The Spartans defeated Ohio State on the road in Columbus, playing without Connor Cook and relying on the arms of backup QBs Damion Terry and Tyler O'Connor.

The Spartans were selected to play in the College Football Playoff, where they were shutout by eventual National Champion Alabama, 38–0, finishing with a 12-2 record and achieving their fifth 11-win season in six years.

Michigan State scored another touchdown on their next possession as Connor Cook found Josiah Price on a nine-yard pass to swell the Spartans' lead to 20–7.

The Spartans put the nail in the coffin on the opening drive of the second half after a 21-yard pass from Connor Cook to DeAnthony Arnett gave MSU a 24-point lead.

[5] The Spartans answered immediately, as Josiah Price caught a 12-yard pass from Connor Cook, following a 62-yard run from Madre London, to tie the game at 7 apiece.

The beginning of the second half did not start well for the Spartans, as Oregon WR Bralon Addison returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14.

[7] The following possession saw Air Force drive down to the MSU 39 yard line before Falcon tailback DJ Johnson fumbled the ball.

On the opening possession of the quarter, Michigan State went 87 yards in 10 plays, a drive capped off by a spectacular catch by Aaron Burbridge on a 28-yard pass from Cook.

Burbridge would catch another pass from Cook for a touchdown in the final 30 seconds of the half, this time from 32 yards to give the Spartans a 28–7 lead at halftime.

Michigan State scored again on the opening possession of the second half, as Cook would find Aaron Burbridge for a third time on a 21-yard pass and catch in the endzone, giving MSU a commanding 28 point lead.

He also earned his 26th career victory as starting QB, overtaking Stanford's Kevin Hogan as college football's active wins leader.

After trading possessions, Michigan State finally put a sustained drive together, which included a fourth and 10 conversion after a 25-yard pass from Connor Cook to Aaron Burbridge.

[14] Later after a shanked Jake Hartbarger punt, Rutgers received great field position on their next possession, and only needed two plays to take a 14–7 lead on a Leonte Carroo 39 yard touchdown reception.

The Spartans had the opportunity to take the lead before halftime, driving the ball all the way to the Rutgers eight yard line, but Connor Cook threw an interception in the back of the endzone with a little over a minute left in the half.

Rutgers went on a time-consuming, 16 play, 91 yard drive that took eight minutes off the clock, with Kyle Federico making a 22-yard field goal attempt to tie the game at 24.

[15] Michigan took a 7–0 lead during the opening minutes of the second quarter on a Sione Houma two-yard touchdown run, capping off an eight play, 72-yard drive.

Several drives later during a Spartan possession, Michigan senior linebacker and team captain Joe Bolden was penalized for targeting during a Connor Cook run of six yards.

It took the officials several seconds on the final attempt to blow the play dead and determine that Houma did in fact score, giving Michigan a 17–7 lead.

After a controversial loss on the road against Nebraska, Michigan State fell out of the top 10 for the first time all season and were looking to bounce back at home against a Maryland team that so far had gone winless in conference play.

With just over 2 minutes remaining in the half, Riley Bullough intercepted a Perry Hillis pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown, giving MSU a 14–7 lead.

Two quick Connor Cook pass completions to Aaron Burbridge and Josiah Price got MSU down to the Maryland 17 yard line before Michael Geiger made a 35-yard field goal as time expired, giving Michigan State a 17–7 lead at the half.

Michigan State would run out the clock after Montae Nicholson picked off Caleb Rowe and returned the ball to the MSU 45 yard line.

The Spartans would be without senior QB Connor Cook (who was still recovering from the shoulder injury he had suffered the week prior against Maryland) going into their toughest road game of the season at #2 Ohio State, who were riding a 23-game win streak heading into the contest.

10 plays later, Ohio State would score the first points of the game on an Ezekiel Elliott 1 yard run, giving the Buckeyes a touchdown lead early in the 2nd quarter.

The Spartan offense would dig themselves out of the hole on the first play, as LJ Scott would break through the middle for a 20-yard run, moving the ball to the MSU 24 yard line.

[21] With the win, the Spartans took control of the East Division and only needed to defeat Penn State the following week to secure a 3rd appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Penn State's first possession was cut short as a Christian Hackenberg pass was intercepted in the end zone by MSU DB Arjen Colquhoun.

The Michigan State offense would score a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half with a tremendous individual effort from Aaron Burbridge on a 29-yard pass from Connor Cook, where Burbridge was forced out of bounds, re-established position in bounds, made the catch, stayed on his feet, made 2 spin moves, and broke several tackles to get into the end zone, giving Michigan State a 27–10 lead with a little under 12 minutes to play in the third quarter.

[25] MSU's defense stymied Iowa on the final drive of the game and the Spartans won their second Big Ten Championship in the three years.

Near the end of the second quarter, Michigan State had its best drive of the night, but all-time winningest MSU quarterback, Connor Cook, was intercepted by Cyrus Jones.