Oregon (No. 7) beat in the trenches and on the scoreboard at Michigan State (No. 5)
The final score was 31-28, but Michigan State’s victory was more decisive than the score indicates. Oregon was continually getting beat up front—both on offense and defense—and the Spartans controlled the game from start to finish.
Vernon Adams was treated to some rough handling by Michigan State’s defense, which mercilessly blitzed the diminutive quarterback all night long. He ended up throwing two costly interceptions and was mostly running for his life. That said, he did manage to make some incredible plays to keep the Ducks in the game down the stretch, including a late touchdown to Byron Marshall.
It’s worth noting that Adams and receiver Bralon Addison were a treat to watch in the second half. The duo connected on seven passes throughout the game for 138 yards. Addison also added a spectacular 81-yard punt return for touchdown at the start of the third quarter to spark Oregon’s comeback bid.
https://twitter.com/therealfanatix/status/642884185540194304/video/1
On the other side, Connor Cook was neither atrocious nor brilliant. He threw two touchdowns and one interception, displaying decent game-manager skills. The defense was the driving force for the Spartans in this contest, along with a strong rushing attack that kept Oregon’s offense off the field as much as possible.
Both teams will remain prominent figures in the national rankings, though it’s likely Oregon will fall out of the top 10 heading into Week 3.