Cotton Bowl Classic Media Guide Available Online
12/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
| College Football Playoff Semifinal at Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 3 Michigan State (12-1, 7-1 B1G) vs. No. 2 Alabama (12-1, 7-1 SEC) | |
| Date | Time | Thursday, Dec. 31 | 8:10 p.m. EST |
| Location | Arlington, Texas AT&T Stadium (71,185/Matrix Field Turf) |
| Televison | ESPN |
| Broadcast Team | Chris Fowler (play-by-play) | Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) | Heather Cox & Tom Rinaldi (sidelines) |
| Internet Coverage | Watch Live (WatchESPN) | |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) | Affiliates |
| Radio (Mobile) | Broadcast available on Spartan Sports Network Mobile App: iPhone/iPad | Android |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Alabama |
| Bowl Information | Cotton Bowl Central (Gameday Live) | Cotton Bowl Alumni Association Cotton Bowl Website | CottonBowl.com |
| Social Media | @MSU_Football  | #MSUCotton | Facebook  |
SPARTAN FOOTBALL NEWS AND NOTES â€"
• Following its 16-13 win over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan State (12-1, 7-1 Big Ten) was selected the third seed in the four-team College Football Playoff and will play second-seeded and SEC Champion Alabama (12-1, 7-1 SEC) in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Thursday, Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (8 p.m., ESPN). No. 1 seed Clemson (13-0) will face No. 4 Oklahoma (11-1) in the Capital One Orange Bowl, also on Dec. 31. The 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game is set for Jan. 11 in Glendale, Arizona, at University of Phoenix Stadium.
• The Spartans will be making their second consecutive appearance in the Cotton Bowl. Michigan State staged a 20-point, fourth-quarter comeback in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic to defeat No. 4 Baylor, 42-41. With the Cotton Bowl Classic victory over Baylor, MSU extended its school-record bowl winning streak to four games, tied for the longest in Big Ten history (2012 Outback over No. 18 Georgia, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings over TCU, 2014 Rose Bowl over No. 5 Stanford, 2015 Cotton Bowl over No. 4 Baylor). It also equals the longest active bowl winning streak in the FBS. Michigan State is one of just five schools in the FBS to win bowl games in each of the last four seasons (Louisiana-Lafayette, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas A&M).
• Michigan State has posted at least 11 wins five times in the last six seasons (11 in 2010, 11 in 2011, 13 in 2013, 11 in 2014, 12 in 2015). Prior to Mark Dantonio's arrival, the Spartans had just two 10-win seasons in school history (1965, 1999). Dantonio is the first coach in Big Ten history to record five 11-win seasons in a six-year span. His five 11-win seasons rank second most in Big Ten history, along with Joe Paterno (five with Penn State as Big Ten member). The 12 wins in 2015 are second most in school history (13 in 2013).
• Michigan State won its second Big Ten Championship in three years and ninth in school history with a 16-13 victory over No. 4 Iowa. It marked Dantonio's third Big Ten Championship (2010, 2013, 2015), establishing a school record (previous: Duffy Daugherty and George Perles with two). The Spartans also won Big Ten titles in 1953, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987 and 1990.
• Michigan State is extending its school record by playing in a bowl game for the ninth consecutive season (2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl). The nine-year bowl streak is currently the second longest in the Big Ten and 12th longest in the NCAA FBS.
• Ninth-year Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio will be making his ninth bowl appearance at MSU, extending his school record for most bowl appearances by a head coach (previous record: George Perles with seven from 1983-94). Dantonio is 4-4 in bowl games at Michigan State, including a school-record four-game winning streak (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton). Dantonio has led his teams to 11 bowl berths in 12 seasons as a head coach (nine at MSU, two at Cincinnati). He set a school record by winning his third Big Ten Championship (2010, 2013, 2015) with the victory over Iowa.
• Michigan State has defeated nine bowl teams this season, including four wins over AP Top 25 teams (No. 7 Oregon on Sept. 12, No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17, No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, No. 4 Iowa on Dec. 5). MSU also beat Western Michigan, Air Force, Central Michigan, Indiana and Penn State, who are all playing in the postseason.
• MSU's 20-point comeback win over Baylor (trailed 41-21 entering the fourth quarter) in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic was the biggest in Spartan postseason history (previous: down 16-0 at halftime to Georgia in the 2012 Outback Bowl). In addition, it marked the second-largest comeback win in Cotton Bowl Classic history (22 points by Notre Dame in 1979; the Irish trailed 34-12 with 7:37 left in the fourth quarter and rallied to defeat Houston, 35-34).
• Alabama defeated MSU in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, 49-7, in Orlando, Florida, in the only previous meeting between the two schools.
• According to the NCAA, Alabama has played the second-most difficult schedule in the country this season (opponents are 81-43 for a .653 winning percentage). The Spartans have also played a difficult slate, coming in at 16th (opponents: 80-56, .588) while beating four Top-20 CFP teams (No. 5 Iowa, No. 7 Ohio State, No. 14 Michigan, No. 15 Oregon). The Crimson Tide have defeated three CFP Top 25 teams (No. 19 Florida, No. 20 LSU, No. 23 Tennessee).
• With a 43-10 record, the 2015 senior class is the winningest senior class in school history (previous record: 42 wins in 2013 and 2014). The 23-member 2015 senior class has been a part of three bowl wins (2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton), two Big Ten division titles (2013, 2015) and two Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015).
• Following the Dec. 5 win over No. 4 Iowa, the Spartans are 7-1 in their last eight games against AP Top 10 teams, including a 6-1 mark since 2013 and 3-0 in 2015. MSU beat No. 4 Wisconsin in 2011. Michigan State has won nine of its last 11 games played against ranked opponents, including five straight (No. 4 Baylor in 2015 Cotton Bowl; No. 7 Oregon on Sept. 12; No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17, No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, No. 4 Iowa on Dec. 5).
• A trademark of Mark Dantonio's Michigan State teams has been their ability to produce wins late in the season. Under Dantonio, Michigan State has compiled a 29-12 record (.707) in November, December and January. His teams have won 18 of the last 22 games in November (3-0 in 2010; 4-0 in 2011; 1-2 in 2012; 4-0 in 2013; 3-1 in 2014; 3-1 in 2015). In the four seasons (2003-06) prior to Dantonio's arrival, MSU went just 2-11 (.154) in November.
• Fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook, the winningest quarterback in school history, owns a 34-4 record (.895) as the starter, including a 23-2 (.910) mark against Big Ten opponents. The 34 wins are second most among active starting quarterbacks in the NCAA FBS (Stanford's Kevin Hogan with 35), and Cook's .895 winning percentage is No. 1 (minimum 24 starts). Cook is 5-1 against AP Top 10 teams in his career and 8-3 against AP Top 25 opponents. He was named the 2015 recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
• MSU's 65 wins since 2010 are tied for fourth most among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams and most in the Big Ten during that same period. The Spartans have posted their sixth consecutive winning season, a first for the program since 1985-90. MSU has won 65 of its last 80 games (65-15; .813), dating back to the beginning of the 2010 season. In addition, the Spartans have won 38 of their last 42 games (.905), dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale. MSU has won 36 games since the beginning of 2013 (36-4 record), third most in the FBS during that period. During conference play, Michigan State has won 25 of its last 27 games against Big Ten opponents, dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale, including 18 wins by double-figures.
• Michigan State is the only school in the nation to win a Bowl Championship Series game during the 2013 season (24-20 over Stanford in 2014 Rose Bowl Game) and a New Year's Six bowl game (42-41 over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl Classic) last season.
• MSU was ranked No. 5 in the final 2014 Associated Press and USA TODAY/Amway Coaches Polls. The Spartans finished ranked among the nation's top five for the second year in a row (No. 3 in both polls in 2013) â€" a program first since 1965-66. It marked MSU's 14th Top 10 finish in the history of the AP Poll. It also marked MSU's fifth Top 10 finish in the history of the USA TODAY Coaches Poll (began administering the poll in 1991), including its third under Dantonio. Dantonio has led Michigan State to Top 25 finishes in five of the last seven seasons (2008: No. 24 in both polls; 2010: No. 14 in both polls; 2011: No. 10 USA TODAY).
