SPARTY SOUND
Michigan State flexes muscles, wins Big Ten East
EAST LANSING, Mich. — 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 victory Saturday against Penn State.
The Spartans (11-1, 7-1, No. 5 College Football Playoff) will play unbeaten Iowa for the conference title next weekend, with the winner in good position to advance to the CFP.
The Spartans 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 and was brilliant against Penn State (7-5, 4-4). Cook went 19-of-26 for 248 yards.
No. 13 Stanford 38, No. 4 Notre Dame 36
STANFORD, Calif. — Kevin Hogan threw four touchdown passes and drove Stanford to the game-winning 45-yard field goal by Conrad Ukropina on the final play of the Cardinal’s victory against the Fighting Irish.
Hogan threw for 269 yards and calmly led the winning drive in the final 30 seconds for the Cardinal (10-2, No. 9 CFP), who kept their slim playoff hopes alive with the win. DeShone Kizer had given the Irish (10-2, No. 6 CFP) a one-point lead on his 2-yard run with 30 seconds left
No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 12 Michigan 13
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ezekiel Elliott ran for 214 yards and two touchdowns for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten, No. 8 CFP) have won 11 of the past 12 games against Michigan (9-3, 6-2, No. 10 CFP).
Elliott’s performance came a week after he had 33 yards in a loss to Michigan State, then criticized the play-calling and said he will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft. He had a 5-yard run that put Ohio State up 14-3 in the second quarter and a 10-yarder that made it 35-13 in the fourth.
J.T. Barrett had 19 carries for a season-high 139 yards.
No. 17 Northwestern 24, Illinois 14
CHICAGO — Justin Jackson rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown for Northwestern.
Freshman Clayton Thorson threw for 146 yards and a score to help Northwestern (102, 6-2 Big Ten, No. 16 CFP) avenge last year’s 47-33 home loss to Illinois. It was the fifth consecutive win for the Wildcats, putting them in position for a Jan. 1 bowl game.
A few hours before Illinois (5-7, 2-6) took the field, the school announced interim coach Bill Cubit had agreed to a two-year contract. Cubit took over for the fired Tim Beckman right before the season.
Southern California 40, No. 22 UCLA 21
LOS ANGELES — Cody Kessler threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and Southern California won the Pac12 South title with a victory over UCLA.
Darreus Rogers and Taylor McNamara caught TD passes as the Trojans (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) scored 20 consecutive points in the second half.
USC will face Stanford next Saturday in the Trojans’ first trip to the Pac-12 title game.
Paul Perkins rushed for two touchdowns for the Bruins (8-4, 5-4, No. 22 CFP). They lost to USC for the first time in coach Jim Mora’s tenure.
No. 25 Temple 27, UConn 3
PHILADELPHIA — Jahad Thomas ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns and P.J. Walker threw for 160 yards and a score to help the Owls beat the Huskies and secure a spot in the American Athletic Conference’s inaugural championship game.
Romond Deloatch caught a touchdown for the Owls, who will play at No. 21 Houston for the AAC title next Saturday with a New Year’s Six bowl bid possibly at stake for the winner.