SB Nation Detroit - Iowa vs. Michigan State: Spartans stunned by Hawkeyeshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2012-10-15T14:14:33-04:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/32444612012-10-15T14:14:33-04:002012-10-15T14:14:33-04:00MSU players not giving up on season
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<figcaption>Mike Carter-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>Michigan State players aren't giving up on their season, despite the fact that they've already lost three games with seven left to go.</p> <p>The Michigan State Spartans have five games left to go before the end of their regular season, and they can't lose another game if they're to reach their third consecutive 11-win season. They're sitting at 4-3 and at fifth place in the Legends Division, a far cry from last year, where they were in first place. According to Diamond Leung of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2012/10/doubt_hasnt_set_in_for_michiga.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mlive_sports+%28MLive.com+Sports%29">MLive.com</a>, MSU players aren't calling it a lost season just yet, with a quote from defensive end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113928/william-gholston" class="sbn-auto-link">William Gholston</a>:</p>
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<p>"The season's not over," defensive end William Gholston said. "We've still got a lot of games to play. It's like we lost today, somebody else may lose, I don't know. So you just play as hard as you can play and still try to get to the championship.</p>
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<p>Gholston goes on to say that there's no doubt in his mind that the Spartans are a championship team, and that his belief is right where it was prior to the season getting underway. Coach Mark Dantonio isn't going to let things get away from him either, as the piece has a quote from him in which he talks about doing whatever they can to win the division. That's their goal, and they're going to set out to try and accomplish it.</p>
<p>They can take one step toward that on Saturday when they take on rival Michigan, who is coming off a dominating 40-plus point shutout over Illinois last week.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-state-football/2012/10/15/3507332/michigan-state-football-will-gholstonJames Brady2012-10-14T10:40:15-04:002012-10-14T10:40:15-04:00Loss likely eliminates MSU from B10 title chase
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<p>In Saturday's 19-16 double overtime loss to Iowa, the Michigan State's passing game continued to struggle and the Spartans missed an opportunity to kick what could've proven to be a decisive field goal at the end of the first half. On top of that, the Spartans likely fell out of contention to win the Big Ten Legends Division after falling two games in the loss column behind Michigan and Iowa. </p>
<p>That's a lot to digest in just one game. <a href="http://www.theonlycolors.com/2012/10/13/3498594/iowa-19-michigan-state-16-2ot-kneejerk-reactions" target="_blank">Michigan State blog The Only Colors touches on</a> all of those aspects in the game recap:</p>
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<p>Even if we win out, we'd need at least two (possibly three) losses from Iowa and another one from Michigan. And winning out doesn't look at all likely at this point. Missing out on a bowl entirely is a possibility now, though I still think we probably get the last two to avoid that.</p>
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<p>Michigan State had a chance to tie or win in double overtime. Iowa had kicked a field goal to go up 19-16, but the Spartans had one more possession. On their second play, from the Iowa 24-yard line, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77183/andrew-maxwell">Andrew Maxwell's</a> pass was deflected and intercepted to end the game. Maxwell had his worst start of the season, completing just 12-for-31 passes for 179 yards.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-state-football/2012/10/14/3501336/michigan-state-iowa-2012-reactionPatrick Hayes2012-10-13T16:15:53-04:002012-10-13T16:15:53-04:00Michigan State stunned in 2 OT by Iowa, 19-16
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<figcaption>US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Hawkeyes got one of the most thrilling victories of the college football season, in a 19-16 double overtime win over Michigan State Saturday.</p> <p>It isn’t often that it takes a team 59 minutes to score their first touchdown and they still get the win, but in the case of Iowa’s 19-16 double-overtime victory over Michigan State Saturday, that’s exactly what happened. <br><br>With rainy conditions limiting both offenses all afternoon, Iowa was stymied until 55 seconds left when running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/142161/mark-weisman" class="sbn-auto-link">Mark Weisman</a> carried the ball five yards for a touchdown. It capped a nine-play drive, which saw the Hawkeyes tie the game at 13 and send it into overtime.<br><br>From there, field goals dictated the rest of the game. Both teams were able to score three in the first overtime, and in the second overtime, Iowa’s <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/122398/mike-meyer" class="sbn-auto-link">Mike Meyer</a> hit his fourth of the afternoon to give the Hawkeyes a 19-16 lead.<br><br>Finally, the game was sealed just two plays later by Iowa’s defense. <br><br>On a second-down pass, quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77183/andrew-maxwell" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrew Maxwell</a> dropped back in the pocket, only to see his pass tipped and picked off by Iowa defensive back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/47773/greg-castillo" class="sbn-auto-link">Greg Castillo</a>. It capped a wild win, and one that leaves Iowa atop the Big Ten Legends Division standings.</p>
<p><b>Box Score Hero: </b>Could it be anyone other than Iowa running back Mark Weisman? The sophomore running back finished with 116 yards on 26 carries, including the Hawkeyes' only touchdown of the game.</p>