STAT LEADERS â€"
Michigan State (after 13 games):
Rushing â€" LJ Scott (140 carries for 691 yards, 4.9 avg., 11 TDs)
Passing â€" Connor Cook (210 of 369 for 2,921 yards, 24 TDs, 5 INTs)
Receiving â€" Aaron Burbridge (80 catches for 1,219 yards, 15.2 avg., 7 TDs)
Tackles â€" Riley Bullough (95 tackles, 42 solos, 53 assists, 7 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 INTs)
Alabama (after 13 games):
Rushing â€" Derrick Henry (339 carries for 1,986 yards, 5.9 avg., 23 TDs)
Passing â€" Jake Coker (222 of 338 for 2,489 yards, 17 TDs, 8 INTs)
Receiving â€" Calvin Ridley (75 catches for 893 yards, 11.9 avg., 5 TDs)
Tackles â€" Reggie Ragland (90 tackles, 51 solos, 39 assists, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks)
SPARTAN BOWL HISTORY â€"
• Michigan State is making its 26th postseason bowl appearance overall and its second consecutive trip to the Cotton Bowl. MSU is one of only two Big Ten team as a conference member to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic (Ohio State, 1987). The Spartans are 11-14 overall (.440) in bowl games.
• Michigan State is extending its school record by playing in a bowl game for the ninth consecutive season (2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic, 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal at Cotton Bowl Classic). The nine-year bowl streak is currently the second longest in the Big Ten and 12th longest in the FBS.
• Michigan State staged a 20-point, fourth-quarter comeback in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic to defeat No. 4 Baylor, 42-41. With the Cotton Bowl Classic victory over Baylor, MSU extended its school-record bowl winning streak to four games, tied for the longest in Big Ten history (2012 Outback over No. 18 Georgia, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings over TCU, 2014 Rose Bowl over No. 5 Stanford, 2015 Cotton Bowl over No. 4 Baylor). It also equals the longest active bowl winning streak in the FBS. Michigan and Ohio State each have two four-game bowl winning streaks in their history, while Purdue and Wisconsin have accomplished the feat once. A win over Alabama would give MSU a Big Ten-record five-game bowl winning streak.
• Michigan State is one of just five schools in the FBS to win bowl games in each of the last four seasons (Louisiana-Lafayette, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas A&M).
• Eleven of Michigan State's last 13 bowl opponents have been ranked in The Associated Press Top 25, including No. 2 Alabama in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, No. 4 Baylor in the 2015 Cotton Bowl, No. 5 Stanford in the 2014 Rose Bowl, No. 18 Georgia in the 2012 Outback Bowl, No. 15 Alabama in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, No. 16 Georgia in the 2009 Capital One Bowl, No. 14 Boston College in the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl, No. 22 Nebraska in the 2003 Alamo Bowl, No. 20 Fresno State in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic, No. 10 Florida in the 2000 Florida Citrus Bowl and No. 21 Washington in the 1997 Aloha Bowl.
• Alabama is the highest-ranked AP opponent MSU has ever faced in a bowl game (previous: No. 4 UCLA in 1956 Rose Bowl; No. 4 UCLA in 1966 Rose Bowl; No. 4 Baylor in 2015 Cotton Bowl).
• This marks the seventh time in MSU history the Spartans will be featured in an AP Top 10 matchup in a bowl game (1954 Rose Bowl: No. 3 MSU vs. No. 5 UCLA; 1956 Rose Bowl: No. 2 MSU vs. No. 4 UCLA; 1966 Rose Bowl: No. 1 MSU vs. No. 4 UCLA; 2000 Citrus Bowl: No. 9 MSU vs. No. 10 Florida; 2014 Rose Bowl: No. 4 MSU vs. No. 5 Stanford; 2015 Cotton Bowl: No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 7 Michigan State). The Spartans are 5-1 in the previous six Top-10 matchups.
DANTONIO NO STRANGER TO POSTSEASON PLAY â€"
• Mark Dantonio is making his 24th appearance in postseason play (as a graduate assistant, assistant coach or head coach), including four NCAA I-AA playoffs and 20 bowl games. Dantonio has compiled a 10-9 record in bowl games, including a 5-4 mark as head coach.
• Dantonio will be making his ninth bowl appearance at MSU, extending his school record for most bowl appearances by a head coach (previous record: George Perles with seven from 1983-94). Dantonio is 4-4 in bowl games at Michigan State, including a school-record four-game winning streak (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose; 2015 Cotton). Dantonio has led his teams to 11 bowl appearances in 12 seasons as a head coach (nine at MSU, two at Cincinnati; did not coach in 2007 International Bowl with UC).
• Dantonio will be coaching in the 20th bowl game of his career in the Cotton Bowl, including his sixth in a New Year's Day/New Year's Six game as head coach at MSU (2009 Capital One Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl, 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal at Cotton Bowl). Dantonio's nine-game bowl streak at Michigan State is tied for the fifth longest by an active head coach at the same school and is the longest in the Big Ten.
FIVE SPARTANS GARNER FIRST-TEAM ALL-BIG TEN HONORS â€"
• Five Michigan State players were named to the All-Big Ten First Team and a total of 16 Spartans received all-conference recognition. The five first-team selections by the coaches matched Ohio State for the most of any school in the conference, and the four first-team honorees on offense were the most in the league. The five first-team All-Big Ten selections tie for the second most first-team All-Big Ten selections under Dantonio (six in 2013; five in 2014 and 2012).
• Two Spartans took home individual awards, as senior Aaron Burbridge was named the Richter-Howard Big Ten Receiver of the Year and fifth-year senior Connor Cook was selected the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year. It marks the second year in a row a Spartan has won the Receiver of the Year (Tony Lippett, 2014).
• Burbridge, Cook, fifth-year senior center Jack Allen, fifth-year defensive end Shilique Calhoun and junior offensive tackle Jack Conklin were first-team selections by both the coaches and media.
• Since 2007, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio has helped produce 36 first-team All-Big Ten selections.
• Calhoun is the first Spartan defensive lineman in school history to earn first-team honors three times and just the eighth player at MSU to garner first-team accolades on at least three occasions.
• Jack Allen is only the fifth Spartan offensive lineman to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors twice (Ellison Kelly, 1957-58; David Behrman, 1961-62; Joe DeLamielleure, 1971-72, Tony Mandarich, 1987-88) and just the second center (Behrman). Behrman played multiple positions on the offensive line in 1961, including center, and focused on center in 1962.
• Cook is the first Spartan quarterback to win the Greise-Brees Quarterback of the Year Award since its inception in 2011 and is also the first Spartan QB be named first-team All-Big Ten since Steve Juday in 1965 and only the fifth ever in school history (Earl Morrall, 1955; James Ninowski, 1957; Dean Look, 1959; Juday, 1965). Cook was a second-team selection in 2013 and 2014.
• The four first-team All-Big Ten selections on offense were the most of any school in the league, and the most at Michigan State since 1978 (end Eugene Byrd; tight end Mark Brammer; offensive tackle James Hinesly, flanker Kirk Gibson). With Allen and Conklin both on the first team, it also marked the first time MSU has had two first-team All-Big Ten offensive linemen since 1990 (Jim Johnson, tackle; Eric Moten, guard).
THREE SPARTANS EARN ALL-AMERICA ACCOLADES, INCLUDING TWO FIRST-TEAMERS â€"
• Three Spartans picked up All-America honors in 2015: fifth-year senior center Jack Allen, fifth-year senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun, and junior offensive tackle Jack Conklin. In addition, senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge and fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook earned honorable mention accolades from SI.com.
• Allen was named a first-team All-American by The Associated Press, SI.com and USA TODAY, while Conklin landed on both the Sporting News and USA TODAY All-America First Team. Calhoun earned second-team All-America honors for the third year in a row.
• Since 2007, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio has helped develop nine different first-team All-Americans (11 selections overall): running back Javon Ringer, 2008; linebacker Greg Jones, 2009-10; defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, 2011; running back Le'Veon Bell, 2012; cornerback Darqueze Dennard, 2013; punter Mike Sadler, 2013; safety Kurtis Drummond, 2014; center Jack Allen, 2014-15; and offensive tackle Jack Conklin, 2015.
Here's a look at MSU's All-Americans from the major team selections:
Associated Press: Allen (first team), Calhoun (second team), Conklin (second team)
FWAA: Allen (second team), Calhoun (second team), Conklin (second team)
SI.com: Allen (first team), Burbridge (HM), Calhoun (HM), Conklin (HM), Cook (HM)
Sporting News: Conklin (first team)
USA TODAY: Conklin (first team), Allen (second team)
Walter Camp Football Foundation: Allen (second team), Calhoun (second team), Conklin (second team)
2015 SENIOR CLASS: WINNINGEST IN MSU HISTORY â€"
• With the win over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, the 2015 senior class won its 43rd game to become the winningest senior class in school history (previous record: 42 wins in 2013 and 2014). The 23-member 2015 senior class (43-10 record) has been a part of three bowl wins (2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton), two Big Ten division titles (2013, 2015) and two Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015).
