EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A year ago, Michigan States Tyler OConnor was forced into action in what turned out to be the most significant game of the Big Ten regular season -- an upset win at Ohio State that vaulted the Spartans into the national championship race and ultimately kept the Buckeyes out.As badly as this season has gone for OConnor and his teammates, lking back at that game gives them some hope.When you go back and watch the film, its hard not to implant that image in your head about what we did against them last year, OConnor said. Well take some confidence into this game as well, but at the same time understand how gd they are.Michigan State has fallen fast since last seasons Big Ten title. If the Spartans can upset the second-ranked Buckeyes this weekend , theyll merely be playing the role of spoilers in the national championship race, but that should be plenty of motivation in a rivalry thats picked up considerably in recent seasons.And speaking of motivation, Ohio State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) should have plenty of it, for obvious reasons.That was the reason why we didnt accomplish the goals that we had set for last year, so I think a lot of the guys take this game personal, safety Malik Hker acknowledged.With star quarterback Connor Ck out injured, OConnor and Michigan State won the 2015 game against the Buckeyes on a 41-yard field goal by Michael Geiger as time expired. That ended Ohio States 23-game winning streak.It was definitely a terrible feeling, tight end Marcus Baugh said. Just disappointed we couldnt get that one. You dont want to feel that again.The Buckeyes are No. 2 in this weeks ranking from the playoff committee. A win this weekend would set up quite a showdown against rival Michigan to close the regular season.Saturdays game will be the finale at home this season for Michigan State (3-7, 1-6) -- and a chance for the Spartans to make up for at least some of the disappointments that have piled up this year.Here are a few things to watch when Michigan State hosts Ohio State:HAPPY VISITORS: The home team hasnt won in this series since Ohio State beat Michigan State in Columbus in 2007. The road team has taken all five regular-season games since. The teams also met in the 2013 Big Ten title game, which the Spartans won.HISTORY: If the Spartans are lking for some historical comfort, last seasons game may not even be the best analogy. In 1998, Ohio State was No. 1 in the nation when it lost at home in November to an unranked Michigan State team.Spartans coach Mark Dantonio was an assistant for Michigan State then. The Spartans finished 6-6.We went down and played the number one team in Ohio, at Ohio Stadium, at Ohio State, and won, Dantonio said. Didnt go to a bowl game that year, but everybody seems to remember it, so, I guess thats something.KUDOS FOR RECEIVERS: Ohio State coach Urban Meyer this week praised the work of Ohio States outside receivers. They havent had a lot of flashy catches lately but have excelled throwing blocks that have sprung H-back Curtis Samuel, quarterback J.T. Barrett and running back Mike Weber for big gains.Meyer said those receivers, mainly Noah Brown, Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin, had their best games the past two weeks, even though the box scores might not directly reflect it.Receivers were criticized earlier in the season when the passing game bogged down, but Meyer is now lauding them for their selflessness.Ive been around men who are complete buffns about that kind of stuff, Meyer said. When you recruit them, you hope theyre not that way. You kind of try to get in their grill and find out if theyre a selfish guy, because our objective is to win the game at all costs.FORECAST: It was windy and rainy last year when these teams met, and the Spartans prevailed 17-14. Michigan State probably wouldnt mind another low-scoring game, and the National Weather Service says it could be windy, rainy and perhaps even a bit snowy in East Lansing on Saturday.MILESTONE: Ohio States Mike Weber, who played high schl ftball at Cass Tech in Detroit, needs 65 yards rushing to become the third Ohio State freshman to reach 1,000. Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002) were the others.---More AP college ftball: tball.ap.org" target="_blank">www.collegeftball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Chaussure Air Max Pas Cher .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Mre to take over as receivers coach. Chaussure Nike Air Max Suisse . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrk and with the free agent departure of sharpshter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. http://www.airmaxsuisse.ch/ . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Air Max Pas Cher Suisse . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. Nike Air Max Suisse . