That would be Spartan quarterback Aaron Bates, who is now 2-for-2 for 50 yards, two fourth-down conversions, 1 TD, and a QB rating of 475.0. By the way, Bates is also the Spartan's starting punter, with a 45.1 average, including 7 kicks inside the 20 and 8 punts of over 50 yards each. But what has Bates as the Heisman candidate is not only his OT-game winning TD pass against Notre Dame, but today's 4th quarter, 4th-and-22 conversion on a throw to Bennie Fowler in the Michigan State 35-27 victory at Northwestern.
Give Mark Dantonio credit... many thought it may be coming, but still NW bit on the kick fake, Fowler turned open, and it led MSU to a touchdown -- and significant momentum change from a deficit to the eventual victory. Great call and BETTER execution on the fake.
MSU now sites 8-0 (4-0 Big Ten), alone undefeated in Big Ten play, and will likely move up in the national BCS standings with a loss by LSU, poor scheduling by Boise State and TCU, and potential impact of the Oklahoma-Mizzou game.
All of this, thanks, to Aaron Bates.
| Team Totals | MSU | NU |
| FIRST DOWNS | 24 | 22 |
| Rushing | 4 | 13 |
| Passing | 19 | 9 |
| Penalty | 1 | 0 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING | 105 | 170 |
| Rushing Attempts | 26 | 47 |
| Average Per Rush | 4.0 | 3.6 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 2 | 3 |
| Yards Gained Rushing | 127 | 208 |
| Yards Lost Rushing | 22 | 38 |
| NET YARDS PASSING | 352 | 215 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int | 30-44-0 | 19-30-1 |
| Average Per Attempt | 8.0 | 7.2 |
| Average Per Completion | 11.7 | 11.3 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 3 | 0 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS | 457 | 385 |
| Total offense plays | 70 | 77 |
| Average Gain Per Play | 6.5 | 5.0 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost | 2-1 | 2-1 |
| Penalties: Number-Yards | 4-30 | 6-66 |
| PUNTS-YARDS | 6-258 | 5-191 |
| Average Yards Per Punt | 43.0 | 38.2 |
| Net Yards Per Punt | 33.0 | 37.6 |
| Inside 20 | 1 | 2 |
| 50+ Yards | 1 | 1 |
| Touchbacks | 1 | 0 |
| Fair catch | 0 | 3 |
| KICKOFFS-YARDS | 6-374 | 6-366 |
| Average Yards Per Kickoff | 62.3 | 61.0 |
| Net Yards Per Kickoff | 41.8 | 42.7 |
| Touchbacks | 3 | 2 |
| Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD | 1-3-0 | 3-40-0 |
| Average Per Return | 3.0 | 13.3 |
| Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD | 3-70-0 | 3-63-0 |
| Average Per Return | 23.3 | 21.0 |
| Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD | 1-16-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Miscellaneous Yards | 0 | 0 |
| Possession Time | 30:44 | 29:16 |
| 1st Quarter | 7:07 | 7:53 |
| 2nd Quarter | 8:13 | 6:47 |
| 3rd Quarter | 5:59 | 9:01 |
| 4th Quarter | 9:25 | 5:35 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 5 of 14 | 8 of 16 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Red-Zone Scores-Chances | 3-4 | 5-6 |
| Sacks By: Number-Yards | 8-35 | 2-18 |
| PAT Kicks | 5-5 | 3-3 |
| Field Goals | 0-1 | 2-2 |