• The 23-member senior class includes: OL Jack Allen (Hinsdale, Ill.), WR DeAnthony Arnett (Saginaw, Mich.), WR Aaron Burbridge (Farmington Hills, Mich.), DE Shilique Calhoun (Middletown, New Jersey), OL Donavon Clark (Cincinnati, Ohio), CB Arjen Colquhoun (Windsor, Ontario), QB Connor Cook (Hinckley, Ohio), LB Ed Davis (Detroit, Mich.), LB Darien Harris (Silver Spring, Md.), DL Joel Heath (Cincinnati, Ohio), WR Macgarrett Kings Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), DT Damon Knox (Muskegon, Mich.), S Chris Laneaux (Kalamazoo, Mich.), TE Paul Lang (Pittsburgh, Pa.), FB Trevon Pendleton (Lucasville, Ohio), SN Taybor Pepper (Saline, Mich.), DL Lawrence Thomas (Detroit, Mich.), LB Michael Topolinski (Richmond Hill, Ontario), WR AJ Troup (Minneapolis, Minn.), QB Tommy Vento (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Phillip-Michael Williams (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) and RJ Williamson (Dayton, Ohio). Offensive lineman Zach Higgins (Alliance, Ohio), who retired early from football due to injuries, is also being recognized with the 2015 class. Davis, who suffered a knee injury in preseason camp and missed the entire season, is applying for a sixth year of eligibility.
SPARTANS BOAST 18 GRADUATES ON 2015 ROSTER â€"
• Michigan State has 18 student-athletes on its roster who have received their undergraduate degrees: Jack Allen (hospitality business), Shilique Calhoun (criminal justice), Donavon Clark (sociology), Brandon Clemons (psychology), Connor Cook (media and information), Darien Harris (journalism), Joel Heath (interdisciplinary studies in social science), Damon Knox (criminal justice), Paul Lang (economics), Chris Laneaux (interdisciplinary studies in social science), Tyler O'Connor (supply chain management), Trevon Pendleton (hospitality business), Lawrence Thomas (sociology), Michael Topolinski (communication), AJ Troup (advertising), Tommy Vento (finance), Phillip-Michael Williams (criminal justice) and RJ Williamson (advertising).
• The 18 graduates on MSU's roster rank first in the Big Ten and tied for seventh most among the 80 FBS teams playing in a bowl game.
PLAYING THEIR BEST UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT â€"
• Following the Dec. 5 win over No. 4 Iowa, the Spartans are 7-1 in their last eight games against AP Top 10 teams, including a 6-1 mark since 2013 and 3-0 in 2015. MSU beat No. 4 Wisconsin in 2011.
• Michigan State has won nine of its last 11 games played against ranked opponents, including five straight (No. 4 Baylor in 2015 Cotton Bowl; No. 7 Oregon on Sept. 12; No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17, No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, No. 4 Iowa on Dec. 5). During its current five-game winning streak over ranked opponents, MSU trailed in the fourth quarter in four of the five games (only game not trailing in fourth quarter: 2015 vs. Oregon).
• Under Mark Dantonio, the Spartans are 16-20 in 36 games played against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25; however, MSU is 15-11 against ranked teams since 2010, including 4-0 this season (No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Michigan, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Iowa).
SPARTANS FINDING SUCCESS IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY â€"
• Michigan State finished non-conference play 4-0 for the third time (2007, 2010, 2015) under Mark Dantonio (excluding bowl games). • MSU has compiled a 56-19 record (.747) in games played against non-conference opponents since 1999.
• Mark Dantonio is 33-11 (.750) against non-conference opponents, including a 25-2 record (.926) in Spartan Stadium. Overall, the Spartans have won 39 of their last 51 non-league games (.765), including eight of the last nine over the past two seasons. Dantonio is 24-1 in games against teams outside of the Power Five conferences.
• All four of MSU's non-conference opponents in 2015 played in bowl games last season and reached the postseason again this year.
MICHIGAN STATE RANKS AMONG TOP 25 IN ATTENDANCE FOR 60TH STRAIGHT YEAR â€"
Michigan State has ranked among the NCAA's Top 25 in attendance each of the last 60 seasons, including No. 19 in 2015, averaging 74,661 fans per game. The Spartans ranked No. 16 in the NCAA in total attendance at 522,628 fans for seven home games.
DANTONIO RANKS SECOND IN WINS AT MICHIGAN STATE â€"
• Ninth-year Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, a finalist for three national coach of the year awards (Bobby Dodd, George Munger, Eddie Robinson), owns an 87-32 (.731) record as head coach of the Spartans. His .731 winning percentage currently ranks third best at MSU. He won his 71st game at MSU on Oct. 25, 2014, against Michigan to move into second place all-time in victories in school history (record: Duffy Daugherty, 109). Dantonio won his 100th career game as a head coach on Oct. 17, 2015, at Michigan Stadium as the Spartans rallied to defeat the Wolverines, 27-23, on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired; his career record stands at 105-49 (.682) in his 12th season.
• Dantonio led the Spartans to the 2015 Big Ten Championship with a 16-13 victory over previously undefeated and fourth-ranked Iowa. It marked Dantonio's third Big Ten Championship (2010, 2013, 2015), establishing a school record (previous: Duffy Daugherty and George Perles with two).
• Dantonio is the first coach in Big Ten history to record five 11-win seasons in a six-year span (11 in 2010; 11 in 2011; 13 in 2013, 11 in 2014; 12 in 2015), and his five 11-win seasons are tied with Joe Paterno of Penn State for the second most in Big Ten history (Tressel with six; Paterno with five at Penn State as Big Ten member). Prior to Dantonio's arrival, MSU had not recorded an 11-win season in its history, and had just two 10-win seasons (1965, 1999).
• Dantonio ranks third in Spartan history with 119 games coached at Michigan State (Duffy Daugherty: 183; George Perles: 139).
• Dantonio is the third-longest tenured coach in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: 17th season; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern: 10th season).
• Dantonio's nine-game bowl streak at Michigan State is tied for the fifth longest by an active head coach at the same school and is the longest in the Big Ten.
• Dantonio's .722 winning percentage (52-20) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games).
• Along with Dantonio, four Spartan assistant coaches â€" Harlon Barnett, Mark Staten, Mike Tressel and Dave Warner â€" have also coached in more than 100 games at MSU.
TURNOVERS PROVING TO BE THE DIFFERENCE ONCE AGAIN IN 2015 â€"
• Michigan State, which ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in turnover margin (+1.46 per game) in 2014 and No. 10 in 2013 (0.93 per game), is once again in the Top 10 in 2015 at 1.23 per game, which is tied for fourth best in the nation and first in the Big Ten. The Spartans have forced 28 takeaways (15 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries) and have turned the ball over 12 times this season (+16). MSU's 12 turnovers (six fumbles, six interceptions) are tied for ninth fewest in the FBS. In addition, MSU has scored 108 points off of its opponents' turnovers, while the opposition has only scored 20 points on Spartan miscues (+88).
• The Spartans ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in turnover margin (+1.46 per game) in 2014. MSU was +19 in the turnover department and forced 34 turnovers (16 fumbles, 18 interceptions), which ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and third most in the FBS. Conversely, the Spartans turned the ball over just 15 times (six fumbles, nine interceptions), fewest in the Big Ten.
• Michigan State ranked first in the Big Ten and tied for 10th in the FBS in turnover margin (+13, 0.93 per game) in 2013. The Spartans forced the most turnovers in the Big Ten (28) and also turned the ball over the least amount of times (15) in the conference.
• Michigan State has forced at least one turnover in 97 of 119 games under head coach Mark Dantonio (82 percent of the games since 2007).
• Michigan State is 55-11 (.833) when forcing at least two turnovers in a game under head coach Mark Dantonio. MSU has forced at least two turnovers in nine of 13 games this season.
SPARTANS FINISH THIRD IN FINAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RANKINGS â€"
• Michigan State finished third in the final 2015 College Football Playoff rankings, qualifying for the College Football Playoff. The Spartans were ranked in all six CFP rankings this season.
• The Spartans were ranked in all seven of the CFP rankings released in 2014, finishing eighth in the final rankings released on Dec. 7.
• MSU has been ranked in all 13 CFP rankings since the inception of the rankings in 2014.
RESUME STACKS UP WITH THE BEST â€"
• The Spartans posted four wins over teams in the final CFP rankings (No. 5 Iowa, No. 7 Ohio State, No. 14 Michigan, No. 15 Oregon).
• MSU defeated eight teams with a winning record, including all four non-conference opponents (Western Michigan: 7-5; Oregon: 9-3; Air Force: 8-4; Central Michigan: 7-5; Michigan: 9-3; Ohio State: 11-1; Penn State 7-5; Iowa 12-1). The Spartans also defeated 6-6 Indiana, who is also playing in the postseason.
