Michigan State at Notre Dame

Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook throws a pass during the Spartans' game against Notre Dame on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook learned he would retain his starting job for next week after the game, but was unhappy with the team's decision to bench him on the final drive in Michigan State's 17-13 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday.

"I was a little disappointed, you know?" Cook said. "I don't know why they pulled me. They said I was a little inaccurate, but I would have wished that the coaches had faith in me to keep me in there in a critical situation like that."

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said he put fifth-year senior Andrew Maxwell into the game for the first time with 2:11 left and the Spartans needing a touchdown because of a need to "try to change the pace."

Maxwell ultimately threw three incomplete passes and saw the offense commit two penalties before he was forced into scrambling on fourth down to essentially end the Spartans' chances.

Cook was pulled from the game after completing 16 of 32 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown after a performance he said was "average." The sophomore got hit on the shoulder in his first career road start, but both he and Dantonio downplayed that as the reason Maxwell entered the game.

"I felt like (Cook) was a little behind on some throws, needed to mix it up and see what (Maxwell) could do," Dantonio said. "Obviously, didn't work out."

Cook said quarterbacks coach Brad Salem told him after the game he would remain the "No. 1 guy," and Dantonio indicated he would start two weeks from now at Iowa.

"Once you get the ball in the red zone, you've got to execute," said Cook, who did throw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Macgarrett Kings Jr. "You've got to score touchdowns. You can't settle for field goals.

"We're going to continue to get better."

College football: Michigan State at Notre Dame, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 37 Gallery: College football: Michigan State at Notre Dame, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013

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