{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox NCAA football yearly game | game_name = Outback Bowl | subheader = 26th Outback Bowl | title_sponsor = | image = | caption = | date_game_played = January 2 | year_game_played = 2012 | football_season = 2011 | stadium = [[Raymond James Stadium]] | city = [[Tampa, Florida]] | visitor_school = [[Michigan State University]] | visitor_name_short = Michigan State | visitor_nickname = Spartans | visitor_record = 10–3 <!-- Field should contain record prior to game --> | visitor_rank_AP = 12 | visitor_rank_coaches = 13 | visitor_rank_BCS = 17 | visitor_coach = [[Mark Dantonio]] | visitor_conference = [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] | visitor_1q = 0 | visitor_2q = 0 | visitor_3q = 14 | visitor_4q = 13 | visitor_ot = 0 | visitor_2ot = 3 | visitor_3ot = 3 | home_school = [[University of Georgia]] | home_name_short = Georgia | home_nickname = Bulldogs | home_record = 10–3 <!-- Field should contain record prior to game --> | home_rank_AP = 18 | home_rank_coaches = 18 | home_rank_BCS = 16 | home_coach = [[Mark Richt]] | home_conference = [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] | home_1q = 2 | home_2q = 14 | home_3q = 0 | home_4q = 11 | home_ot = 0 | home_2ot = 3 | home_3ot = 0 | odds = Georgia by 3<ref>Bowl Schedule, ''Los Angeles Times'', December 7, 2011</ref> | MVP = [[Brandon Boykin]] (DB, Georgia)<ref name=recap/> | anthem = | referee = Ed Ardito ([[Conference USA|C-USA]]) | halftime = | attendance = 49,429 | payout = 3.4 million per team | us_network = [[ESPN College Football on ABC|ABC]] | us_announcers = [[Mike Tirico]] (Play-by-Play)<br>[[Jon Gruden]] (Analyst)<br>[[Jenn Brown]] (Sidelines) | ratings = 5.14 }} The '''2012 Outback Bowl''' was a post-season American [[college football]] [[bowl game]], held on January 2, 2012, at [[Raymond James Stadium]] in [[Tampa, Florida]], as part of the [[2011–12 NCAA football bowl games|2011–12 NCAA Bowl season]]. It was the 26th edition of the [[Outback Bowl]], and was telecast at 1:00&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|ET]] to a national audience on [[ESPN College Football on ABC|ABC]]. It featured the [[2011 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia Bulldogs]] from the [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC) versus the [[2011 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State Spartans]] from the [[Big Ten Conference]]. Michigan State won, 33–30, in the third overtime period.

==Teams== The Spartans and Bulldogs had met two times before. Georgia held a 2–0 all-time record against Michigan State coming into the game.

===Georgia=== {{See also|2011 Georgia Bulldogs football team}}

Georgia entered the game with a 10–3 record as the SEC East Division champion. In the [[2011 SEC Championship Game]], Georgia lost to [[2011 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]] 10–42. The Bulldog's defense entered the game ranked 3rd in the FBS in totals yards allowed, allowing only 268.5 yards per game.<ref name=preview>Bartle, Jeff. [http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/preview?gid=201201020068 Michigan St.-Georgia Preview]. [[Yahoo Sports]]. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2012.</ref>

===Michigan State=== {{See also|2011 Michigan State Spartans football team}}

Michigan State entered the game with a 10–3 record as the Big Ten's Legends Division champion. In the [[2011 Big Ten Football Championship Game]], MSU lost to [[2011 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]] 39–42. The Spartan's defense entered the game ranked 5th in the FBS in total yards allowed, allowing only 272.7 yards per game. MSU also entered having lost 5 straight bowl games. The Spartan's last bowl win was the [[2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic]], where the Spartans beat the [[Fresno State Bulldogs football|Fresno State Bulldogs]] 44–35.<ref name=preview/>

