College Football Scores 2016: Top 25 Teams' Week 12 Results, Key Stats and Stars
Ohio State survived its trip to East Lansing, Michigan, but the unranked Michigan State Spartans nearly derailed the Buckeyes' hopes of making the College Football Playoff.
The Spartans did not play like a team that had endured a seven-game losing streak earlier this season, and they looked more like the team that made it to last season's playoff. The Spartans scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to come within a point, but head coach Mark Dantonio eschewed the extra point that would have tied the game.
Instead, the Spartans went for two, but Tyler O'Connor's pass was intercepted in the end zone.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
"They had us covered up on that particular play," Dantonio told media members after the game, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "So good job by them."
| Ohio State (2) | 17-16 | Michigan State | Ohio State: Defense allowed 224 rushing yards. |
| Wisconsin (7) | 49-20 | Purdue | Wisconsin: Converted nine of 15 third-down conversions. |
| Oklahoma State (11) | 31-6 | TCU | Oklahomas State: 334-145 advantage in rushing yards. |
| Florida (23) | 16-10 | LSU (10) | LSU: Outgained 423-270. |
| Nebraska (18) | 28-7 | Maryland | Nebraska: 181-11 edge in rushing yards. |
| Texas A&M (25) | 23-10 | Texas-San Antonio | Texas A&M: Defense held UTSA to an average of 1.3 yards per carry on 37 rushing attempts. |
| Michigan (3) | 20-10 | Indiana | Michigan: RB De'Veon Smith had 158 rushing yards, two TDs. |
| Western Michigan (21) | 38-0 | Buffalo | Western Michigan: 626 yards of total offense. |
| Florida State (17) | 45-14 | Syracuse | Florida State: 34-13 advantage in first downs. |
| Oregon | 30-28 | Utah (12) | Oregon: QB Justin Herbert was 30-of-43 for 324 yards, three TDs. |
| Tennessee (19) | 63-37 | Missouri | Tennessee: QB Joshua Dobbs had 223 passing yards, 190 rushing yards, five total TDs. |
| Colorado (10) | 38-24 | Washington State (22) | Colorado: 260-137 advantage in rushing yards. |
As a result, the second-ranked Buckeyes held on for a 17-16 victory.
Michigan State got the ball back at its own 20-yard line with 2:04 remaining, but Tyquan Lewis sacked O'Connor on the first play. Then the Michigan State quarterback got hit on the next play as he tried to throw a sideline pass, and Gareon Conley came up with the clinching interception for Ohio State.
Michigan State had jumped on top on its first possession when O'Connor connected with LJ Scott on a 64-yard screen pass. The Spartans performed with confidence from that point forward and played the Buckeyes on near-even terms.
With the score tied at 10-10 in the third quarter, Ohio State took the lead on Mike Weber's four-yard TD run with 5:33 remaining. Weber had a solid game for the Buckeyes, gaining 111 yards on 14 carries.
Scott was the star for the Spartans, as he had a dominant day against the Ohio State run defense (more below).
Ohio State hosts Michigan on Nov. 26, and that game will have huge ramifications on the College Football Playoff selections.
Stars of the Week
LJ Scott, RB, Michigan State
Ohio State had registered back-to-back 62-3 triumphs in the two weeks preceding its trip to Michigan State, and it did not seem likely that the Spartans offense would provide a major challenge.
However, Scott did not get that message, and he nearly led the Spartans to an upset of the second-ranked Buckeyes. Scott carried the ball 19 times for 160 yards, and he had a long run of 61 yards.
Scott also caught two passes for 76 yards, including a 64-yard screen pass for a touchdown on the second play of the game from scrimmage.
Scott did a solid job of pushing the pile when he ran between the tackles, and he also did surprisingly well when he swept to the sideline against Ohio State's quick and athletic defense.
Justice Hill, RB, Oklahoma State
The Oklahoma State Cowboys knew that a road game against TCU was a potentially troubling game.
If the Cowboys had given the Horned Frogs some early reason to believe they could come up with the upset, TCU could make this a long afternoon.
However, OSU went to its powerful ground game and took control early. Hill was on top of his game, as he gained 154 yards on 16 carries, and he seemed to break key plays whenever his team needed them.
The 5'10", 171-pound Hill proved to be at least a step quicker than the TCU defensive players.
As a result, the Cowboys were able to break open a close game in the second half and roll to a 31-6 victory.
The Cowboys also got excellent production from fellow running back Chris Carson, who gained 146 yards on 17 carries.
Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
The Texas A&M Aggies figured to get the best of the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners and dominate this game.
While the offense didn't do much, the Aggies got a heroic performance from Garrett. The 6'5", 270-pound junior was all over the field, as he collected eight tackles, including seven solo stops.
He was also a pass-rushing machine, as he picked up 4.5 sacks, forced one fumble and batted down one pass, according to ESPN.com. Garrett was the primary reason Texas A&M's defense dominated this game.
Garrett had been slowed by a high ankle sprain in recent weeks, but he was on top of this game for the Aggies.
Zach Terrell, QB, Western Michigan
Western Michigan has been piling up victory after victory this season, and Terrell has been the architect of many of those wins with his passing and ability to find the weak spots in the opposing defenses.
He was at his best in the Broncos' 38-0 win over Buffalo, as he completed 29 of 37 passes for 445 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Terrell threw two of those scoring passes to wideout Corey Davis, who caught 13 passes for 173 yards. Terrell has a remarkable 23-1 TD-interception ratio, and this was his third game with four touchdown passes this season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