TOUGH TO BEAT LATE IN THE SEASON â€"
• A trademark of Mark Dantonio's Michigan State teams has been their ability to produce wins late in the season. Under Dantonio, Michigan State has compiled a 29-12 record (.707) in November, December and January. His teams have won 18 of the last 22 games in November (3-0 in 2010; 4-0 in 2011; 1-2 in 2012; 4-0 in 2013; 3-1 in 2014; 3-1 in 2015). In the four seasons (2003-06) prior to Dantonio's arrival, MSU went just 2-11 (.154) in November. Under Dantonio, Michigan State has compiled a 24-7 record (.774) in November.
"THE DRIVE" PROPELS SPARTANS TO BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP â€"
Trailing No. 4 Iowa 13-9 with 9:31 left in the Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan State traveled 82 yards on 22 plays â€" the longest scoring drive (plays) in the NCAA FBS since 2013 â€" in nine minutes and four seconds to score the game-winning touchdown, a 1-yard run by LJ Scott with 27 seconds remaining.
The drive actually consisted of 92 yards of total offense for the Spartans (holding penalty pushed MSU back 10 yards during the drive). The memorable drive featured 17 rushes (59 yards) and just five passes (3-of-5, 33 yards), and Scott had 14 carries for 40 yards, including a 1-yard TD on third-and-goal with 27 seconds left. The last 12 plays of the drive were runs. MSU converted five third downs and one fourth down (Connor Cook's 2-yard run on the Iowa 5-yard line with 1:59 left) during its march toward a Big Ten Championship.
According to STATS, MSU's 22-play drive vs. Iowa was the first drive of 22-plus plays by any FBS team since North Carolina State had a 23-play drive vs. Clemson on Sept. 19, 2013.
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES â€"
• Michigan State is 6-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less in 2015 (wins: 16-13 vs. No. 4 Iowa, 17-14 vs. No. 2 Ohio State, 27-23 vs. No. 12 Michigan, 31-24 vs. Rutgers, 24-21 vs. Purdue, 31-28 vs. No. 7 Oregon; loss: 39-38 at Nebraska).
• Michigan State had won seven consecutive games decided by a touchdown or less before falling at Nebraska, 39-38, on Nov. 7, 2015.
• Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Michigan State is 19-8 (.704) in games decided by a touchdown or less, including all four bowl victories. The losses have come against Wisconsin in the 2011 Big Ten Championship Game (42-39), Ohio State (17-16), Iowa (19-16 in 2OT), Michigan (12-10), Nebraska (28-24) and Northwestern (23-20) in 2012, Notre Dame (17-13) in 2013, and Nebraska (39-38) in 2015.
SPARTANS BEAT MICHIGAN AND OHIO STATE ON FINAL PLAY â€"
• Michigan State defeated both Michigan and Ohio State on the road this season on the final play of regulation â€" without holding a lead the entire game prior to the last play. Junior Michael Geiger kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give the Spartans a 17-14 win at No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, and red-shirt freshman Jalen Watts-Jackson scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired to give No. 7 Michigan State a 27-23 victory at No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17.
• According to STATS, Michigan State is just the second team since 1980 to defeat both Michigan and Ohio State on the road in the same season (Illinois, 1999). It also marks just the second time in program history MSU has accomplished the feat (1951 National Championship team).
WATTS-JACKSON'S SCOOP AND SCORE AGAINST MICHIGAN NAMED NO. 1 PLAY OF THE 2015 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON â€"
Red-shirt freshman Jalen Watts-Jackson scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired to give No. 7 Michigan State a 27-23 victory at No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17. Watts-Jackson scooped up the mishandled snap by U-M punter Blake O'Neill and broke several tackles en route to the end zone. The unforgettable touchdown was named the No. 1 play in college football history in a story published on NFL.com on Oct. 19. It also was named the No. 1 play of the 2015 season at the ESPN College Football Awards Show in Atlanta on Dec. 10. Unfortunately, Watts-Jackson suffered a dislocated and fractured hip on the play and will be out the remainder of the season. He was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-winning touchdown. MSU head coach Mark Dantonio named the play "Rangers: Mission 4:10."
SPARTANS POST ANOTHER DRAMATIC COMEBACK AT MICHIGAN â€"
• According to ESPN Stats and Information, Michigan State has three of the five most improbable wins, based on lowest win probability, in the past 10 seasons among Power 5 teams. The Spartans had a 0.2% chance against Michigan in 2015 (down 23-21 with 10 seconds left and Michigan punting the ball; won 27-23 on 38-yard fumble recovery), a 0.3% chance against Northwestern in 2006 (down 38-3 in third quarter and won 41-38) and a 0.4% chance against Baylor in 2015 Cotton Bowl (down 41-21 in fourth quarter and won 42-41).
MICHIGAN STATE NAMED NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK FOLLOWING WIN OVER OHIO STATE â€"
After snapping defending National Champion Ohio State's 23-game winning streak with a 17-14 victory in Columbus on Nov. 21, Michigan State was 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 consecutive win in Ohio Stadium (10-7 win in 2011).
Michigan State held Ohio State to five first downs and 132 yards of total offense (86 rushing, 46 passing). The Buckeyes had six three-and-outs. The 132 yards were the fewest by an Urban Meyer-coached team and the fewest allowed by MSU since Illinois had 128 yards on Oct. 26, 2013. It was also the fewest total yards for a Buckeye team since 1999 (79 vs. Michigan State). Ohio State entered the game ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring offense (36.4 points per game) and rushing offense (244.8 yards per game) and second in total offense (453.3 yards per game).
It marked 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).
SPARTANS PROMINENTLY FEATURED ON ESPN'S COLLEGE GAMEDAY â€"
• ESPN College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, celebrating its 29th season, made four appearances at Michigan State games in 2015 (East Lansing for Oregon game on Sept. 12; Ann Arbor for Michigan game on Oct. 17; Columbus for Ohio State game on Nov. 21; Indianapolis for Iowa game on Dec. 5).
• Michigan State has played at the site of Gameday eight times in the last 35 shows, which is the most appearances by any team in that span (Alabama is second with six).
• College GameDay has visited East Lansing four times in the last five years.
• Since 2011, College GameDay has featured 10 Michigan State games, including four visits to East Lansing (2011 vs. Wisconsin, 2012 vs. Ohio State; 2014 vs. Ohio State; 2015 vs. Oregon). MSU's 10 appearances since 2011 are the most in the Big Ten.
RECORD WATCH â€"
• Fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook needs two more touchdown passes to set an MSU single-season record. He currently has 24 passing TDs this season, one shy of Kirk Cousins' record of 25 set in 2011.
• Cook needs one more 300-yard passing game to set the MSU career record in that category as well; he currently is tied with Jeff Smoker with 10.
• Cook, who already owns MSU's all-time touchdown passes record with 71, is also nearing the career mark for most passing yards in school history. Cook, who is currently second with 8,984 yards, needs just 148 yards to pass Cousins (9,131).
• With one more 100-yard receiving game, senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge would tie B.J. Cunningham's single-season record of eight set in 2011.
BASKETBALL-FOOTBALL BALANCE â€"
• Michigan State is the only school in the nation to win four straight bowl games and appear in the Sweet 16 four consecutive times in men's basketball. As of Dec. 21, the Spartans were ranked No. 1 in the nation in men's basketball in the AP Top 25.
A QUICK GLANCE AT ALABAMA (12-1, 7-1 SEC) â€"
• According to the NCAA, Alabama has played the second-most difficult schedule in the country this season (opponents are 81-43 for a .653 winning percentage). The Crimson Tide have played four CFP Top 25 teams (beat Florida, LSU, Tennessee; lost to Mississippi).
• Alabama is making its second consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff. Last season, the top-seeded Crimson Tide lost to fourth-seeded Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, 42-35.
• The Crimson Tide won their second straight SEC Championship and conference-best 25th in school history with a 29-15 victory over Florida in the 2015 SEC title game in Atlanta.
• Ninth-year head coach Nick Saban has won four SEC Championships (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015) and three National Championships (2009, 2011, 2012) during his tenure in Tuscaloosa. He owns a 98-18 record at Alabama and an overall mark of 189-60-1 in his 20th season as a head coach.
• Alabama ranks No. 1 in the NCAA FBS in rushing defense, giving up just 74.0 yards per game. The Crimson Tide have allowed just two teams to rush for more than 100 yards this season (Georgia: 193; Tennessee: 132). Alabama has only surrendered six rushing touchdowns all season, tied for the fewest in the nation.
• The Crimson Tide also rank second in the FBS in total defense (258.2 ypg.) and third in scoring defense (14.4 points per game) and sacks (3.54 per game). The Tide have been excellent on third down, allowing their opponents to convert just 28 percent of their attempts (55-of-197).
