Great Scott! Spartans rally

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS

L.J. Scott’s late lunge did more than put the ball across the goal line — it all but certainly put No. 5 Michigan State in the College Football Playoff.

Scott, a Hubbard High School graduate, kept powering forward and stretched the ball into the end zone for a touchdown with 27 seconds that sent the Spartans past No. 4 Iowa 16-13 Saturday night in the Big Ten championship game.

Quarterback Connor Cook led the Spartans (12-1, No. 5 CFP) on a 22-play drive that set up Scott’s 1-yard run on third down. A half-dozen Iowa defenders tried to stop Scott, but he wouldn’t be denied.

Iowa (12-1, No. 4 CFP) lost for the first time this season — and just barely.

“Let’s get on and party,” Spartans coach Mark Dantonio shouted to the crowd when it was over.

After settling for three field goals in the first 591/2 minutes, Cook moved the Spartans 82 yards and kept their national title hopes intact.

Cook, the game’s MVP, methodically moved the Spartans in a drive that consumed nearly the final 91/2 minutes. He finished 16 of 32 for 191 yards with one interception and no touchdowns.

But with the season on the line, Cook and the offense made play after play against an Iowa defense that hadn’t given up a touchdown all night — until Scott got free just long enough.

“We wanted to come back and win a championship,” Cook said.

Michigan State earned its second conference title in three years, will chase its first national championship since splitting the title with Notre Dame in 1966. The Spartans need two more wins to earn the school’s first uncontested national title since 1952.

Iowa lost for the first time with C.J. Beathard as its starting quarterback.

Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz.

Arizona football coach Rich Rodriguez has turned down an offer to become South Carolina’s coach — a move confirmed by his current athletic director on Twitter.

Rodriguez met with South Carolina officials this week to talk about becoming the replacement for Steve Spurrier.