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. BATON ROUGE, La. -- Florida coach Jim McElwain watched his Gators overcome injuries, an extra road game and repeated adversity in the shadow of their own goal line. That should be valuable experience for a feisty ftball team thatll face long odds again when it meets top-ranked Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game in a couple weeks.Floridas defense stuffed LSUs Derrius Guice on a do-or-die run from the 1-yard line in the final seconds, and the No. 21 Gators held on for a tension-filled 16-10 victory that clinched the Southeastern Conference East Division on Saturday.I cant tell you how proud I am of our players and our staff, and Im happy for our Gator fans who dont think were very gd, but all we do is end up back in Atlanta, said McElwain, whose Gators (8-2, 6-2 SEC, No. 23 CFP) also won the SEC East last year.The final play capped a defensive struggle in which No. 16 LSU converted a fourth-and-10 play on its final drive, only to get stopped on back-to-back runs from the 1 to end the game. Fullback J.D. Mre came up short on third down.Florida quarterback Austin Appleby completed only seven passes on 17 attempts, but one of his connections went for a pivotal 98-yard touchdown to Tyrie Cleveland. Eddy Piniero scored the rest of Floridas points on field goals of 36, 24 and 34 yards.LSU (6-4, 4-3 SEC, No. 16 CFP) controlled most of the game and held statistical advantages, outgaining Florida 423 yards to 270 and holding possession for 34:02. LSU also led 7-0 after Guices early 1-yard touchdown.But on three occasions, the Tigers failed to score after driving inside Floridas 10 -- the first time because of Guices fumble in the first half and the second time because of a botched field goal in the third quarter. LSUs lone field goal came three failed plays after the Tigers had a first-and-goal from the 4.We just shot ourselves in the ft. We had a lot of opportunities, said LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron , whose prospects of keeping the job long term werent helped by the result.Had the Tigers, who came in as two-touchdown favorites, converted a few more of those opportunities, theyd still be in gd shape to get the SECs Sugar Bowl bid.Not anymore.THE TAKEAWAYFlorida: Missing a handful of starters, the Gators played with a lot of heart and relied heavily on their elite defense to pull off the upset.LSU: The Tigers two turnovers and botched field goal turned what could have been a fairly comfortable victory into a losing struggle.VINDICATIONMcElwain sounded eageer to revisit questions about whether his program tried to dodge the Tigers when the original game in Florida was postponed by Hurricane Matthew in early October.dddddddddddd Florida balked at initial offers to move the game to LSU as the storm approached, or to play at home one or two days after the originally scheduled time. That left the SEC little choice but to postpone the game until both teams could buy out non-league opponents. But LSU refused to give up a home game, forcing Florida to travel if it wanted a shot to play for a conference title.The way I lk at it, they got what they deserved -- and it should have been worse, McElwain said.Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor mocked Floridas critics by making light of the matter.We didnt have no courage, he said. I guess out of fear we fought back.TOUGH DAYLSU starting defensive back Donte Jackson was in coverage on Applebys long scoring pass down the right sideline to Cleveland, who then escaped Jacksons grasp after the catch near midfield. After LSU went down 13-10 in the fourth quarter, Jackson fumbled a kickoff return by running into his own teammate, setting up Floridas final field goal.INJURIESLSU lost a key defender in the first half when middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith needed help off the field. He spent the rest of the game on the sideline with his left knee heavily wrapped. LSU star running back Leonard Fournette, who played despite being banged up last week, came out of the game for gd after being stopped short on a third-and-goal play in the second half.EMOTIONAL FLARE-UPThe two teams scuffled near the middle of the field about an hour before kickoff. Several people viewing warmups captured video they posted on social media. It was mostly yelling and shoving as coaches and police working security converged quickly to break it up. Some players also acted as peacemakers. One video captured Fournette pushing Florida defensive backs coach Torrian Gray away from a cluster of LSU players and coaches.POLL IMPLICATIONSFlorida is likely to climb back into the Top 20. LSU might not fall out of the poll , but will be punished for its squandered opportunities.UP NEXTFlorida: The Gators renew their non-conference rivalry with Florida State in Tallahassee.LSU: The Tigers visit Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night.---More AP college ftball: tball.ap.org" target="_blank">www.collegeftball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . ' ' '