• Offensively, Alabama ranks fifth in the SEC and 49th in the FBS in total offense (422.5 ypg.). The Crimson Tide feature the No. 3 rushing offense in the SEC (27th nationally), averaging 208.2 yards per game on the ground.
• Junior Derrick Henry, who became the second player in Alabama history to win the Heisman Trophy, leads the FBS in rushing yards (1,986) and rushing touchdowns (23) and ranks second in rushing yards per game (152.8 ypg.). A consensus first-team All-American, Henry also won the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards.
• Senior quarterback Jake Coker has started all but one game for the Crimson Tide this season (did not start in loss to Mississippi). Coker has completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,489 yards, 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He transferred to Alabama from Florida State and served as the Seminoles' back-up quarterback behind Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston.
• True freshman Calvin Ridley leads the team with 75 catches for 893 yards and five touchdowns.
• Senior All-America linebacker Reggie Ragland, who was a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, leads the team with 90 tackles, including 6.5 for losses and 2.0 sacks.
• Alabama has a nation's best 46 sacks as a team, led by junior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (10.0) and junior linebacker Tim Williams (9.5). In addition, junior defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson has 3.5 sacks and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy.
MSU/ALABAMA COACHING CONNECTIONS â€"
• Three current members of Alabama's coaching staff also spent time at Michigan State: head coach Nick Saban (head coach, 1995-99), tight ends coach/special teams coordinator Bobby Williams (assistant coach, 1990-99; head coach, 2000-02) and assistant head coach/secondary coach Mel Tucker (graduate assistant, 1997).
• Nick Saban became the 20th head football coach in MSU history on Dec. 3, 1994. He collected a 34-24-1 (.585 ) record during his five seasons in East Lansing (1995-99). Saban became the first Spartan coach to lead his teams to bowl games in each of his first three seasons, including the 1995 Independence, 1996 Sun and 1997 Aloha Bowls. The Spartans went 9-2 during the regular season in 1999, earning a trip to the 2000 Florida Citrus Bowl. Prior to the bowl game, Saban left to take the head coaching job at LSU. Saban previously coached at MSU, serving as an assistant coach from 1983-87, helping the Spartans to the 1987 Big Ten and '88 Rose Bowl Championships.
• Bobby Williams became the 21st head coach in Spartan history when he assumed control of the team on Dec. 5, 1999, after Nick Saban left for LSU. Prior to taking over as head coach, Williams coached Michigan State's running backs for 10 years. He made his head-coaching debut on Jan. 1, 2000, and led the Spartans to a last-second victory over No. 10 Florida, 37-34, in the Florida Citrus Bowl. With MSU's 44-35 triumph over No. 20 Fresno State in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic, Williams became the first head coach in Spartan football history to win his first two bowl games. Williams had a 16-17 record during his three seasons as head coach at MSU (2000-02).
• Mark Dantonio previously spent six seasons as secondary coach at Michigan State (1995-2000), including five years under Nick Saban (1995-99) and one under Bobby Williams (2000).
• Michigan State assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Harlon Barnett was a graduate assistant under Nick Saban during LSU's National Championship season in 2003. Saban was also the defensive coordinator for the Spartans during Barnett's first three seasons in East Lansing as a player (1985-87), including the 1987 Big Ten Championship and 1988 Rose Bowl Championship team.
• Alabama assistant head coach/secondary coach Mel Tucker spent three seasons as the defensive backs coach at Ohio State (2001-03) while Mark Dantonio was the defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes during those years. The pair helped lead Ohio State to a National Championship in 2002. Tucker was promoted to co-defensive coordinator at OSU in 2004 following Dantonio's departure to become the head coach at Cincinnati.
• Michigan State co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Jim Bollman spent three years on Saban's staff at Michigan State (1995-97) as the offensive line coach.
• Michigan State quarterbacks coach Brad Salem spent one year as a graduate assistant (1995) on Saban's staff at MSU.
MSU/ALABAMA SERIES NOTES â€"
• Alabama defeated MSU in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, 49-7, in Orlando, Florida, in the only previous meeting between the two schools.
SPARTANS vs. SEC TEAMS â€"
• Michigan State has compiled a 13-12-1 record (.519) against current members of the Southeastern Conference (0-1 vs. Alabama, 0-1 vs. Auburn, 1-0 vs. Florida, 1-2 vs. Georgia, 2-2 vs. Kentucky, 0-1 vs. LSU, 2-1-1 vs. Mississippi State, 5-3 vs. Missouri and 2-1 vs. Texas A&M). The Spartans are 2-5 in postseason bowl games against SEC teams.
• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 1-2 in bowl games against SEC teams.
SPARTANS MAKE RARE APPEARANCE IN TEXAS â€"
Michigan State is making its sixth postseason bowl appearance in Texas, including its second consecutive trip to the Cotton Bowl. It marks MSU's seventh trip to Texas in its 119-year football history. The Spartans are 3-3 (.500) in games played in Texas, including a 2-3 record (.400) in postseason play.
LONE STAR SPARTANS â€"
• The impact Texas players have had on Michigan State's football program has to be measured in terms of quality, not quantity. In 119 seasons, Texas has provided only 14 letterwinners but that modest figure includes three All-Americans: defensive end Charles "Bubba" Smith (Beaumont), wide receiver Gene Washington (LaPorte) and guard Earl Lattimer (Dallas).
• Smith, a two-time All-American, helped the Spartans win back-to-back National Championships in 1965-66 while posting a combined record of 19-1-1 (.929). At 6-foot-8, 280 pounds, he anchored a defensive front that helped lead the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 47.3 yards per game. Selected No. 1 overall in the 1967 National Football League Draft by the Baltimore Colts, Smith earned All-Pro honors twice, in 1970-71. He was recently named to the Football Writers Association of America 75th Anniversary All-America Team.
• Washington led the Spartans in receptions for three straight seasons from 1964-66, finishing with 102 career catches for 1,857 yards and 16 touchdowns. The two-time All-American became a first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings in 1967. Washington received All-Pro recognition in 1969-70.
• Lattimer excelled as a two-way player for Duffy Daugherty in 1963, earning All-America honors as a guard. A crowd favorite, the 5-11, 218-pound Lattimer often turned a somersault when running up to his position on the line of scrimmage.
• Most recently, Hitchcock native Greg Randall started 22 consecutive games at right tackle for the Spartans from 1998-99. A fourth-round pick by New England in 2000, Randall spent four seasons in the NFL (Patriots, 2000-02; Houston Texans, 2003) and started 39 of 51 career games. He started at right tackle for the World Champion Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.
• Michigan State has three true freshmen from Texas on its 2015 roster: cornerback Josh Butler (Mesquite/West Mesquite), offensive lineman Tyler Higby (Houston/The Kinkaid School) and wide receiver Darrell Stewart Jr. (Houston/Nimitz).
MSU/DALLAS CONNECTIONS â€"
• Former Michigan State All-American offensive tackle Flozell Adams was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (No. 38 overall) of the 1998 National Football League Draft and became a five-time Pro Bowl selection (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008). Adams spent 13 years in the NFL, including 12 seasons in Dallas (1998-2009) and one year with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2010). He started 194 of 198 career games. Adams was named First-Team All-Pro by The Associated Press in 2007. His five Pro Bowl appearances are the second most by a Cowboy offensive tackle in team history. In 2009, Adams was ranked among the Cowboys' Top 50 all-time players (No. 43). He played for the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010 and started in Super Bowl XLV against Green Bay.
• A four-year letterman and three-year starter from 1994-97, Adams closed out his Michigan State career with three straight postseason bowl appearances (1995 Independence Bowl, 1996 Sun Bowl and 1997 Aloha Bowl). In 35 career starts, the 6-foot-7, 330-pound Adams helped Spartan running backs record 21 100-yard rushing games. Former MSU head coach Nick Saban best described him as a "road-grader."
• As a senior in 1997, Adams was named Walter Camp First-Team All-American and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. He also earned All-America honors from The Associated Press (second team), Football News (second team) and The Sporting News (third team). A first-team All-Big Ten pick by both the coaches and media as a senior, Adams started all 12 games at left tackle and helped the Spartans rank No. 24 nationally in rushing offense, averaging 199.5 yards per game. The Bellwood, Illinois, native was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in September 2014.
• Former Michigan State All-America tight end Billy Joe DuPree was chosen in the first round (No. 20 overall) in the 1973 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. DuPree earned Pro Bowl honors three times (1976-78) during his 11-year pro career (1973-83) in Dallas. A member of the Super Bowl XII Champion Cowboys, he caught four passes for 66 yards in the Super Bowl win over the Denver Broncos at the Superdome in 1978. DuPree also played in Super Bowl X in 1976 against the Steelers and caught a 7-yard TD pass from Roger Staubach in the loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XIII in Miami in 1979. He finished his career with 267 receptions for 3,565 yards and 41 touchdowns. DuPree was a first-team All-American in 1972 at Michigan State as selected by Time Magazine after leading the Spartans with 23 receptions for 406 yards.
