One of the most anticipated events of the college football season, the Rose Bowl Game serves as a great way to ring in the New Year. With the previous four match-ups decided by 9 points or less, the New Year's Day game remains not only a highly viewed contest, but one of the most entertaining and competitive football games on an annual basis. The 2014 edition of the Rose Bowl Game serves as the 100th edition and with two of the top teams in the country meeting, this year's game should not disappoint.
No. 4 Michigan State and No. 5 Stanford served as two of the most complete teams in the nation this season. Led by stout defensive units and strong running games, the Spartans and Cardinal will meet in what should be one of the most physical Rose Bowl Games in recent memory. Averaging over 33 points per game this season while surrendering a tad over 18, David Shaw's Stanford Cardinal hope to earn the school's second-straight Rose Bowl victory. The Trees took down Wisconsin last January in Pasadena but this year's opponent possesses fresh challenges, something Shaw says his team is completely aware of.
“Our guys have fond memories of it, but they've already started to say it - 'Last year was last year, and we have to prepare this year completely different,'” Shaw said regarding his squad not looking to much at past success in this game. “Michigan State has been on a phenomenal run, tough competition, and has come to play every week. We know it's going to be a great game.” Led by running back Tyler Gaffney (308 att, 1,168 yds., 20 TD), the Cardinal will look to put up points against a loaded Michigan State defense that ranks fourth in the nation in points against.
Playing in the university's first Rose Bowl Game since 1988 – where they defeated USC 20-17 – the Spartans and head coach Mark Dantonio are excited about the challenge of facing a tremendous Stanford team and notes that reaching the Rose Bowl was one of the goals he wanted to accomplish at MSU.
“It's going to be a special moment when we walk out on that field,” Dantonio said. “When you set down and write down your goals and think about the goals in whatever job that you take or occupation, you're going to have some different things that you want to try to accomplish. That was one of the things we were trying to accomplish.”
No. 4 Michigan St. vs. No. 5 Stanford: DATE, TIME & VIEWING INFO
DATE: Wednesday, January 1, 2014
TIME: 5:00pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: ESPN
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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