EAST LANSING (WKZO-AM) — Connor Cook and Michigan State rolled into the Big Ten title game with their most emphatic win of the season.
Cook threw three touchdowns in his return from a shoulder injury, and the No. 6 Spartans wrapped up a division title with a 55-16 rout of Penn State on Saturday.
Michigan State will play unbeaten Iowa for the conference title next weekend, with the winner in good position to advance to the College Football Playoff.
It closed the door on whatever shot the winner of the Ohio State-Michigan game had at the Big Ten title.
Ohio State easily beat 10th-ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor 42-13 by employing the same hurry-up offense that gave the Wolverines so much trouble against Indiana earlier this season.
Ezekiel Elliott rumbled for 214 yards and two touchdowns for the Buckeyes. J.T. Barrett threw for 113 yards and a touchdown. He also piled up 139 yards and three TDs on the ground.
Ohio State improved to 11-1 on the year.
Wolverines quarterback Jake Rudock was knocked out of the game on a hit by Joey Bosa. Jehu Chesson caught eight balls for 111 yards and a touchdown.
U-M fell to 9-3.
Both Ohio State and Michigan will now wait until the outcome of the conference championships to find out what bowl games will be sending invitations. Depending on seeding by the committee Tuesday, the Buckeyes could sneak back into the postseason tournament picture if Clemson and Alabama are upset.
– John McNeill
