Spartans lock up Big Ten East title

Published 12:33 am Monday, November 30, 2015

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Connor Cook threw three touchdown passes in his return from a shoulder injury, and No. 6 Michigan State wrapped up a spot in the Big Ten championship game with a 55-16 rout of Penn State on Saturday.

The Spartans (11-1, 7-1) will play unbeaten Iowa for the conference title next weekend, with the winner in good position to advance to college football’s playoff. Michigan State is No. 5 in the selection committee’s ranking.

The Spartans finished tied atop the Big Ten East with Ohio State, and Michigan State upset the Buckeyes last weekend with Cook on the sideline. The senior came back Saturday and was brilliant against Penn State (7-5, 4-4). Cook went 19 of 26 for 248 yards.

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FRIDAY

Iowa 28, Nebraska 20

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Jordan Canzeri broke long touchdown runs on back-to-back series in the third quarter, and No. 3 Iowa completed its first perfect regular season in 93 years with a 28-20 victory over Nebraska on Friday.

The Hawkeyes (12-0, 8-0, No. 4 CFP) were far from dominant but good enough against the sloppy Cornhuskers (5-7, 3-5) on a raw afternoon. As one of two remaining unbeaten teams, they’ll head to next week’s Big Ten championship game in the middle of the College Football Playoff race.

Canzeri ran off left tackle two straight times for two touchdowns, the first one going 29 yards and the second 68 yards for a 28-17 lead.

Canzeri finished with 140 yards on 17 carries.

Iowa picked off Tommy Armstrong Jr. four times, with defensive end Parker Hesse returning one 4 yards for the Hawkeyes’ fourth interception for a touchdown this season.

The Huskers needed a win to assure bowl eligibility.