Aaron Bates was Player of the Game vs ND

Funny. The ES poll posted who would be the player of the game for MSU vs ND. 119 people voted. Only one - 1 - voted for punter Aaron Bates, who obviously was the player of the game... not only for punting, but also for passing. Bates not only THREW the TD pass in OT to win the game, but his big-time 55-yard punt near the end of regulation bailed Kirk Cousins out of a NIMROD-type play which stopped the clock and could have potenially given the Irish position to kick the winning FG prior to the end of regulation.

Yes, Bates was the player of the game. He was also named Big Ten Player of the Week:

"SR, P, New Concord, Ohio/John Glenn
Bates completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to tight end Charlie Gantt off a fake field goal attempt in overtime to give Michigan State a 34-31 victory over Notre Dame. The senior punter also recorded eight punts for 363 yards, good for an average of 45.4 per boot, and placed two punts inside the 20-yard line. Bates currently ranks third in the conference with 45.9 yards per punt, including a long of 62 yards against the Fighting Irish. The Ohio native collects weekly laurels for the first time in his career."

Sagarin and the Spartans; Blair White gets POW

Let's take a look at the Big Ten under the loopy eyes of Jeff Sagarin last week and this week... Note, the Big Green has moved up to #42, a mere 37 spots below Iowa. Yet, 'tis an even spread, so certainly momentum, Dantonio, and "skinny" has lots to do with the current spread. SS = schedule strength.

Oct 19. / Oct 12.
#5. Iowa, SS = 20. / #9. Iowa, SS = 30
#19. Ohio State, SS = 35. / #8. Ohio State, SS = 37
#21. Joe Pa, SS = 106. / #28. Joe Pa, SS = 113
#32. Wisconsin, SS = 29. / #21. Wisconsin, SS = 31
#34. scUM, SS = 90. / #37. scUM, SS = 47
#42. MSU, SS = 32. / #44. Michigan State, SS = 26
#59. Minnesota, SS = 27. / #54. Minnesota, SS = 46
#76. Purdue, SS = 23. / #91. Purdue, SS = 23
#90. Indiana, SS = 79. / #86. Indiana, SS = 61
#100. Nwestern, SS = 125. / #95. Northwestern, SS = 139
#125. Illinois, SS = 34. / #112. Illinois, SS = 25

BLAIR WHITE WINS BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Here's a "no shit" no-brainer: Blair White won the Big Ten's offensive player of the week award:

"Blair White, Michigan State
SR, WR, Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central
White set career highs with 12 receptions and 186 receiving yards and matched a career best with two touchdowns to help Michigan State rally from a halftime deficit to a victory over Northwestern. The senior wideout averaged 15.5 yards per catch to record his third effort of 100 yards or more this season and the fifth 100-yard outing of his career. With the Spartans trailing 7-0 at the half, the hosts knotted the score on their first offensive possession of the third quarter, with quarterback Kirk Cousins hitting White on a 22-yard scoring strike. After a Northwestern punt, MSU struck again, with Cousins hitting White on a 47-yard touchdown toss to give the Spartans a lead they would not relinquish. White’s 12 catches equaled the fourth-best single-game total in school history while his 186 yards ranked 10th in program annals. The Michigan native earns his first career weekly award."