Michigan State Football: Report card for win over Iowa

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans place kicker Michael Geiger (4) kicks a field goal during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Special Teams: B+

What can you say about the special teams in this one? Well, they didn’t lose Michigan State the game, so there’s that. All jokes aside, the punt, kickoff, punt return, kick return and field goal units have been vastly improving all year long and it’s really hard to believe that this is the same group that began the season giving up a kick return touchdown in the first game of the year to Western Michigan.

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Sure, Michael Geiger missed two field goals in the first half, but he also made three, including a 47-yard attempt. The offense was all field goals until the final drive of the game which was capped off by a one-yard LJ Scott scamper, but Geiger’s huge extra point put Iowa three points behind.

Geiger accounted for 10 of the Spartans’ 16 points and the missed field goals were from just out of range. The first one was wide from about 52 yards out and the second, to end the first half, was on target, but about a foot short from around the same distance. He showed resilience by drilling two tries in the second half.

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Jake Hartbarger helped Michigan State win the field position battles with some really good punts as he is starting to mirror his predecessor, Mike Sadler, with consistency.

Last, but not least, but punt and kickoff coverage units were solid. Desmond King was held to just four punt return yards and 52 kick return yards. Kevin Cronin forced three touchbacks.