The Baylor Bears had the Cotton Bowl all but won after three quarters but then the Michigan State Spartans pulled off an improbably comeback to steal victory from the jaws of defeat and left Art Briles embarrassed.
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Baylor was cruising in the Cotton Bowl with a 41-21 lead through three quarters against Michigan State and looked very much like a team who was deserving of a spot in the college football playoff.
But then the fourth quarter happened and the Bears self-destructed and gave the game away as the Spartans scored 21 unanswered points, including the game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining to stun Baylor and leave head coach Art Briles as embarrassed as he’s ever been in his time as a coach.
Art Briles on the 4Q: "It's, quite honestly, an embarrassment to me as a coach. I feel bad for our players, our team, our university.”
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) January 1, 2015
The fourth quarter began ominously with a missed field goal from Chris Callahan who was unsuccessful from 46 yards out but Baylor held a 20-point lead at the time, so it wasn’t time to panic just yet.
Michigan State would respond quickly with a five-play touchdown drive capped with Josiah Price making it a 28-41 game with 12:09 remaining and gave hope for the Spartans. They would recover an onside kick and Connor Cook threw a 39-yard pass to the Baylor 14, but then a bonehead decision to force a throw resulted in an interception that would have been a pick-six if not for a block in the back.
Nevertheless, Baylor got the turnover and a long return and led by 13 as the clock continued to run.
Baylor faced a fourth-and-six from the Spartan 39 and Briles elected to go for it but Bryce Petty’s pass was incomplete to KD Cannon and the Spartans took over and still had life.
Nine plays and 60 yards later the Spartans were back in the end zone after a touchdown from Jeremy Langford which set the stage for the biggest play of the game.
With Michigan State trailing 41-35, the Bears lined up for a 43-yard field goal with 1:05 remaining to effectively put the game away but Michigan State blocked the field goal and returned it 36 yards to the Baylor 45. On the ensuing possession, Michigan State picked up a fourth down conversion and scored the game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining as Baylor lost in heart-breaking fashion.
Baylor’s final play of their season resulted in a Petty interception as his incredible career ends on a sour note and Briles is left to think about how this one got away all offseason.
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