<p><b>Rankings Ramifications: </b>Even with a win to improve to 2-0 in the Big Ten, Iowa won’t be ranked when the new polls come out next. However, with an undefeated record in conference play, they do control their own destiny in the race to get to Indianapolis for this year’s Big Ten title game.</p>
<p><b>But Did They Cover?</b> Yes. Iowa entered the game as an eight-point underdog.</p>
<p><b>For More On This Game: </b>For more information on Michigan State, be sure to visit <a href="http://www.theonlycolors.com/">The Only Colors</a> and for updates on all things Iowa, visit <a href="http://blackheartgoldpants.com"><b>Black Heart Gold Pants</b></a><b>. <br></b></p>
<p><b>Next Week's Schedule:</b> Michigan State will travel to cross-state rival <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-wolverines#stories_tab">Michigan</a>, while Iowa will host <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions#stories_tab">Penn State</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large">Follow @SBNationCFB</a></p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-state-football/2012/10/13/3498646/michigan-state-vs-iowa-final-score-spartans-fall-19-16-in-2otEric Stephen2012-10-13T14:35:03-04:002012-10-13T14:35:03-04:00Michigan State leads 10-3 after 3rd quarter
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<p>With a 10-3 score after three quarters of play, offense has been at a premium between Michigan St. and Iowa Saturday afternoon. So far, the best players on each team have been their respective punters, as the Spartans hold on to a tight to a one-touchdown lead. <br><br>In a game which has been dictated by sloppy weather and sloppy play, the Hawkeyes enter the fourth quarter in the midst of a 10-play drive that sees them with their best touchdown scoring opportunity of the day, inside the red zone.</p>
<p>The big play of the drive came on a fourth-down conversion, when running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/142161/mark-weisman" class="sbn-auto-link">Mark Weisman</a> picked up a five yards to keep Iowa in scoring range. Weisman also picked up 31 yards on a run play earlier in the drive to get things going. The Hawkeyes were aided by a Michigan State defensive holding penalty on a third down, which moved the chains and kept the drive alive.</p>
<p>Iowa will open with the ball on the Michigan State 13-yard line to start the fourth quarter.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-state-football/2012/10/13/3498224/michigan-state-iowa-score-2012Aaron Torres2012-10-13T13:34:40-04:002012-10-13T13:34:40-04:00Michigan State up 10-3 on Iowa at halftime
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<p>It wasn’t a pretty first half in East Lansing, Mich., but after 30 minutes of play, Michigan State leads Iowa 10-3 in a crucial game in the Big Ten Leaders Division standings.<br><br>After a Le’Veon Bell touchdown made it 7-0 in the first quarter, the only scores in the second came off the feet of each team’s kickers.<br><br>Michigan State put up the first points of the quarter on a 24-yard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36752/dan-conroy" class="sbn-auto-link">Dan Conroy</a> kick, one that was set up by a 38-yard pass from quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77183/andrew-maxwell" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrew Maxwell</a> to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159800/aaron-burbridge" class="sbn-auto-link">Aaron Burbridge</a> earlier in the drive. It was the longest play from scrimmage all afternoon for either team.<br><br>Iowa responded with a field goal of their own later in the quarter, after an 10-play, 42-yard drive.<br><br>Actually, the two biggest plays of the quarter were ones that didn't technically happen.<br><br>Following the Conroy kick, which gave the Spartans a 10-0 lead, Iowa return man <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76579/jordan-cotton" class="sbn-auto-link">Jordan Cotton</a> fielded the ensuing kickoff and took it in for a touchdown. Unfortunately a block in the back negated the score, and even though Iowa started with the ball inside Michigan State territory, they were only able to muster those three points. <br><br>And for Michigan State, the Spartans too had a scoring opportunity right before the end of the half. But in field goal range, the Spartans were unable to spike the ball in time for a scoring chance, right as time expired.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-state-football/2012/10/13/3498100/michigan-state-vs-iowa-game-score-updateAaron Torres2012-10-13T12:42:54-04:002012-10-13T12:42:54-04:00Spartans lead 7-0 after 1st quarter
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<p>After one quarter of an important showdown between two Big Ten Leaders Division opponents, Michigan State leads Iowa, 7-0.<br><br>The scoring started just minutes into the first quarter, after Michigan State's Denicos Allen intercepted a pass from Iowa quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/47760/james-vandenberg" class="sbn-auto-link">James Vandenberg</a>. With rainy weather holding back the Spartans' passing attack, Michigan State elected to go to the ground four straight times with running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113936/le-veon-bell" class="sbn-auto-link">Le'Veon Bell</a>, and on the fourth play, Bell carried the ball in for a 14-yard touchdown strike.<br><br>Bell's touchdown remains the only score of the game, with both offenses slowed by poor weather conditions. Following Bell's touchdown run, the two teams combined for four straight three-and-outs, before an <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77183/andrew-maxwell" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrew Maxwell</a> pass moved the chains for a first down right before the end of the quarter. Outside the scoring drive, the two teams have combined for just 56 yards of total offense.<br><br>Regardless, this is a crucial game for both teams in the race for the Leaders Division lead. Entering Saturday, Iowa was tied at the top of the standings with Michigan at 1-0 in conference play, with Michigan State a game back at 1-1.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-state-football/2012/10/13/3497940/michigan-state-vs-iowa-game-score-updateAaron Torres2012-10-13T08:00:56-04:002012-10-13T08:00:56-04:00Iowa-MSU: Game time, TV info, and spread
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>The Hawkeyes and Spartans open up Big Ten Legends Division play Saturday in East Lansing.</p> <p>Two mirror-image teams face off in East Lansing on Saturday afternoon, as the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/iowa-hawkeyes" class="sbn-auto-link">Iowa Hawkeyes</a> visit the Michigan State Spartans. Both teams have struggled to score this season, and rely on bruising tailbacks and punishing defense to win. Both will likely do much of the same Saturday. Michigan State's talent, experience, and home-field advantage have made the Spartans 10-point favorites to win.</p>
<p>Michigan State began the season as a favorite to compete for the Big Ten Legends division championship. The Spartans had one of the Big Ten's most hyped defenses, and it has not disappointed. Michigan State leads the conference in total defense, scoring defense, and rushing defense despite facing Boise State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State in September.</p>
<p>However, a pair of low-scoring losses has dropped Michigan State out of the Top 25. The Spartan offense is centered around workhorse halfback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113936/le-veon-bell" class="sbn-auto-link">Le'Veon Bell</a>, who has already run for 776 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012.</p>
<p>Quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77183/andrew-maxwell" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrew Maxwell</a> has struggled, completing just 56% of his passes in the Spartans' first six games. After the season-opening win against Boise State where he threw three interceptions, however, Maxwell has done an excellent job of protecting the ball. He has not thrown an interception since that first week, and has added six touchdowns in those five games. He will likely be without the services of tight end Dion Sims, who is the team's leading receiver but <a target="_blank" href="http://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-state-football/2012/10/10/3483424/dion-sims-michigan-state-football">will miss his second consecutive game with a sprained ankle</a>.</p>
<p>Iowa is suffering from many of the same problems as Michigan State. The Hawkeye defense has allowed just 17.4 points per game, good for 25th in the nation and third in the Big Ten. Iowa is also third in the conference in total defense and rushing defense.</p>
<p>Since installing walk-on Air Force transfer <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/142161/mark-weisman" class="sbn-auto-link">Mark Weisman</a> at halfback during a Week 3 win over Northern Iowa, the Hawkeye offense has been exponentially more productive, averaging 29.7 points per game after averaging just 12.1 in the first two weeks. Weisman ran for 113 yards in just over a half against Northern Iowa, and followed that with 217 yards in a loss to Central Michigan and 177 yards in a win over Minnesota.</p>
<p>However, much like Michigan State, Iowa has struggled in the passing game. Senior quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/47760/james-vandenberg" class="sbn-auto-link">James Vandenberg</a> has completed 58% of his passes for a paltry 6.3 yards per attempt and two scores.</p>
<p>Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET. Television coverage will be available on ESPN and ESPN3.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-state-football/2012/10/13/3486166/michigan-state-iowa-2012-game-time-schedule-oddsPatrick Vint2012-10-11T11:39:09-04:002012-10-11T11:39:09-04:00Spartans OC isn't worried about critics
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<figcaption>Mike Carter-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>Michigan State offensive coordinator Dan Roushar has been under fire for fielding an underwhelming offense so far in 2012, but he isn't letting the criticism get to him.</p> <p>The Michigan State Spartans are off to a 4-2 start in 2012, but the offense ranks just No. 100 in points per game (21.8), No. 83 in rushing yards per game (143.2) and No. 53 in passing yards per contest (245.8) in the FBS. Offensive coordinator Dan Roushar has come under fire for fielding such an underwhelming unit, but as he recently told MLive.com,<a href="http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2012/10/michigan_state_offensive_coord_5.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mlive_sports+%28MLive.com+Sports%29" target="_blank"> he is not worried about the critics</a>:</p>
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<p>"Each week you have a plan, here's what we're going to go and this is how we're going to attack these situations," Roushar said. "All of the sudden something happens and you have to be able to adapt and adjust. I think the whole thing is we're trying to figure out what personnel grouping we have out there that's going to give us the best opportunity to win."</p>
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<p>Star running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113936/le-veon-bell">Le'Veon Bell</a> posted 776 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 171 attempts, good for a 4.5 yards-per-carry average, but the junior RB has also been held under 100 yards in three of the team's six games -- contests against Central Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State.</p>
<p>The Spartans will look to jump start their sub-par offense -- which also ranks 11th in the Big Ten in scoring -- on Saturday when they host the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/iowa-hawkeyes">Iowa Hawkeyes</a>.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/michigan-state-football/2012/10/11/3488766/dan-roushar-michigan-state-footballSteve von Horn