• Former Michigan State halfback Herb Adderley, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, won three Super Bowl rings during his career, including Super Bowl VI with the Cowboys in 1972. He also played in Super Bowl V with Dallas in 1971 against Baltimore and won Super Bowls I and II with the Green Bay Packers. Adderley spent the last three seasons of his Hall of Fame career with Dallas (1970-72). A first-round pick (No. 12 overall) in 1961 by Green Bay, Adderley earned first-team All-Big Ten honors at MSU in 1960.
• Former Michigan State linebacker Dixon Edwards, who helped the Spartans win a pair of Big Ten titles (1987 and 1990), was a three-time Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys (1992, 1993 and 1995). A four-year letterman for Coach George Perles, Edwards helped the Spartans to a combined record of 31-14-1 (.685) from 1987-90, including a 3-1 record in postseason bowl games with wins over USC (20-17) in the 1988 Rose Bowl, Hawaii (33-13) in the 1989 Aloha Bowl and USC (17-16) in the 1990 John Hancock Sun Bowl.
As a junior in 1989, he ranked second on the team in tackles with 111, trailing only All-American Percy Snow (172). His 11 tackles for loss (52 yards) tied for the team lead in 1989. As a senior in 1990, Edwards earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches after recording a career-best 112 tackles, including seven for losses (33 yards). His 227 career tackles rank No. 23 on MSU's all-time list.
Edwards was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (No. 37 overall) of the 1991 National Football League Draft. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native spent eight years in the NFL (Dallas, 1991-95; Minnesota, 1996-98) and started 90 of 120 career games. While in Dallas, Edwards played on three Super Bowl champions (XXVII, XXVIII and XXX). His pro career totals included 438 tackles, 7.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
• Michigan State journalism graduate Rick Gosselin (1972) has been a columnist with the Dallas Morning News since 1990. A voter for the Pro Football and Major League Baseball Halls of Fame, Gosselin covered the Cowboys from 1990-91 and then served as the newspaper's NFL columnist from 1992-2010 until his appointment as a general sports columnist began in August 2011.
Connor Cook: WINNINGEST QB IN MSU HISTORY â€"
Fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook, the winningest quarterback in school history, owns a 34-4 record (.895) as the starter, including a 23-2 (.920) mark against Big Ten opponents. The 34 wins are second most among active starting quarterbacks in the NCAA FBS (Stanford's Kevin Hogan with 35), and Cook's .895 winning percentage is No. 1 (minimum 24 starts). Cook is 5-1 against AP Top 10 teams in his career and 8-3 against AP Top 25 opponents. His 38 career starts are second in MSU history, trailing only Kirk Cousins, who made 39 career starts from 2009-11.
Cook ranks among the Big Ten leaders in touchdown passes (tied for first with 24), passing efficiency (second with 142.2 rating), passing (third with 243.4 ypg.), and total offense (third with 250.1 ypg.). He became MSU's all-time leader in touchdown passes after throwing four in the Nebraska game on Nov. 7; he has 71 overall (Cousins threw 66 from 2008-11), which is tied for seventh in Big Ten history. Cook has completed 57 percent of his passes (210-of-369) for 2,921 yards, 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 2015.
Cook was named recipient of the 2015 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually since 1987 to the nation's top college quarterback. Candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award must be college seniors or fourth-year juniors on schedule to graduate with their class. In addition to the accomplishments on the field, candidates are judged on their character, citizenship, scholarship achievement and leadership qualities. Cook, who became just the second Big Ten quarterback (Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien in 2010) to win the award, was presented the trophy on Dec. 11 at the Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel & The Grand.
Cook is the first Spartan quarterback to win the Greise-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year Award since its inception in 2011, and is also the first Spartan QB be named first-team All-Big Ten since Steve Juday in 1965 and only the fifth ever in school history (Earl Morrall, 1955; James Ninowski, 1957; Dean Look, 1959; Juday, 1965). Cook was a second-team selection in 2013 and 2014.
Cook's last season wearing the Green and White is shaping up to be his most productive in the record book. With 24 TDs already in 2015, he is just two away from passing Cousins (25) for the most in a Spartan single season. He established a school record by throwing for more than 300 yards in four consecutive games (367 vs. Rutgers; 328 vs. Michigan; career-high 398 vs. Indiana; 335 vs. Nebraska), and his 10 300-yard passing games are tied for first in school history, along with Smoker. The four 300-yard passing games are tied for second most in an MSU single season (record: Smoker with six in 2003). Cook is also nearing the career mark for most passing yards in school history. Cook, who is currently second with 8,984 yards, trails only Cousins (9,131).
The 6-4, 220-pound Cook earned his 28th career win in the victory over Purdue on Oct. 3, making him the winningest starting quarterback in school history. He passed Spartan signal-caller Kirk Cousins' school-record mark of 27 career victories (27-12 record from 2009-11).
Cook became the first player in Big Ten history to win the Grange-Griffin Big Ten Championship Game Most Valuable Player Award twice (also won in 2013 vs. Ohio State) as he helped lead the Spartans past No. 4 Iowa, 16-13, to claim MSU's second Big Ten title in three years. Cook completed 16-of-32 passes for 191 yards against the Hawkeyes, including a key 16-yard strike to Aaron Burbridge on third-and-8 during the game-winning touchdown drive. On that same drive, which lasted 22 plays and went 82 yards in 9:04, he also rushed 2 yards for a first down on fourth-and-2 from the Iowa 5-yard line with 1:59 remaining that set up LJ Scott's 1-yard game-winning TD run with 27 seconds left. It marked Cook's sixth fourth-quarter comeback for the Spartans (2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl vs. TCU; 2013 vs. Ohio State in Big Ten Championship Game; 2014 Rose Bowl vs. Stanford; 2015 Cotton Bowl vs. Baylor; 2015 vs. Michigan, 2015 vs. Iowa in Big Ten Championship Game). Cook's five career wins over AP Top 10 teams is second in school history (Juday with six from 1963-65).
The Hinckley, Ohio, native is ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in 300-yard passing games (tied for first with 10), touchdown passes (first with 71), total offense (first with 9,217 yards), 200-yard passing games (second with 25), passing yards (second with 8,984), passing efficiency (third with 141.7 rating), pass attempts (second with 1,131), pass completions (third with 654), and pass completion percentage (ninth at .578).
Cook posted his seventh 200-yard passing game of the season and 25th of his career, hitting 19-of-26 throws for 248 yards and three touchdowns against Penn State on Senior Day in his final appearance at Spartan Stadium. With 243 total yards vs. PSU, Cook set MSU's career record for total offense (9,018 yards; previous record -- 9,004 yards by Cousins, 2008-11). He became the school's all-time leader in total offense with his 16-yard completion to Shelton early in the fourth quarter.
Cook had his school-record streak of 36 consecutive starts snapped as he sat out the Ohio State game on Nov. 21 (sprained shoulder).
Cook tied a career high with four TD passes at Nebraska to set a Michigan State career record with 68, passing Cousins. Cook completed 23-of-37 passes for 335 yards and one interception along with his four TDs, and set a school record with his fourth straight 300-yard passing game (367 vs. Rutgers; 328 vs. Michigan; 398 vs. Indiana; 335 vs. Nebraska). He also tied Smoker for the most 300-yard passing games in a career with 10. Cook's 335 passing yards were the most ever by a Spartan QB against Nebraska.
After setting a school record with 416 yards of total offense and throwing for a career-high 398 yards in Michigan State's 52-26 win over Indiana in Week 8, Cook was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career. Cook also set career highs for pass completions (30) and pass attempts (52) against the Hoosiers and tied his career best with four TD passes. He produced some of the top single-game passing totals in school history: completions (tied for sixth with 30), pass attempts (sixth with 52), passing yards (second with 398) and TD passes (tied for second with 4). The 398 passing yards were just two shy of MSU's single-game record (Bill Burke, 400, vs. Michigan in 1999).
Cook became just the second Spartan starting quarterback to defeat Michigan three consecutive times (Cousins, 2009-11) in MSU's 27-23 triumph at Michigan Stadium in Week 7. He threw his 60th career touchdown pass with a 30-yard pass to Macgarrett Kings Jr. in the third quarter and completed 18-of-39 passes overall for 328 yards.
Cook threw for 367 yards -- the fifth-highest total in school history -- and two touchdowns in the win at Rutgers in Week 6. His showing against the Scarlet Knights was named one of the "Great 8" performances of the week by the Davey O'Brien Award. With the score tied at 24 with 4:16 to play, Cook engineered a 10-play, 76-yard game-winning touchdown drive to lead MSU to a 31-24 win. His 29-yard completion on third-and-9 from the MSU 25 to Shelton kept the drive alive and led to Scott's 3-yard TD run with 43 seconds remaining in the game.