==Game summary== The Bulldogs scored first when [[Brandon Boykin]] tackled [[Keshawn Martin]] in the end zone for a [[Safety (gridiron football score)|safety]]. On the ensuing drive, the Bulldogs drove to MSU's 5-yard line. However, on a 4th-and-1 play at the 5-yard line, UGA's Ken Malcome was stopped for a 1-yard loss, [[Turnover on downs|turning the ball over]] to MSU. The rest of the 1st quarter remained scoreless.<ref name=recap>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120103004637/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=320020061 Michigan State rallies for three-overtime win at Outback Bowl]. [[ESPN]]. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.</ref><ref name=playbyplay/><ref name=boxscore/>

In the 2nd quarter, UGA scored on an 80-yard touchdown pass to Tavarres King to go up 9–0. On the ensuing drive, the Bulldog defense forced the Spartans to punt. UGA's Brandon Boykin returned the punt 92 yards to go up 16–0 at the end of the half.<ref name=recap/><ref name=playbyplay/><ref name=boxscore/>

The Spartans finally got on board in the 3rd quarter on an 8-yard [[Le'Veon Bell]] touchdown run to cut the deficit 16–8 after a two-point conversion. MSU closed the gap even further when [[Darqueze Dennard]] intercepted [[Aaron Murray]] 38 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed, making it 16–14 going into the 4th quarter.<ref name=recap/><ref name=playbyplay/><ref name=boxscore/>

Taking advantage of an interception, Georgia extended their lead 19–14 in the 4th quarter on a 32-yard field goal from [[Blair Walsh]]. The Spartans took the lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass to [[Keith Nichol]] to make it 20–19 after a failed two-point conversion. Georgia responded with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Boykin to go up 27–20 after making a two-point conversion. On the ensuing drive, Jonathan Jenkins intercepted [[Kirk Cousins]] with only 3:56 left in regulation. However, Georgia was unable to run out the game clock and punted the ball away. With 85-yards to go, no timeouts and only 1 minute and 55 seconds left in regulation, Michigan State was able to tie the game 27–27 on a 1-yard touchdown run from Le'Veon Bell with only 14 seconds left in the game, forcing overtime.<ref name=recap/><ref name=playbyplay/><ref name=boxscore/>

Michigan State was on offense first in the 1st overtime period. The Spartan's offensive possession end when Kirk Cousins' pass was intercepted by Bacarri Rambo. UGA's Blair Walsh, however, missed a game winning 42-yard field, forcing a 2nd overtime period. Michigan State and Georgia both traded field goals to go into the 3rd overtime period tied 30–30. In the 3rd overtime period, MSU's Dan Conroy kicked a 28-yard field goal to go ahead 33–30. Georgia attempted to force a 4th overtime on a 47-yard field goal attempt from Blair Walsh. However, Walsh's kick was blocked, sealing the victory for Michigan State.<ref name=recap/><ref name=playbyplay/><ref name=boxscore/>

Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin was named game MVP for scoring on offense, defense and special teams.<ref name=mvptampa>Auman, Greg. [https://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/georgia-senior-cornerback-brandon-boykin-named-outback-bowl-mvp/1208861/ Georgia senior cornerback Brandon Boykin named Outback Bowl MVP]. [[Tampa Bay Times]]. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.</ref> Several Outback Bowl records were broken in the 2012 game, including longest punt return for a touchdown (Boykin's 92-yard punt return) and receiving touchdown (Tavarres King's 80-yard touchdown reception).<ref name=outbackbowlrecords>[http://www.outbackbowl.com/pressbox/release.html?release=238 2012 Outback Bowl Records (tied or broken)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112042657/http://www.outbackbowl.com/pressbox/release.html?release=238 |date=2012-01-12 }}. outbackbowl.com. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2012.</ref>

