With under a minute to play in the first half, Connor Cook had Michigan State driving, down 10-0. A score right before the half would work wonders in terms of momentum heading into the second half, but getting far too lazy with his final throw, he tossed it right into the hands of an Alabama defender at the goal-line.
From there on, it was all Alabama.
Scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter to make it 31-0, it was Jake Coker’s arm, and not Derrick Henry’s legs, that truly beat the Spartans. Well, that and a dominating defensive performance which stymied Cook and also the run game.