In MSU's 35-21 victory over Air Force on Sept. 19, Cook matched his career high with four TD passes and was 15-of-23 passing for 247 yards. He connected three times for scores with Burbridge, who tied MSU's single-game touchdown reception record against the Falcons and was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Cook completed 20-of-32 throws for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-28 win over then-No. 7 Oregon on Sept. 12 in Spartan Stadium.
COOK AT HIS BEST WHEN IT COUNTS â€"
• Fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook is 5-1 against AP Top 10 teams in his career and 8-3 against AP Top 25 opponents.
• Cook has led Michigan State to six fourth-quarter comebacks, including three consecutive bowl games (2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl vs. TCU; 2013 vs. Ohio State in Big Ten Championship Game; 2014 Rose Bowl vs. Stanford; 2015 Cotton Bowl vs. Baylor; 2015 vs. Michigan, 2015 vs. Iowa in Big Ten Championship Game).
• In leading MSU to back-to-back bowl wins over No. 5 Stanford and No. 4 Baylor (Associated Press final regular-season ranking), Cook hit 46-of-78 throws (.590) for 646 yards (323.0 yards per game), four TDs and three interceptions. In three postseason bowl appearances (2012 Buffalo Wild Wings vs. TCU), he owns MSU career records for passing yards (693) and TD passes (5).
• Cook and Dan Enos are the only two Spartan quarterbacks to win two bowl games as the starting quarterback (Cook: 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton; Enos: 1989 Aloha, 1990 Sun).
Aaron Burbridge: BIG TEN RECEIVER OF THE YEAR â€"
Senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media, is the second Spartan in a row to be named the Richter-Howard Big Ten Receiver of the Year (Tony Lippett, 2014).
Burbridge, who is just the seventh Spartan to reach the 1,000-yard receiving milestone in a single-season, leads the Big Ten in receiving yards (1,219; 93.8 ypg.) and receptions (80; 6.2 pg.), figures which also rank among the FBS leaders (12th in receiving yards, 27th in receptions). His team-high seven TDs are tied for fourth most in the conference. Burbridge has recorded seven 100-yard receiving games this season, one shy of the MSU single-season record (B.J. Cunningham, eight, 2011). He also leads the team with 21 receptions of 20-plus yards. In addition, his Big Ten-leading 1,219 receiving yards are fifth most in an MSU single-season and 74 percent of his receptions (59 of 80) have gone for either a touchdown or first down.
The 6-1, 208-pound Burbridge has established a Michigan State single-season record with 80 catches in 2015 (previous record: 79 held by Devin Thomas in 2007 and Cunningham in 2011). Burbridge's record-breaking catch came during the Big Ten Championship Game vs. No. 4 Iowa on a third-and-8 play in the fourth quarter that kept MSU's eventual game-winning touchdown drive alive. The 16-yard grab was his fifth of the game, and he finished with five receptions for 61 yards.
Burbridge led team with six catches for 75 yards on Senior Day vs. Penn State, including a 29-yard touchdown reception from Connor Cook in the third quarter in which he eluded several tacklers on his way into the end zone. He has led the team in receiving in 11 of 13 games this season.
Burbridge tied his career high with 10 catches and established a career high for receiving yards with 164 at Nebraska on Nov. 7; he also had a 33-yard TD catch in the third quarter. It marked Burbridge's fourth consecutive 100-yard receiving game and his seventh of the season. His 164 receiving yards were the most ever by a Spartan wide receiver against the Huskers.
Burbridge had eight receptions for 128 yards against Indiana, including an 11-yard touchdown grab from Cook late in the second quarter.
In MSU's 27-23 win over No. 12 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Oct. 17, Burbridge hauled in nine catches for 132 yards while being matched up against Wolverine senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who has been named a midseason All-American by several national media outlets.
Burbridge recorded a career-high 10 receptions and had 156 receiving yards in the win at Rutgers.
The Farmington Hills, Michigan, native was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after setting a career high with three touchdown catches in the win over Air Force in Week 3; he had eight receptions overall for 156 yards against the Falcons. He scored on TD grabs of 28, 32 and 21 yards from Cook. Burbridge's first TD grab was an acrobatic reception in the corner of the end zone that was named one of the top plays of the week by several national media outlets.
Burbridge's three TD receptions tied MSU's single-game record (last player: B.J. Cunningham vs. Wisconsin, 2011 Big Ten Championship Game), and it also marked Burbridge's third consecutive 100-yard receiving game. He topped the 100-yard receiving mark in the first half alone, with five catches for 112 yards and two TDs. Seven of his eight catches resulted in either a first down or touchdown against the Falcons, including four receptions of 20 yards or more.
Burbridge's performance marked just the fourth time in school history a Spartan wide receiver caught three TDs and had more than 150 yards receiving in the same game (Plaxico Burress: 13 catches for 185 yards and three TDs vs. Florida on Jan. 1, 2000; Burress: 5 catches for 164 yards and three TDs vs. Northwestern on Nov. 13, 1999; Andre Rison: 9 catches for 252 yards and three TDs vs. Georgia on Jan. 1, 1989).
Burbridge has recorded 160 receptions for 2,135 yards and 10 TDs in 50 career games. He ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in receptions (second with 160), 100-yard receiving games (fifth with eight) and receiving yards (ninth with 2,135).
SHUFFLING ALONG THE OFFENSIVE LINE â€"
• Michigan State, which has one of the deepest and most talented offensive lines in the nation, has featured six different starting lineups this season. The Spartans have been forced to display their versatility and use their depth at all five positions. Offensive line coach Mark Staten said his coaching style is based on the "whole-part-whole" learning model. Three of MSU's starters have missed multiple games due to injuries this season (center Jack Allen: 2; left tackle Jack Conklin: 2; right tackle Kodi Kieler: 3).
• The Spartan offensive line was named one of six finalists for the 2015 Joe Moore Award ("The Moore") for the Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football (Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Stanford).
• The offensive line features two first-team All-Americans in center Jack Allen (Associated Press, CBS Sports, SI.com) and left tackle Jack Conklin (Sporting News, USA TODAY). The duo was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team by the coaches and media. With Allen and Conklin both on the first team, it marked the first time MSU has had two first-team All-Big Ten offensive linemen since 1990 (Jim Johnson, tackle; Eric Moten, guard). In addition, guard Brian Allen was named second team (coaches and media), while Donavon Clark garnered third-team honors from the coaches.
• For the first time since Week 2 against Oregon, Michigan State featured its five starters from the opening game of the season at Nebraska on Nov. 7 (left tackle Jack Conklin; left guard Brian Allen; center Jack Allen; right guard Donavon Clark; right tackle Kodi Kieler). It marked Jack Allen's first start since Week 6 against Rutgers (out with an injury).
• The offensive line has undergone a late season resurgence, as the Spartans are averaging 188.3 yards per game on the ground in their last three games (203 vs. Ohio State, 188 vs. Penn State, 174 vs. Iowa). MSU ran for 203 yards in the 17-14 win at then-No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, including 166 of its 172 total yards in the second half, on the nation's 24th-ranked rushing defense at the time, which was allowing just 126.8 rushing ypg. The Spartans also ran for 174 yards against Iowa, which entered the game with the No. 6 rushing defense in the nation.
• Four of Michigan State's starters on the offensive line have started at multiple positions this season (Brian Allen: nine starts at left guard, two at center; Donavon Clark: nine at right guard; four starts at right tackle; Kodi Kieler: nine starts at right tackle, one at left tackle; Benny McGowan (four starts at right guard; four at left guard). In addition, Jack Allen played extensive action at left tackle vs. Purdue and Rutgers.
• With starting junior right tackle Kodi Kieler missing three games (Air Force, Central Michigan, Purdue), fifth-year senior Donavon Clark moved from right guard to right tackle and junior Benny McGowan entered the starting rotation at right guard.
• Starting junior left tackle Jack Conklin was forced to exit the Central Michigan game in Week 4 late in the second quarter with a leg injury, which moved sophomore Dennis Finley to the starting role at left tackle; however, Finley broke his leg in the second quarter vs. Purdue in Week 5, setting forth another set of changes, including fifth-year senior All-America center Jack Allen to left tackle in the second half against the Boilermakers; Allen also played at left tackle at Rutgers, but was forced to leave the game with an injury and missed the Michigan game.
• Fifth-year senior Brandon Clemons (guard) is also seeing regular action in the playing rotation.
