Sept. 5, 2009: After appearing in five games as a redshirt freshman Kirk Cousins opens his sophomore year against Montana State splitting time with Keith Nichol. Cousins starts in the season-opener and completes 17 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-3 romp.
Sept 26, 2009: Cousins makes his fourth consecutive start but the Spartans lose their third straight game, this one 38-30 to Wisconsin at Camp Randall in the Big Ten opener. Cousins throws for 201 yards and two TDs but a costly interception led to a Badgers score. Nichol threw two picks but also a 91-yard score during one of his series. "We're gonna have to check ourselves a little bit," Cousins said.
Oct. 3, 2009: Michigan State defeats No. 22 Michigan 26-20 in overtime, but Cousins is hobbled by an ankle injury and does not play most of the fourth quarter or overtime.
Jan 3, 2010: Cousins caps his first full season as starter with an interception on the opening drive and another at the end to seal a 41-31 loss to Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl.
Oct. 23, 2010: With Nichol now a full-time wide receiver, Cousins leads Michigan State to an 8-0 start with a top 10 national ranking after a 35-27 comeback victory at Northwestern.
Jan. 1, 2011: After leading the Spartans to a co-Big Ten championship Cousins is bruised and battered by Alabama's defensive front and knocked out of the game in the third quarter of a 49-7 blowout in the Capital One Bowl.
Dec. 3, 2011: In the first ever Big Ten Championship Game, Cousins (22 passes for 281 yards and 3 TDs) and the No. 11 Spartans lose 42-39 to No. 15 Wisconsin.
Jan. 2, 2012: Cousins closes his college career in wild fashion, leading a 10-play, 85-yard drive to tie the Outback Bowl late then beating Georgia 33-30 in three overtimes. Cousins finished the game 27 of 50 for 300 yards and a touchdown, becoming Michigan State's all-time leading passer with 9,131 yards. He also set records for completions (723), passing TDs (66) and wins by a starting QB (27).
