Your Five Things For January 2nd: Spartans Complete Improbable Comback Against Baylor

1. Michigan State Completes Comeback To Top Baylor

Michigan State topped Baylor on New Year's Day in the Cotton Bowl.  The game started out bleak for Michigan State but, the Spartans erased a 20 point 4th quarter deficit to win 42-41.  The last touchdown was a 10 yard pass to Keith Mumphery with :17 seconds left in the game.  As part of the comeback, Marcus Rush blocked a field goal which was returned to the 45 yard line of Baylor. Throughout the game, Baylor had their way throwing the ball as quarterback Bryce Petty was 36/51 with 550 yards on 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.  Michigan State's defense held Baylor to -26 yards and came up with the big interception at the end of the game. For Michigan State, Jeremy Langford had 27 attempts and 162 yards with 3 touchdowns. Connor Cook went 24/42 with 314 yards and 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions but the touchdown to Keith Mumphery with :17 seconds left was the biggest of the game. Michigan State will end the season with 11-2 record.

2. Oregon Crushes Florida State In Rose Bowl

In the first game of the College Football Playoffs Semi-finals the Oregon Ducks rolled over the Florida State Seminoles to win the Rose Bowl 59-20.  At halftime, Oregon only held a 18-13 advantage before exploding for 41 points in the 2nd half.  Oregon's defense forced 5 turnovers against the Jameis Winston and the Florida State offense causing 4 fumbles and 1 interception.  Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota played almost flawless accounting for 3 touchdowns (2 through the air, 1 on the ground).  Mariota was 26/36 with 338 yards and 2 touchdowns and 1 interception and also ran for 62 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jameis Winston went 29/45 for 348 yards and 1 touchdown and 1 interception.  He did fumble the ball as well.Florida State ran the ball well going for 180 yards through 5 players.  Florida State ends its season with its first loss in 29 games.

3. Ohio State Has Monster 2nd Half To Top Alabama

In the Sugar Bowl and the 2nd College Football Playoff Semi-final, Ohio State topped Alabama with a 2nd half barrage by the Buckeyes to win 42-35.  Turnovers killed Alabama as they threw three interceptions.  For Ohio State, Ezekiel Elliot ran the ball at will with 20 rushes for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Cardale Jones went 18/35 for 243 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception and ran for 43 yards as well.  Alabama quarterback Blake Sims went 22/36 for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions while rushing in for 1 touchdown 29 yards.  Alabama ends its season with a 12-2 record.  Ohio State will take on Oregon in the first ever College Football Playoff Championship Game in Arlington Texas.

4. Red Wings Topped New Jersey To End 2014 On Positive Note

On New Year's Eve, the Detroit Red Wings took on the New Jersey Devils.  The Red Wings used a big 3rd period to win 3-1.The Devil's got out to a early lead scoring fist late in the 2nd period.  The Red Wings answered with 1 goal in the 2nd and 2 in the 3rd period.  The Red Wings goals were scored by Darren Helm, who scored two, and Henrik Zetterberg.  The Red Wings will play again tomorrow night as they begin a west coast trip in Vancouver.

5. Bowl Season Coming To An End

With the championship game set, there a handful of bowl games left with 2 involving Big Ten teams.  So far, the Big Ten is 5-4 with Iowa and Ohio State left to play.  Outside of the playoff, there were a handful of games on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.  In the Orange Bowl, Georgia Tech topped Mississippi State 49-34.  Boise State topped Arizona in the Vizio Fiesta Bowl with the final score being 38-30.  In the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl, TCU blew out Ole Miss, 42-3.  Wisconsin and Auburn went to overtime with Wisconsin winning the Outback bowl 34-31.  Missouri rallied to beat Minnesota 33-17 in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.  The two remaining Big Ten teams are Iowa, who will play today against Tennessee in the Taxslayer Bowl, and Ohio State, who will take on Oregon in the College Football Playoff Championships game on January 12th.