Looking to avenge their embarrassing 37-6 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2010, the Michigan State Spartans came out prepared and firing on all cylinders today.
After holding the Hawkeyes to a three-and-out on their first possession, the Spartans marched down the field in just eight plays. On first-and-goal from the Hawkeyes' six yard line, Kirk Cousins found wide receiver B.J. Cunningham wide open in the back of the end zone for the early score. On the drive, Spartans' sophomore running back Le'Veon Bell had 24 yards rushing on four carries and a reception for four yards.
Up 7-0, Spartans' Johnny Adams picked off Hawkeyes' quarterback James Vandenberg on the second play of the ensuing possession and returned it to the Iowa 19 yard line to give the ball right back to MSU.
The Spartans only needed three plays from there to take a 14-0 lead just halfway through the first quarter, scoring on a 17 yard touchdown pass from Cousins to junior running back Edwin Baker on third-and-eight.
Iowa picked up a first down on their next possession, but had to punt it back to MSU three plays later. Spartans were forced to punt themselves, though, after getting pushed back into a third-and-sixteen and failing to convert.
Iowa's offense finally got going near the end of the first quarter, taking the ball from their own 17 yard line all the way down to the Michigan State eight yard line. That's where they will start, third-and-two, when the second quarter begins.
For further reading, news, discussion and more, visit Michigan State blog The Only Colors and Iowa blog Black Heart Gold Pants. Here’s the complete Week 10 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.