Post-Game Notes: Iowa
12/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
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• 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 on Saturday in Indianapolis. 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.
• With the win over Iowa, 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 Spartans are now 7-1 in their last eight games against AP Top 10 teams. In addition, the Spartans are 6-1 against AP Top 10 teams since 2013 (also beat No. 4 Wisconsin in 2011) and 3-0 in 2015. 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). MSU is 15-11 against ranked teams since 2010.
• Michigan State is 6-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less this season (won 16-13 vs. Iowa; 17-14 vs. Ohio State; 27-23 vs. Michigan; 31-24 vs. Rutgers; 24-21 vs. Purdue, 31-28 vs. Oregon in 2015; lost 39-38 at Nebraska). MSU is 19-8 in games decided by a TD or less since 2010.
• Connor 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). Cook completed 16-of-32 passes for 191 yards; he also rushed 2 yards for a first down on fourth-and-2 from the Iowa 5-yard line with 1:59 remaining in the game that set up the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds remaining. Cook moved up to second all-time in MSU history with 8,984 career passing yards. He also improved his record as a starting quarterback to 34-4 (23-2 vs. Big Ten teams).
• Aaron Burbridge established a new Michigan State single-season record for receptions with his 80th catch of the year 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 also has 1,219 receiving yards in 2015, good for fifth most in an MSU season.
• Shilique Calhoun recorded three tackles for loss (17 yards) and two sacks (16 yards) and finished with six tackles overall. He was also credited with a forced fumble on his 8-yard sack of C.J. Beathard late in the second quarter. Calhoun moved up to second in MSU history with 27 sacks and fourth with 43.5 tackles for loss.
• Michigan State's game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter covered 82 yards on 22 plays and lasted 9:04 on the clock (9:31 mark to 27 seconds left in the game). According to STATS, it marked the longest touchdown drive (plays) in the NCAA FBS since North Carolina State had a 23-play drive vs. Clemson on Sept. 19, 2013. The drive actually consisted of 92 yards of total offense for the Spartans (holding penalty pushed MSU back 10 yards during the drive). The drive featured 17 rushes (59 yards) and just five passes (3-of-5, 33 yards). LJ Scott had 14 carries for 40 yards on the drive, including a 1-yard TD on third-and-goal with 27 seconds remaining. The last 12 plays of the drive were runs. MSU converted five third downs on the drive and one fourth down (Cook's 2-yard run on the Iowa 5-yard line with 1:59 left).
• Michigan State ran 79 plays on offense for 365 yards compared to Iowa's 51 plays for 268 yards. The Spartans held the ball for 36:38 compared to Iowa's 23:22. It marked the third-lowest offensive output for the Hawkeyes in 2015 (221 vs. Wisconsin, 250 vs. Nebraska). Iowa only had 16 offensive plays in the second half for 116 yards (3 in third quarter, 113 in fourth).
• Iowa was held to a season-low 52 yards rushing on 24 carries (2.2 avg.). It marked the sixth time this season the Spartans have held an opponent under 100 yards on the ground.
• Freshman LJ Scott led all rushers with 73 yards on 22 carries, 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.
• Red-shirt freshman Madre London had 60 rushing yards on 12 attempts, his highest rushing total since gaining 97 yards on 17 carries vs. Purdue on Oct. 3. London was injured in the Rutgers game on Oct. 10 and missed three games before seeing limited action in the final three games of the regular season.
• The Spartan defense recorded three takeaways (two fumbles, one interception). Riley Bullough was credited with a forced fumble in the first quarter that led to Michael Geiger's first field goal, Demetrious Cox picked off a pass in the end zone in the second quarter, and Jermaine Edmondson recovered a fumble on the last play of the game to seal the victory for the Spartans. Iowa entered the game with just 11 turnovers all season. Michigan State has forced at least two turnovers in nine of 13 games this season. MSU is 55-11 when forcing at least two turnovers in a game under Mark Dantonio.
• Michael Geiger tied his career high with five field-goal attempts and made a season-high three (23 yards, 29, 47). The 47-yarder with 57 seconds left in the third quarter matched a season long. Both of his misses were from 52 yards away.
• Michigan State won its second straight game over Iowa, but the Hawkeyes still lead the overall series, 23-21-2. Mark Dantonio is 4-4 against Iowa, while Kirk Ferentz is 7-7 against MSU.
• 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. 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.
