CLOSE Chris Solari and Lansing State Journal sports columnist Graham Couch preview Michigan State University vs. Washington State in Thursday's Holiday Bowl. Chris Solari/Detroit Free Press/Graham Couch/LSJ
Michigan State made its 10th bowl game in 11 seasons under Mark Dantonio, but the Holiday Bowl was the first postseason experience for 59 Spartans. (Photo: Mike Carter USA TODAY Sports)
SAN DIEGO – Mark Dantonio took his players bowling, even before Michigan State's turnaround football season began.
It was a team bonding exercise to improve chemistry. They formed teams by position groups. Yes, it was friendly competition, but college athletes are wired to take each other to task over everything from video games to basketball.
“We’ve gotten back to normal — back to laughing, back to loving this game of football and letting our young people be young people and not lecturing them all the time and all that kind of stuff,” Dantonio said in late July.
Michigan State-Washington State: Holiday Bowl scouting report, pick
But there was another reason to go bowling, rife with the type of symbolism Dantonio relishes. It was a chance to enjoy some extra time together after finishing 3-9 last year and missing a bowl game (and the extra postseason practices) for the first time in Dantonio's tenure.
On Thursday, the togetherness fostered on those lanes helped deliver the Spartans to the Holiday Bowl against Washington State, the 10th postseason appearance in Dantonio’s 11 years at MSU. The Spartans entered the game with a 9-3 record, a 180-degree turn from an uncharacteristic 2016.
“I feel like it’s been forever since we played. I feel like it’s been forever since even the Notre Dame game (on Sept. 23) — I feel like that was a year ago,” sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke said. “I’m ready to get back out there and start playing again.”
Brian Lewerke of the Michigan State Spartans throws a pass against Maryland on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at Spartan Stadium. (Photo: Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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The bowl experience is new for many of Dantonio's players. MSU has just 12 seniors who won't return next season, the last vestiges of the 2013 Rose Bowl team that helped the program soar to national relevance.
Of those who will be back next season, 59 players on the roster either were rookies in 2016 or weren’t part of the program when MSU went to the College Football Playoff in 2015. That means the trip to San Diego was their first bowl experience.
“It's been different, an initial bowl experience for our freshmen and last year's freshman. … That's been a positive,” Dantonio said Wednesday. “I think our players are excited about everything. Everything is a new experience for these guys, and you have half of the team leading them because they've been to the Rose Bowl or a Cotton Bowl or two.”
Thirteen true freshmen making the trip to San Diego played this season,and 16 redshirt freshmen and four true sophomores are making their bowl debuts as well. A number of other players in the sophomore and junior classes did not play during MSU’s last bowl game, the College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Alabama on Dec. 31, 2015 in Dallas.
“It is basically more of a fun experience and something that young guys that it’s a good experience, especially as a freshman, to go somewhere different,” said running back Gerald Holmes, one of the departing seniors. “And it adds motivation for next year.”
MSU spent a little more than a month preparing for Washington State, save for an interruption with finals and a break before arriving in California last Friday. Players and coaches took time to visit the San Diego Zoo on Christmas Day, then took a tour of the USS Essex naval ship on Tuesday. There were practices and pep rallies and parades.
But most importantly for next season, it allowed the Spartans to get away from the grind that began in early August, when going bowling meant something different.
“Just take it in and enjoy the moment,” sophomore linebacker Joe Bachie said about his first bowl game. “It's going to be a moment we're going to remember for the rest of our lives.”
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Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio watches his team warm up before the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl against Washington State on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at SDCCU Stadium in San Diego. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)
Thursday's win in the Holiday Bowl marked the 100th at Michigan State for head coach Mark Dantonio.
The MSU football program has come a long way over Dantonio's 11 seasons, from also ran to perennial Big Ten contender to one of just 16 invites in the short history of the College Football Playoff.
Of his 100 wins, some have meant a little more than others. So let's reflect on the 10 biggest Spartans wins under Dantonio:
10. Outback Bowl: MSU 33, Georgia 30 (3OT), Jan. 2, 2012
After coming up short in the first-ever Big Ten title game, the Spartans found themselves trailing the Bulldogs, 16-0, in the second quarter in Tampa, Fla. But future pros Le'Veon Bell (two touchdowns), Darqueze Dennard and Kirk Cousins came up huge and Dan Conroy's two field goals in the overtimes lifted MSU.
9. MSU 37, Wisconsin 31, Oct. 22, 2011
Earlier that season, the Spartans hosted Russell Wilson and the Badgers in the first of two meetings. After Montee Ball's TD run late in the fourth, it appeared they were headed for overtime. But a Hail Mary pass from Cousins to Keith Nichol sent the Spartan Stadium crowd into hysterics.
8. MSU 34, Notre Dame 31 (OT), Sept. 18, 2010
Not much needs to be said besides "Little Giants." The fake field goal touchdown pass from punter Aaron Bates to tight end Charlie Gantt was yet another prime time victory at home for MSU.
7. MSU 14, Michigan 10, Oct. 7, 2017
Call us prisoners of the moment if you must, but this season's win over U-M helped establish that the Spartans were indeed back. During a rainstorm, MSU forced five turnovers and won for the fourth time in the last five games in Ann Arbor.
6. Cotton Bowl: MSU 42, Baylor 41, Jan. 1, 2015
This one perhaps best epitomizes the comeback spirit of the Spartans. They trailed, 41-21, late in the third quarter to a team that felt jilted by the College Football Playoff. But Jeremy Langford had 162 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and after Marcus Rush blocked a field-goal try, Connor Cook hit Keith Mumphery for a 10-yard winning TD.
