Capital One Bowl: Stanford moves on with gritty effort over Michigan State

Note: This is a simulation of a college football bowl playoff scenario. Read the full proposal here.

ORLANDO, FL - Stanford and Michigan State play a similar style - hard-nosed, defensively sound football and it showed here in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando as the Cardinal edged the Spartans 24-21 in the midday heat and opening round of the NCAA Championship Tournament.

The game was decided between the hashes. Stanford, led by Anthony Wilkerson, rushed for 161 yards, helping to occupy 36:30 minutes of ball possession for the Cardinal.  Even more dominate was the Stanford defense, holding Michigan State to a measly six rushing yards.

Stanford started very quickly with a strong opening drive capped off by a short one-yard TD pass from Kevin Hogan to Kodi Whitfield. This was followed by the only turnover of the entire game, an interception by Stanford's Wayne Lyons that was promptly turned into another Cardinal scoring drive as Hogan hit Gaffney for a 16-yard TD score. After a Jordan Williamson field goal, Stanford had a commanding 17-0 lead as the game neared halftime.

However, the Spartans would not exit the first half quietly. QB Connor Cook was outstanding and exposed passing potential for the second half.  He hit Monty Madaris for a six-yard TD as time expired, giving the Spartans a boost headed to the locker room, despite trailing 17-7.

Michigan State received the ball to begin the second half, only to be stopped in Stanford territory on two definitive defensive stands. On third and just inches, Cook was hammered for a loss on an attempted option play.  MSU Coach Mark D'Antonio decided to go for it on fourth down and was once again turned away by the Stanford defense as Cook was forced to throw the ball away. The momentum that Michigan State had ceased at the end of the first half was relinquished.

Michigan State did not give up the fight, pushing the ball down field and scoring on a Jeremy Langford TD run.  Stanford countered with a scoring drive of their own as Ty Montgomery caught a 2-yard TD pass.  Despite a late run by MSU and a great TD catch by Gleichert, the Spartan defense could not stop Stanford on the ensuing drive, allowing the Cardinal to run out the clock to a 24-21 win.

Stanford now moves on in the NCAA Tournament to the Discover Orange Bowl in Miami in what will be a virtual home game for the winner of the Florida State-Central Florida first-round Rose Bowl game.