Michigan State vs Nebraska: Report card for the Spartans

Nov 7, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr. (85) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday’s Michigan State vs Nebraska game was a tough one for Spartan fans to watch and another heart-wrenching contest for Cornhusker fans. Michigan State came out on the wrong end of a crushing defeat in which Nebraska scored a late touchdown, securing a one-point win with 17 seconds left, 39-38.

Michigan State will need to pick up the pieces moving forward as that was one of the toughest losses in Mark Dantonio’s tenure as head coach. A lot will be learned about this team in the coming weeks as it deals with adversity.

Let’s hand out grades for the Spartans, by position, after this Nebraska loss.

Quarterbacks: A-

Nov 7, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) throws the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Usually, this category is labeled “Connor Cook” but since Damion Terry got a couple of reps, he belongs here are well in a joint grade with his senior counterpart.

Cook started the game quite possibly more sluggish than he ever has. Completing just 30 percent of his passes in just over a quarter with about 10 yards to show for it, he knew that he needed to step up. After a terribly-thrown interception in the second quarter, Cook vowed to put the team on his back yet again, and he delivered.

The senior gunslinger/Heisman candidate got into a rhythm and it didn’t quit until the final seven seconds of the game. I say this because he bounced back to pass for 335 yards, four touchdowns and an interception, but the last drive which could have given the Spartans a game-winning field goal was stopped short because of a play that took far too long for Cook, running out the clock.

Cook’s third touchdown pass broke the school record for career TD throws and he added another for good measure. He is proving to be the best quarterback in school history and if it weren’t for his awful start, the grade would have easily been an ‘A.’

As for Terry, he looked solid with his two pass attempts, slinging tight spirals right to his receiver, but one happened to be a drop by Jamal Lyles which would have given the Spartans a first down. The future is still bright at the QB position, and we found that out on Saturday night.

Next: Running Backs