Michigan State looks to continue winning ways against Purdue

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio believes his eighth-ranked Spartans deserve to be in the inaugural College Football Playoff if they win the rest of their games.

It was almost a moot point.

Michigan State (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) beat No. 19 Nebraska 27-22 in its conference opener, nearly blowing a 24-point lead. The Spartans were up 27-3 early in the fourth quarter, but Cornhuskers tailback Ameer Abdullah had two touchdowns and wideout De'Mornay El-Pierson scored on a 62-yard punt return with 3:22 remaining to pull within one score.

"Did we coach correctly? No," Dantonio said of the fourth quarter. "Did we play correctly? No. There were things that we needed to do better on both ends, so we are all in it together."

Michigan State kicker Michael Geiger missed a 36-yard field goal attempt with 1:07 remaining and Nebraska was driving for the potential win, but Spartans cornerback Trae Waynes intercepted Tommy Armstrong Jr. with 30 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

"We just thought we had it in the bag," wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr. said. "We didn't move the ball as well as we would like to (in the second half). ... It was just little things we need to fix to finish out the game like we usually finish."

Offensive coordinator Dave Warner said he didn't believe Michigan State players let up at the end. Mistakes simply piled up and the Spartans were not able to run out the clock. Warner said he's partly responsible, and there were play calls he would like to have back.

"There's a lot of things," Warner said. "I think we did a very poor job, and I'm including myself, as far as clock management."

Michigan State held its usual film review Sunday to begin preparation for this week's game at Purdue (3-3, 1-1) and took a hard look at what went wrong during the final minutes.

"It wasn't fun," offensive lineman Connor Kruse said. "A lot of mistakes."

The fact that players and coaches were disappointed with a win over a top-20 team shows just how high expectations are in East Lansing. Dantonio was still able to enjoy the win, especially considering five of the top eight teams in the AP poll lost in Week 6.

"You can look around the country and ask four or five other teams how they feel this week," Dantonio said. "In the big picture of things, if you win, you're going to advance. If you lose by a couple, chances are you don't."

The Spartans ultimately emerged unscathed in the conference standings and still harbor legitimate playoff aspirations. Now they must win out in order to keep those hopes alive considering a Week 2 loss at Oregon and the Big Ten's weak national reputation. If MSU takes care of business the rest of the way, however, Dantonio believes the Spartans will be in. That would mean winning the Big Ten championship game for the second straight year.

"There's enough football teams in this conference that are winning games," Dantonio said. "So if we do what we're supposed to do, or what we're attempting to do, and get in the (Big Ten championship game) and win that game, then I think good things are possible."

Next up is a Boilermakers team that won 38-27 at Illinois last Saturday for its first conference victory under second-year coach Darrell Hazell. The Spartans eked out a 14-0 win over Purdue last season to remain unbeaten in the conference and are looking to avoid another letdown after their shaky finish against the Cornhuskers.

"We look at every game as a championship game since the Big Ten started," quarterback Connor Cook said. "If you play Purdue and you lose, you're completely out of the hunt for the Big Ten championship game."

No. 8 Michigan State (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) at Purdue (3-3, 1-1), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Line: Michigan State by 21 1/2.

Series Record: Michigan State leads 33-28-3.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

With so many Big Ten teams struggling this season, defending league champion Michigan State looks like the conference's best hope of making the four-team playoff. A loss to Purdue could doom those chances. Purdue, meanwhile, is attempting to achieve another first in coach Darrell Hazell's second season -- winning back-to-back games.

KEY MATCHUP

Michigan State's ball hawks vs. Purdue QB Austin Appleby. The Spartans have forced a league-leading 16 turnovers and rank No. 1 in turnover margin at plus-10. This week, they're facing Appleby, who is making his second college start. Michigan State almost certainly will try to confuse Appleby and, yes, add to that turnover mark.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Michigan State: LB Ed Davis and DE Marcus Rush have combined for 7 sacks this season and are both ranked in the Big Ten's top five. Facing a Purdue offensive line with three sophomores and two juniors and Appleby under center, these two could cause havoc for the Boilermakers.

Purdue: RBs Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert. The two speedsters have been the Boilermakers' top play-makers all season and they'll have to be again Saturday -- to give Purdue any shot of an upset.

FACTS & FIGURES

Michigan State has won 11 straight Big Ten games, including last year's conference championship game. It's the school's longest streak since winning 16 consecutive league games from 1965-67. ... Purdue has lost five straight in the series and hasn't hosted the Spartans since 2009. ... Michigan State lost its only other road game this season, at Oregon on Sept. 6. ... The Boilermakers have rushed for 1,020 yards this season compared with 805 yards all of last season. ... The Spartans' 228 points are the most through in school history through five games. ... This will be Purdue's only home game in October. ... Since 2012, Michigan State has limited 12 opponents to 50 or fewer yards rushing in a game.