 midway through the third quarter, Michigan State faced fourth-and-6 at the Oregon 34. Connor Cook went deep, feathering a perfect pass deep down the sideline to senior receiver Aaron Burbridge, a demonstration of the touch that NFL scouts love about Cook. Burbridge had a step on a cornerback, and the pass arrived just ahead of the safety’s help for a 28-yard gain. On the next play, Scott bolted 6 yards into the end zone to give the Spartans the lead.
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