Cotton Bowl 2015: Michigan State vs. Alabama TV Schedule and Live Stream
On New Year's Eve, we will find out which two teams will play for the national championship as the College Football Playoff begins.
After the Clemson Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners kick off the action in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, the Michigan State Spartans will battle the Alabama Crimson Tide in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium in the Cotton Bowl.
Game Details
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When: Friday, December 31 at 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Here are a few things to watch for in this Big Ten vs. SEC matchup.
Henry's 1st Post-Heisman Performance
Alabama's Derrick Henry finished ahead of Stanford Cardinal superstar Christian McCaffrey; the Cotton Bowl will be Henry's first game since winning the sport's top individual award.
The break between the SEC Championship Game and the Cotton Bowl should've been welcomed for Henry. He had run the ball 90 times in his last two games, per ESPN.com and should be fresh and ready to go when he begins taking handoffs and pitches on Friday night.
The junior's number of carries should be a barometer for Bama's success. The Tide would obviously like to continue to lean on the running game as much as possible. If the defense can continue to be the dominating force it's been all season, Henry should see 30-plus touches as Bama seeks to grind out a victory and earn a berth in the national championship game.
Cook Tries to Prove He's an Elite QB Prospect
That vaunted Bama defense will prove to be the toughest Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook has seen all season. With all due respect to a very good Iowa Hawkeyes defense, the Crimson Tide will put at least five players in the NFL off their defense this year alone.
Cook is one of the better QB prospects headed for the 2016 NFL draft. A strong showing against Alabama might be enough to secure himself as a top-15 pick. It might even create enough momentum for him to move into the top 10.
Is the Big Ten on SEC's Level?
The Ohio State Buckeyes won it all last year, and their run included a victory over Bama in one of the inaugural CFP semis. The victory was a triumph for the program, but also for the conference. Some may see Ohio State as the only Big Ten school capable of competing with Bama and the SEC elite.
That thought would have to change if the Spartans were to become the second Big Ten school in as many years to eliminate Bama in the CFP.
The impact that a Spartans win could have on the national perception of the Big Ten conference is huge. For that reason, every Big Ten school should be rooting for the Spartans to slay the Tide. It just might mean an extra commitment during recruiting.
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