Michigan State Named FWAA AutoNation National Team of the Week

Nov. 23, 2015

EAST LANSING, Mich. â€" After snapping defending National Champion Ohio State's 23-game winning streak with a 17-14 victory in Columbus last Saturday, Michigan State has been named the AutoNation National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America.

Junior Michael Geiger kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give the Spartans their second win of the season on the final play of regulation (Jalen Watts-Jackson 38-yard fumble return vs. Michigan on Oct. 17).

MSU also ended Ohio State's NCAA FBS record of 30 consecutive regular-season conference victories. It marked the Spartans' second straight win in Ohio Stadium (10-7 win in 2011).

MSU's defense limited Ohio State to 132 total yards (86 rushing, 46 passing) â€" the lowest offensive output ever by an Urban Meyer-coached team and the fewest by the Buckeyes since 1999 (79 vs. Michigan State). The Spartans allowed just five first downs and forced the Buckeye offense into six three-and-outs. Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, who entered the game with a streak of 15 consecutive games with more than 100 yards rushing, was held to 33 yards rushing on 12 carries.

In his first career start at quarterback, junior Tyler O'Connor completed 7-of-12 passes for 89 yards and one touchdown (12 yards to Trevon Pendleton in second quarter). O'Connor also rushed eight times for 25 yards. The 89 passing yards and 12 pass attempts were a career high, and the seven completions tied a career high (Youngstown State, 2013).

Sophomore Gerald Holmes led the Spartans in rushing for the third consecutive game with 65 yards on 14 carries; he had a 2-yard touchdown run at the 12:03 mark in the fourth quarter.

Michigan State is 6-1 in its last seven games against Associated Press Top 10 teams. In addition, the Spartans are 5-1 against AP Top 10 teams since 2013. Michigan State has won eight of its last 10 games played against ranked opponents, including four straight (No. 4 Baylor in 2015 Cotton Bowl, No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State this season). The win over the second-ranked Buckeyes matched the highest ranked opponent the Spartans have defeated under Dantonio (No. 2 Ohio State in 2013).

In addition, Michigan State has won its last four games against an undefeated Ohio State team when playing the Buckeyes past Nov. 1 (defeated No. 1 OSU 16-13 on Nov. 9, 1974, in East Lansing; defeated No. 1 OSU 28-24 on Nov. 7, 1998, in Columbus; defeated No. 2 OSU 34-24 on Dec. 7, 2013, in Indianapolis; defeated No. 2 OSU 17-14 on Nov. 21, 2015).

This marks the seventh time Michigan State has been named the National Team of the Week by the FWAA since the award's inception in 2002 (2013 vs. Michigan; 2011 vs. Michigan; 2010 vs. Wisconsin; 2006 vs. Northwestern; 2005 vs. Notre Dame; 2004 vs. Wisconsin).

As part of AutoNation's history of charitable involvement, AutoNation will donate $1,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in Michigan State University's name. This charitable college football initiative culminates with the AutoNation Cure Bowl, a new postseason NCAA football game that kicks off bowl season at the Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and will be aired by CBS Sports Network. The AutoNation Cure Bowl also serves as a fund raiser for the BCRF, CharityWatch's only A+ rated breast cancer organization in the country.