Michigan State Football: Top 10 plays of the regular season
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Demetrious Cox (7) celebrates an end zone interception during the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
6. Demetrious Cox interception
Besides the offensive line, there was no position group who made a bigger improvement throughout the last stretch of the season to vault the Spartans to the Big Ten title game and eventually a College Football Playoff berth than the secondary.
Throughout the year, Montae Nicholson, Demetrious Cox and others were through to be major disappointments, giving up 300 yards through the air seemingly every week. Offenses like Air Force, Central Michigan and Western Michigan all had huge chunk pass plays against these guys and the hope that Michigan State’s defensive backfield would improve was dimming.
The Nebraska game seemed to be the major turnaround for the entire team. Michigan State’s offensive line began opening up huge holes for the run game — which eventually won them a couple of games — and the secondary wasn’t allowing big plays and looked like that of years past.
Arjen Colquhoun, Darian Hicks, Nicholson and Cox all seemed to be clicking on all cylinders as the perfect foursome to lead the secondary. Although Hicks allowed a huge pass play which nearly cost the Spartans a win in the Big Ten Championship, the secondary looked stellar.
One play in particular stood out as the Iowa Hawkeyes were driving and getting ready to score the first touchdown of the game to extend the lead to 13-3.
C.J. Beathard passed the ball into the end zone from the five-yard-line, the receiver had the ball jarred loose and it landed on Riley Bullough’s back. Cox scooped it up for the interception and it was incredible.
Even though it was early, it was a game-saving play in an otherwise defensive battle.
Next: 5. Burbridge catch vs. Air Force