5. MSU 17, Ohio State 14, Nov. 22, 2015
Things looked bleak for MSU, trying to keep its Big Ten title hopes alive by visiting Columbus. Then things got bleaker when Connor Cook was held out with an injury. But QBs Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry did just enough, and MSU's defense kept Ezekiel Elliott and Cardale Jones in check, setting up Matt Geiger's 41-yard game-winning boot.
4. MSU 27, Michigan 23, Oct. 17, 2015
"Oh, he has trouble with the snap!" The best evidence of a game is never truly over with the Spartans, all U-M had to do was punt the ball and secure the victory. But fate was on MSU's side that day in Ann Arbor, as Jalen Watts-Jackson recovered the fumble and scored to send shockwaves through the rivalry.
3. Big Ten title game: MSU 16, Iowa 13, Dec. 5, 2015
It was virtually a play-in game for the College Football Playoff between the Hawkeyes and Spartans. And late in the game, it was MSU again looking to make the comeback. They rode the back of freshman LJ Scott, who had 73 yards rushing, including the 1-yard game-winner with 27 seconds left.
2. Big Ten title game: MSU 34, Ohio State 24, Dec. 7, 2013
It was their second trip to Indianapolis, and yet again the favored Buckeyes were in the way. MSU canceled Ohio State's trip to the national title game and punched its ticket to the Rose Bowl with a resounding victory.
1. Rose Bowl: MSU 24, Stanford 20, Jan. 1, 2014
It was the Spartans' first trip to Pasadena for the New Year's Day tradition since 1988. And to add to the adversity, MSU was without its best defender, linebacker Max Bullough. But his fill-in, Kyler Elsworth, came up with the tackle on fourth down to seal the victory.
A contender in the Big Ten East will take one of the top teams from the Pac-12 in this year’s Holiday Bowl. The Michigan State Spartans will try to stop an aggressive offense when they face the Washington State Cougars on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on FOX (live stream).
This marks the eighth time these two teams will meet, with the Spartans leading the overall series, 5-2, although Washington State won the last matchup in 1977 by a 23-21 score. Michigan State has a long history in the postseason, and will be trying to nab Mark Dantonio’s 100th win as the Spartans’ coach. This will be the Cougars’ third straight bowl game, and the second season in a row they will play in the Holiday Bowl.
Time, TV channel, and streaming info
Time : 9 p.m. ET
: 9 p.m. ET Location : SDCCU Stadium, San Diego, Calif.
: SDCCU Stadium, San Diego, Calif. TV : FS1
: FS1 Streaming : FoxSportsGo | FuboTV
: FoxSportsGo | FuboTV Odds: Washington State opened as 4.5-point favorites.
Michigan State vs. Washington State news:
The Holiday Bowl will be the 10th bowl game for the Spartans in 11 seasons under Mark Dantonio. No other MSU football coach has taken the Spartans to more bowl games. Dantonio is 4-5 in his previous nine bowl games, starting off 0-4 before winning four in a row to get back to .500 before dropping the last game in the College Football Playoff. The four bowl wins are also the most in school history.
It appears that WSU quarterback Luke Falk was seen wearing a cast -- and then trying really hard to hide it.
As for whether this will have any actual impact on the game? I doubt it; Falk has had issues with his left hand before (you might remember he wore a splint on that hand for a significant portion of last season), and while it might cause a problem for someone who has to line up under center, Falk shouldn’t have any issues catching shotgun snaps.
Looking like the next three-year starter for the Spartans, QB Brian Lewerke could have a similar career to Connor Cook at Michigan State.
Of all the things to come out of this season for Michigan State, the development of Brian Lewerke may be the most important. Certainly the defense was outstanding, and the young receiving corps looks like it is very legit. But without good quarterback play, there is only so far you can go.
The Cougs will be without their two leading receivers.
Similar situations have led to Washington State preparing for the Holiday Bowl game without two of the teams offensive weapons. Martin asked for his release from the program, which in turn was dubbed a “violation of team rules” resulting in his removal from the team. Martin finished the 2017 season with 831 yards receiving and nine touchdowns for the Cougars.
Johnson-Mack also asked for his release from the program, a request the team granted in mid-December. Johnson-Mack’s motivation for requesting a transfer was to be closer to his children in Florida. The 6’3, 216-pound receiver had claimed 555 yards receiving and five touchdowns this season for Washington State.
Michigan State vs. Washington State prediction:
Mike Leach’s team is just too much offensively for the Spartans to stop, and the Pac-12 team gets the win in this year’s edition of the Holiday Bowl. Washington State has been on the cusp of greatness the past couple years, but this bowl win gives them additional momentum heading into the offseason.
Be sure to check out all of our bowl predictions here.
College football's first bowl game was almost its last
Holiday Bowl scouting report
By Matt Wenzel | mwenzel2@mlive.com
SAN DIEGO – After a one-year hiatus from bowl play, Michigan State earned a 13th game this season after flipping its 3-9 record from 2016.
No. 16 Michigan State (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) will face No. 18 Washington State (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12) in Thursday’s Holiday Bowl (9 p.m. EST, FS1) at San Diego County Credit Union Stadium.
This is the Spartans’ first trip to the Holiday Bowl and the Cougars’ fourth, including a 17-12 loss to Minnesota in the game last year.
Michigan State closed the regular season with a 40-7 win at Rutgers for its second straight victory while Washington State is coming off a 41-14 loss to Washington. The Spartans own a 5-2 record all-time against the Cougars, but the teams haven’t played since Washington State won 23-21 in 1977.
Here’s a scouting report by position and predicted score for the game:
