Respect the Spartans!
In what seemed like more of a bowl game or NCAA playoff matchup at the end of the season came to football fans only in week two of the college football series. No. 7 Oregon and No. 5 Michigan State faced off in a very high stakes game in East Lansing, which may possibly have repercussions for the playoff committee when it’s all said and done.
Oregon and Michigan State went toe to toe all of the first half, with plenty of magical plays from Ducks quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (including multiple interceptions and a left handed first-down completion), great play from the MSU defense and things went down to the wire for this one. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough for Oregon as Michigan State avenged previous losses at the hands of the Ducks in past years.
Adams almost constructed an epic comeback in the 4th quarter, running for a touchdown and connecting with Byron Marshall on a 15-yard strike that put them within three points of the Spartans. After a three-and-out by Michigan State, this game had the makings of another last second thriller, except it didn’t materialize. An overthrown pass to a wide open Marshall, a sack and incomplete pass for a first down is how it ended and just like that, the Spartans gained the respect they had been wanting for the past few years.
Running back Madre London ended the game with 103 yards on 18 carries for Michigan State, while wide receiver Aaron Burbridge nabbed 101 yards on 8 receptions and one touchdown. For Oregon, Adams Jr. threw for 309 yards and one touchdown, rushed for one touchdown as well as threw two interceptions. Bralon Addison led the Ducks in receiving yards with 138 on 7 receptions, but no touchdowns.
Oregon still has a chance to make the College Football Playoffs, but their margin of error has to be damn near non-existant. For Michigan State, they can reign supreme at the top of the football world, even if their only loss at the end of the season is Ohio State in the Big Ten.
FINAL: MSU 31 | ORE 28