• Amid all of the lineup changes, MSU has still only allowed 17 sacks all season â€" third fewest in the Big Ten and 25th fewest in the NCAA FBS at 1.31 per game. Last season, the offensive line allowed just 11 sacks, the least in the Big Ten and tied for third fewest in the NCAA FBS.
• In the second half of the Purdue game in Week 5, not one of the Spartan offensive linemen in the game started at that position in Week 1. Here's a look at the lineup changes to the MSU offensive line from Week 1 to the second half of the Purdue game in Week 5:
FINDING SUCCESS ON THIRD DOWN â€"
• Michigan State ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 5 in the FBS with a 51 percent third-down conversion rate (95-for-188). On third downs, Connor Cook ranks tied for seventh in the NCAA FBS with nine TD passes and 13th with 902 passing yards.
RUNNING GAME KEY FOR SPARTANS UNDER DANTONIO â€"
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 70-11 (.864) when outrushing its opponent, including a 54-4 record (.931) since 2010. MSU has outrushed its opponent in nine of 13 games this season. Conversely, MSU is 17-21 under Dantonio when being outgained on the ground by its opponent. The Spartans are 31-3 (.912) in games when gaining 200 or more rushing yards under Dantonio.
SPARTANS LOOK TO CONTROL TIME OF POSSESSION â€"
• The Spartans ranked No. 1 in the FBS in time of possession last season (35:21) and tied for sixth in 2013 (33:19). This season, MSU ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th in the FBS in time of possession (33:18).
SPARTANS FEATURE TRIO OF RUNNING BACKS IN OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD â€"
Three different running backs have started this season for Michigan State: freshman LJ Scott, red-shirt freshman Madre London and sophomore Gerald Holmes. All three have posted 100-yard rushing games this season. Junior Delton Williams also has seen action in the backfield.
Scott leads the Spartans in rushing with 691 yards on 140 carries (53.2 ypg.; 4.9 avg.). He also leads the team with 11 rushing TDs, which ranks tied for third in the Big Ten. The 11 rushing TDs also rank second most by a Spartan freshman in a single-season (Sedrick Irvin, 16, 1996).
The 6-0, 233-pound Scott led all rushers with 73 yards on 22 carries in the win over No. 4 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, including the game-winning 1-yard TD with 27 seconds remaining in the game. He had 14 carries for 40 yards during MSU's game-winning 22-play, 82-yard drive, including three third-down conversions.
The Hubbard, Ohio, native rushed 13 times for 58 yards in No. 9 Michigan State's 17-14 victory at No. 2 Ohio State, snapping the Buckeyes' 23-game winning streak. Scott gained 50 yards on 10 carries in the fourth quarter. His 20-yard run off the MSU 4-yard line midway through the fourth quarter helped flipped the field position and set up the game-winning drive.
Scott was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after recording career highs for carries (18), rushing yards (146) and rushing touchdowns (2) in No. 2 Michigan State's 24-21 victory over Purdue in the Big Ten opener on Oct. 3. It marked Scott's first career 100-yard rushing game (previous high: 77 yards on 13 rushes in 2015 season opener at Western Michigan). He also posted his second career multi-TD game (also scored two rushing TDs against Oregon in Week 2). Scott scored on TD runs of 18 and 1 yard in the first quarter against Purdue. His 30-yard run in the fourth quarter helped set up Michael Geiger's 30-yard field goal.
Scott's 146 rushing yards against Purdue were the most by a Spartan freshman since Javon Ringer had 194 at Illinois on Sept. 24, 2005. It marked the second time Scott has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week this season. He also earned the honor after collecting 76 rushing yards on 11 carries in the victory over then-No. 7 Oregon, including touchdown runs of 6 and 38 yards.
Holmes has started the last six games (Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa) and leads the team with 381 yards on 79 carries since being inserted into the starting lineup (63.5 ypg.). He led the team in rushing during Big Ten games with 438 yards on 89 carries (54.8 ypg.; 4.9 avg.).
The Flint, Michigan, native paced the Spartan ground attack for the fourth game in a row with 64 yards on 12 carries (5.3 avg.) vs. Penn State, including a 6-yard run in the second quarter; he had 100 all-purpose yards against the Nittany Lions, as he also had three receptions for 36 yards. Holmes had 65 yards on 14 carries, including a 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, in the win at Ohio State. He had 83 yards on 18 attempts vs. Maryland, including a 3-yard TD run in the third quarter. Holmes had a career game at Nebraska in Week 9, establishing career highs for carries (22) and rushing yards (117), including a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
Holmes ranks among the team leaders in rushing touchdowns (second with 8), rushing yards (second with 534; 44.5 ypg.; 4.9 avg.) and carries (third with 108).
London, who missed three games (Michigan, Indiana, Nebraska) after suffering an injury in Week 6 at Rutgers, started the first six games for the Spartans. He is third on the team with 489 rushing yards on 114 carries (48.9 ypg.; 4.3 avg.) and has three TDs. London recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game with 103 yards on 18 carries against No. 7 Oregon, including a season-long 62-yard run on MSU's first offensive play from scrimmage. He rushed 12 times for 60 yards in the Big Ten Championship Game vs. No. 4 Iowa.
PRICE IS RIGHT IN THE END ZONE â€"
Junior tight end Josiah Price, who was named to the Mackey Award Midseason Watch List (nation's most outstanding tight end), has the most career touchdown receptions (16) of any tight end in Michigan State history. He set the record with his 14th career TD catch against Central Michigan on Sept. 26. Price also ranks tied for seventh among all Spartans with his 16 career touchdown grabs.
Price, a third-team All-Big Ten choice, has six TDs this season (did not play in Week 5 vs. Purdue or Week 6 vs. Rutgers due to ankle injury). He has 19 receptions for 228 yards (12.0 avg.) â€" and 15 of them have resulted in either a touchdown or first down.
Price, who owns a 3.59 grade-point average as a hospitality business major, was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 5 Team. The Greentown, Indiana, native has 62 career receptions for 812 yards in 38 games.
SPARTANS TURNING UP THE PRESSURE LATE IN THE SEASON â€"
• Since MSU's only loss of the season to Nebraska, the Spartan defense has allowed just 12.5 points per game the past four games vs. Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State and Iowa. In addition, the Spartans have forced 20 three-and-outs the past four games.
Shilique Calhoun EARNS FIRST-TEAM ALL-BIG TEN HONORS FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW â€"
Fifth-year senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun has been named first-team All-Big Ten for the third year in a row, becoming the first Spartan defensive lineman in school history to earn first-team honors three times.
Calhoun also earned second-team All-America accolades for the third year in a row (Associated Press, CBS Sports, FWAA and Walter Camp).
Calhoun, who was named the 2013 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and also earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades in 2013 and 2014, leads the Spartans in tackles for loss (14.5 for 81 yards), sacks (10.5 for 74 yards) and quarterback hurries (18). He has recorded career highs in tackles (45), tackles for loss and sacks in 2015. Calhoun ranks third in the Big Ten in sacks and sixth in tackles for loss.
In addition to becoming the first Spartan defensive lineman to garner first-team All-Big Ten honors three times, he is just the eighth Spartan in school history to accomplish the feat and the first since linebacker Greg Jones (2008-10).
Calhoun was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award and a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award (college defensive player of the year), Lombardi Award (college lineman of the year) and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Calhoun matched his season high with six tackles in MSU's 16-13 victory over No. 4 Iowa in the 2015 Big Ten Championship Game, with three resulting in losses (17 yards) including two sacks (16 yards). Calhoun also was credited with one forced fumble and a QB hurry. The Spartans limited the Hawkeyes to 13 first downs, 52 rushing yards (24 carries) and 268 total yards.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Calhoun was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season and third time of his career following his performance in the 27-23 win at No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17. Calhoun, who wore No. 43 in tribute to injured linebacker Ed Davis, recorded five tackles, including a career-best 3.5 for losses (11 yards) against the Wolverines. His tackles for losses included two sacks (6 yards). The Spartan defense forced Michigan to go three-and-out on six possessions and limited the Wolverines to a season low in total yards (230).
He also was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after recording a season-high six tackles in No. 2 Michigan State's 30-10 victory Central Michigan on Sept. 26, with three resulting in losses (24 yards) including 2.5 sacks (24 yards). Calhoun also was credited with four quarterback hurries, one pass break-up and a blocked kick against CMU. He finished the game with a team-high 37 production points, the most by a Spartan defensive player this season.
The Middletown, New Jersey, native ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss yardage (first with 267), sacks (second with 27), sack yardage (second with 211), tackles for loss (fourth with 43.5), and fumble recoveries (tied for 10th with five). In 53 career games, including 40 consecutive starts, he has 127 tackles with 43.5 resulting in losses (34 percent). His 27 sacks are the most by any Spartan in the Dantonio era and rank second among active players in the NCAA FBS.
