Michigan State vs Oregon: 5 players to watch

Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) attempts to throw the ball against the Western Michigan Broncos prior to a game at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

What a surprise, the last player on my list is the most obvious of all. You might be saying, “duh,” but Cook really needs to step up and all eyes will be on him already. There’s no way we can’t keep an eye on the senior quarterback as he will have the ball in his hands 100 percent of the time on offense.

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The Spartans won’t be able to come out on top in this one if Cook has just an average game, so he will need to be the calm, cool and collected — cliche, I know — quarterback who everyone has grown to bank on in big games.

Last week against the Broncos, Cook looked as average as any QB out there, completing just 15-of-31 passes for 256 yards and two scores. His yards and touchdown numbers weren’t too shabby, but it was his completion rate that had people worried.

Cook, on multiple occasions, overthrew his wide open receiver and made the simplest passes look impossible — yet he can make the most difficult look routine.

Connor will need to be precise and a bit of a perfectionist in this one for MSU, likely completing 60-plus percent of his passes for 300, or more, yards and three scores.

Next: MSU Recruiting: Who'll be in town for the Oregon game?