==Scoring summary== Source.<ref name=playbyplay>[https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay?gameId=320020061&period=0 Michigan State Spartans vs. Georgia Bulldogs play by play]. [[ESPN]]. Retrieved 3 January 2012.</ref><ref name=boxscore>[https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=320020061 Michigan State Spartans vs. Georgia Bulldogs box score]. [[ESPN]]. Retrieved 3 January 2012.</ref> {{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=MSU|HomeName=UGA|state=}} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=1 | Time=12:07 | Team=UGA | DrivePlays=1 | DriveLength=-2 | DriveTime=0:06 | Type=SafetyTackle | Player=Keshawn Martin | Def=Brandon Boykin | Visitor=0 | Home=2 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=2 | Time=3:06 | Team=UGA | DrivePlays=1 | DriveLength=80 | DriveTime=0:12 | Type=Other | Other=Tavarres King 80 Yd Pass From Aaron Murray. (Blair Walsh Kick) | Visitor=0 | Home=9 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=2 | Time=1:47 | Team=UGA | DrivePlays=3 | DriveLength=7 | DriveTime=1:27 | Type=Other | Other=Brandon Boykin 92 Yd Punt Return. (Blair Walsh Kick) | Visitor=0 | Home=16 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=3 | Time=7:52 | Team=MSU | DrivePlays=9 | DriveLength=48 | DriveTime=2:47 | Type=Other | Other=Le'Veon Bell 8 Yd Run. (Kirk Cousins Pass To Brian Linthicum For Two-Point Conversion) | Visitor=8 | Home=16 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=3 | Time=1:47 | Team=MSU | DrivePlays=5 | DriveLength=32 | DriveTime=2:34 | Type=Other | Other=Darqueze Dennard 38 Yd Interception Return. (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) | Visitor=14 | Home=16 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=4 | Time=9:58 | Team=UGA | DrivePlays=3 | DriveLength=-3 | DriveTime=1:23 | Type=FG | yards=32 | Kicker=Blair Walsh | Visitor=14 | Home=19 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=4 | Time=8:22 | Team=MSU | DrivePlays=4 | DriveLength=59 | DriveTime=1:36 | Type=Other | Other=Keith Nichol 7 Yd Pass From Kirk Cousins. (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) | Visitor=20 | Home=19 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=4 | Time=6:44 | Team=UGA | DrivePlays=5 | DriveLength=81 | DriveTime=1:38 | Type=Other | Other=Brandon Boykin 13 Yd Pass From Aaron Murray. (Aaron Murray Pass To Malcolm Mitchell For Two-Point Conversion) | Visitor=20 | Home=27 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=4 | Time=0:14 | Team=MSU | DrivePlays=10 | DriveLength=85 | DriveTime=1:36 | Type=Other | Other=Le'Veon Bell 1 Yd Run. (Dan Conroy Kick) | Visitor=27 | Home=27 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=2OT | Time= | Team=UGA | DrivePlays= | DriveLength= | DriveTime= | Type=FG | yards=48 | Kicker=Blair Walsh | Visitor=27 | Home=30 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=2OT | Time= | Team=MSU | DrivePlays= | DriveLength= | DriveTime= | Type=FG | yards=35 | Kicker=Dan Conroy | Visitor=30 | Home=30 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=3OT | Time= | Team=MSU | DrivePlays= | DriveLength= | DriveTime= | Type=FG | yards=28 | Kicker=Dan Conroy | Visitor=33 | Home=30 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=33|Home=30}}

===Statistics=== {| class="wikitable" !Statistic !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}}"|'''MSU''' !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Georgia Bulldogs|color=white}}"|'''UGA''' |- | First downs || 15 || 15 |- |Rushes-yards (net)|| 29–73 || 39–51 |- |Passing yards (net) || 318 || 288 |- |Passes, Att-Comp-Int || 51–28–3 || 32–20–2 |- | Total yards || 391 || 339 |- | Time of Possession|| 28:26 || 31:34 |- |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{ReliaQuest Bowl navbox}} {{2011 bowl game navbox}} {{Georgia Bulldogs bowl game navbox}} {{Michigan State Spartans bowl game navbox}} {{College bowl games on ABC}}

[[Category:ReliaQuest Bowl]] [[Category:2011–12 NCAA football bowl games|Outback Bowl]] [[Category:2012 in sports in Florida|Outback Bowl]] [[Category:2010s in Tampa, Florida]] [[Category:Georgia Bulldogs football bowl games]] [[Category:Michigan State Spartans football bowl games]] [[Category:January 2012 sports events in the United States]]