Mich. St. gets share of Big Ten crown

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Michigan State marched off the field toward their sliver of boisterous, green-clad fans savoring a memorable trip to chilly Happy Valley.

The 11th-ranked Spartans were headed home with a share of their first Big Ten title for the first time in two decades.

Edwin Baker ran for 118 yards and a touchdown, quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 152 yards and two touchdowns to B.J. Cunnigham, and the defense held off a fourth-quarter charge by penalty-prone Penn State for a 28-22 win at blustery Beaver Stadium.

“We’re Big Ten champions. No one can ever take it away from us,” Cousins said. “It’s going on the wall at Spartan Stadium.”

The Spartans (11-1, 7-1) have to wait and see whether their win is good enough for the Rose Bowl.

No. 8 Ohio State beat Michigan while No. 5 Wisconsin routed Northwestern. Since all three teams finished with identical records, the Bowl Championship Series standings released tonight will break the tie. The Spartans came into the week trailing their Big Ten rivals.

Stoic as ever, coach Mark Dantonio put the spotlight on the hard-earned conference title.

“Our goal was to win the championship. That’s our No. 1 goal,” he said. “Where people place us from there, we’ll still go to whatever bowl we go to as Big Ten champions.”

Penn State (7-5, 4-4) scored 19 fourth-quarter points, and fans had dreams of an unlikely comeback after Matt McGloin found Derek Moye for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 56 seconds left. Michigan State recovered the ensuing onsides kick to finally seal the win after leading 14-3 at halftime.

“We’ve got to learn to play a full game,” McGloin said. “Today we came out flat, and we ended up” playing well. McGloin finished 23 of 43 passing for 312 yards with two fourth-quarter touchdowns and an interception.