Cotton Bowl 2015: Dissecting Top Storylines for Michigan State vs. Baylor

Michigan State and Baylor each have a chance to put a bow on a memorable season with a Cotton Bowl victory. But they come into Arlington, Texas, sporting different mindsets.

It's easy to say the Bears feel shunned after they narrowly missed out on the College Football Playoff despite winning the Big 12 via tiebreaker and climbing to No. 5 in the rankings' final week. The chip on Baylor's shoulder will be massive coming into AT&T Stadium, but it can't afford to let the dispirited feeling of missing out on the CFP turn into a hangover.

As for Michigan State, it is set on proving it belongs in the CFP. The Spartans' only two losses all season were to teams in the Final Four—Ohio State and Oregon. It would be hard to deny Michigan State's place among the nation's elite should it knock off Baylor.

With that said, let's take a look at the top storylines to follow entering the Cotton Bowl.

This Can Go One of Two Ways

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Whether or not you agree with Baylor's snubbing, there's no denying the Bears are feeling left out as they prepare for the Cotton Bowl.

Baylor had one blemish on the season: losing to West Virginia on the road. But its win over TCU didn't loom as large as the Bears had hoped, and although they jumped the TCU Horned Frogs in the final rankings, Ohio State jumped them both.

Bryce Petty and Co. made no bones about it, per Fox Sports Southwest's David Ubben:

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I guess the TCU game didn't matter to most people and it was evident right off the bat. Then the other thing, when you've got two Big 12 teams that are No. 3 and No. 6 and none of them get in, that's motivation when you feel that our conference we played week in and week out isn't good enough to get in the top four.

It pisses us off. 

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The feeling of being left out will linger for quite some time around Waco, Texas, but nothing would validate Baylor's season more than a win over a high-caliber foe in a prestigious game. That's exactly the chance the Bears have on New Year's Day.

However, they can take one of two approaches: They can play their best football or fail to prepare accordingly after seeing their championship hopes fade.

Time and time again, teams that have been central to the national title conversation end up coming out flat in their bowl games. Sometimes, the fire just isn't there.

But Baylor can't afford to have that mindset. Whether or not it's where the Bears wanted to be, they have a golden opportunity ahead of them, but they will have to be ready to go to battle.

Picking Up Where We Left Off

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

When your assistants get lured away for major head coaching positions, you know your program is headed in the right direction. But that doesn't make bowl preparations any easier.

That's the problem facing Michigan State, which saw defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi bolt to take the head job at Pittsburgh. Now, for the first time in head coach Mark Dantonio's coaching career, he'll trot out a defense without Narduzzi leading it. 

A look across the field raises a similar question for Baylor, which is replacing longtime offensive coordinator Phil Montgomery with Kendal Briles, Art Briles' son.

Of course, those coaches got promotions for a reason. Baylor's offense ranks atop the nation with 581.4 yards per game, while the Spartans defense ranks seventh in the nation in yards against per game.

It's hard to see either unit skipping much of a beat without its usual signal-caller in the fold, as both operate at a high level. But Baylor's offense is such a strength that Michigan State would receive a massive boost just by slowing it down.

Spurning the Draft

Two of the most enticing draft prospects in the Cotton Bowl won't be making their farewell performances after all.

Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook has decided to return for his senior season instead of putting his name in the 2015 draft hat. While that might have been expected, it was nothing short of a surprise to hear that Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman will be returning to the Bears in 2015. 

But don't think either player will be bringing it any less. A war of words entering the game has proved that will not be the case. Oakman had some choice words about hitting Cook, and the Spartans quarterback had to answer, per the Detroit Free Press' Joe Rexrode:

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"Nah, but when he do, it hurts," the Baylor junior defensive end said of Cook. "He feels it. He feels it. And you can see that in his face and his emotion during the game. Anybody could be rattled. You get hit a few times in your back, you're gonna be rattled. And our defensive line is not no Teddy bears. We're coming. We're coming."

Cook, of course, was told of Oakman's comments.

"I've got two words: Jack Conklin," Cook said of the MSU sophomore left tackle who will be blocking Oakman in Thursday's Cotton Bowl. "That's what I've got."

"

Like I said, these players are not dumbing down this matchup just because their draft plans are on hold.

Michigan State's physical offensive line and running-game prowess have kept Cook from getting rattled too much, but pressure got to him in both of the Spartans' losses. Oakman has been making his name by rattling quarterbacks, as the 280-pound defensive end has 10 sacks on the season.

If Baylor can stuff the run on early downs and force Cook into passing situations, look for Oakman to make his impact.