Post-Game Notes

Nov. 1, 2008

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• In the 47th meeting between Michigan State and Wisconsin, the Spartans defeated the Badgers, 25-24, before a crowd of 75,121 at Spartan Stadium...the Spartans lead the overall series, 27-20, and have won two of the past three meetings.

• MSU's 5-1 start in the Big Ten is the best start for the program in league play since 1987 (5-0-1).

• Brett Swenson kicked the game-winning field goal with seven seconds left, a 44-yarder, for the second game-winning field goal of his career...Swenson kicked a 28-yarder with 13 seconds left to beat Northwestern, 41-38, in 2006, capping the largest comeback in NCAA history...Swenson was 4-for-4 on field goals for the game (27, 21, 50, 44)...his 50-yarder that cut the lead to 24-22 with 5:16 left was a career long...the four field goals ties a career high...Swenson is now 19-for-23 on field goals for the season...the 19 field goals are fifth best in MSU single-season history.

• Head coach Mark Dantonio has now won 15 games in his first two seasons, securing the highest total by a Spartan coach in his first two seasons (Chester Brewer, 14 wins in 1903-04).

• MSU now has eight wins on the season...it marks just the eighth time in school history the Spartans have won eight of their first 10 games...it's the first time since 1999 (8-2; finished 10-2) and only the second time since 1966...MSU has won at least eight games 20 times in program history...it marks MSU's first eight-win season since 2003 (8-5).

• Javon Ringer recorded 64 all-purpose yards to become MSU's all-time leader in that category, passing Lorenzo White...Ringer now has 5,156 career all-purpose yards (previous record: 5,152 all-purpose yards by White).

• Ringer scored two touchdowns, increasing his season total to 18...he entered the game leading the nation in touchdowns...it marks his seventh multi-TD game of the season and 10th of his career....the 18 TDs rank tied for third in MSU single-season history.

• Ringer rushed for a season-low 54 yards on 21 attempts...he has 1,427 yards this season through 10 games (142.7 avg.), which ranks sixth in MSU single-season history.

• For the second straight game, Blair White collected more than 100 yards receiving...White, who had 143 receiving yards on four catches last week at Michigan, collected career highs in catches (7) and receiving yards (164) against the Badgers...the 164 yards are the second most by a Spartan receiver against Wisconsin (Charles Rogers, five catches 206 yards, 2001 in Madison)...on MSU's final drive, White had two catches for 52 yards...White leads the team with 30 receptions on the season...in the past two games, White has 307 receiving yards on 11 catches (27.9 avg.)...it's the most by a Spartan receiver in a two-game span since Charles Rogers in 2002 (341 yards; nine catches for 166 vs. California; seven for 175 against Notre Dame).

• Brian Hoyer recorded his 12th career 200-yard passing game as he threw for 252 yards against the Badgers...he is now tied for third on MSU's all-time list with Bill Burke (1996-99) and Ed Smith (1976-78) in career 200-yard passing games...it's his fourth 200-yard game this season...with his 252 passing yards, he surpassed Bill Burke and moved into fifth place on MSU's all-time list with 5,630 yards...in two career starts vs. Wisconsin Hoyer completed 41-of-80 passes for 575 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.

• Greg Jones matched his season high with 13 tackles (7-6)...he also made 13 stops vs. Ohio State...Jones has recorded double-figure tackles in four straight games (11 vs. Northwestern; 13 vs. Ohio State; 10 vs. Michigan)...he becomes the first Spartan to produce double-digit tackles in four consecutive games since Seth Mitchell posted double-figure stops in four straight games in 2003 (10 vs. Minnesota; 15 vs. Michigan; 17 vs. Ohio State and 15 vs. Wisconsin).

• Danny Fortener had a career-high 12 tackles (4-8)...his previous career high was eight against Iowa.

• Aaron Bates averaged 45.4 yards on seven punts.