Michigan State University Athletics
No. 2 Spartans Face Purdue in 100th Homecoming Game
10/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
| Game 5: No. 2/2 Michigan State (4-0) vs. Purdue (1-3) | |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Oct. 3 | 12:01 p.m. |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. Spartan Stadium (75,005/Natural Grass) |
| Televison | ESPN2 |
| Broadcast Team | Beth Mowins (play-by-play) Anthony Becht (analyst) | Paul Carcaterra (sidelines) |
| Internet Coverage | WatchESPN | |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) | Affiliates |
| Satellite Radio | Ch. 135 (Sirius)/Ch. 195 (XM) |
| Radio (Mobile) | Broadcast available on Spartan Sports Network Mobile App: iPhone/iPad | Android |
| Parking/Tailgating/Stadium Information | Gameday Central | Gameday Answers |
| Tickets | Limited number available at msuspartans.com |
| Parking | Lots will open at 7 a.m. |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Purdue |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Purdue |
| Series Information | MSU leads, 34-28-3 | Last meeting: MSU 45, PUR 31 (Oct. 11, 2014) |
| Social Media | @MSU_Football  | #MSUPUR | Facebook  |
FIRST-AND-10 â€"
• After going through the non-conference portion of its schedule undefeated at 4-0, No. 2/2 Michigan State opens the Big Ten season on Saturday, Oct. 3 against Purdue (1-3) at noon in Spartan Stadium for the school's 100th Homecoming game. Following its 30-10 win over Central Michigan, MSU enters the contest with an eight-game winning streak, tied for the second longest under head coach Mark Dantonio (11 straight in 2013-14; eight straight in 2010); it's also the fourth-longest active streak in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (Ohio State: 17; TCU: 12; Memphis: 11). The Boilermakers fell to Bowling Green at home last week, 35-28.
• Saturday's game marks the 66th meeting between Michigan State and Purdue. The Spartans lead the all-time series 34-28-3, including a 20-12 record in games played in East Lansing. Michigan State has won six straight in the series, matching the longest winning streak against the Boilermakers in school history (won six in a row from 1985-90). Mark Dantonio is 6-0 against Purdue (3-0 in East Lansing, 3-0 in West Lafayette), including a 45-31 victory last year in Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue's last win in the series came on Nov. 4, 2006, 17-15, in East Lansing. Six of the last 10 games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less.
• Michigan State is 65-31-3 (.672) in 99 Homecoming games, including a 7-1 record under Mark Dantonio. MSU is 2-1 against Purdue on Homecoming (lost in 1954, won in 1966 and 1974).
• Michigan State has scored 30-plus points for a school-record 12 consecutive games (previous record: eight straight from 1978-79), the longest active streak in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (second: Baylor with nine straight). MSU closed the 2014 season with eight straight 30-plus scoring efforts and put up 37 points on the board against Western Michigan in the season opener, 31 vs. Oregon, 35 vs. Air Force, and 30 vs. Central Michigan. The Spartans have scored 30-plus points in 15 of their past 17 games. The last time MSU was held under 30 points came in a 27-22 victory over No. 19 Nebraska on Oct. 4, 2014. In addition, Michigan State has scored 24-plus points in 19 consecutive games, which is tied for the longest streak in the NCAA FBS along with Baylor. MSU was last held under 24 points in a 14-3 win over Minnesota on Nov. 30, 2013, while the Bears were held to 17 points in a loss at Oklahoma State on Nov. 23, 2013.
• With a win on Saturday, fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook would surpass Kirk Cousins for the most wins by a starting quarterback in school history with 28. Cook owns a 27-3 record (.900) as the starter, including a 16-1 (.941) mark against Big Ten opponents. The 27 wins are tied for the most of any active starting quarterback in the NCAA FBS, along with Stanford's Kevin Hogan, while Cook's .900 winning percentage ranks No. 1. Cousins collected a 27-12 record (.692) as the starting quarterback for the Spartans from 2009-11.
• Michigan State remained at No. 2 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and also moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 in the Amway Coaches Poll. The No. 2 AP ranking is the highest for the program since finishing the 1966 season at No. 2. MSU also received five first-place votes in the AP Poll. MSU has been ranked in the AP Poll for 30 consecutive weeks, dating back to Oct. 27, 2013 (school record: 34 weeks from Sept. 19, 2010 to Sept. 23, 2012). For 22 of those 30 weeks, MSU has been ranked in the Top 10. MSU was ranked No. 5 in the Preseason AP Poll. Michigan State is 44-11 (.800) as a ranked team in the AP Poll under Mark Dantonio. As a ranked team, Michigan State has only lost to an unranked opponent once under Dantonio (32-1; at Notre Dame, 2011).
• Michigan State enters its 63rd season of Big Ten competition with a 34-24-4 record (.581) in league openers. The Spartans are 5-3 in Big Ten openers under Mark Dantonio. MSU has won eight Big Ten Championships (1953, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987, 1990, 2010, 2013) since beginning league play in 1953, including two under Dantonio. Michigan State has won 17 of its last 18 games against Big Ten opponents, including 16 wins by double-figures (only win not by double-figures: 27-22 victory over No. 19 Nebraska on Oct. 4, 2014).
• Michigan State finished non-conference play 4-0 for the third time (2007, 2010, 2015) under Mark Dantonio (excluding bowl games). MSU has compiled a 56-19 record (.747) in games played against non-conference opponents since 1999. Mark Dantonio is 33-11 (.750) against non-conference opponents, including a 25-2 record (.926) in Spartan Stadium. Overall, the Spartans have won 39 of their last 51 non-league games (.765), including eight of the last nine over the past two seasons. In addition, Dantonio is 24-1 in games against teams outside of the Power Five conferences. All four of MSU's non-conference opponents in 2015 played in bowl games last season and collected a combined 38-16 record in 2014.
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has produced a 47-12 record (.797) in home games since 2007, including a 15-game winning streak (7-0 in 2010, 7-0 in 2011, won first game in 2012) and a 12-game winning streak (7-0 in 2013; won first five in 2014), which rank second and tied for third, respectively, in Spartan Stadium history. MSU is 32-6 (.842) at home since 2010 and 16-1 (.941) since 2013. Dantonio is 9-0 in home openers at MSU and the Spartans' 17-game winning streak in home openers is tied for the third longest in the nation.
• MSU's 57 wins since 2010 are tied for sixth most among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams (tied with Stanford) and most in the Big Ten during that same period. The Spartans have posted five consecutive winning seasons, a first for the program since recording six in a row from 1985-90. MSU has won 57 of its last 71 games (.803), dating back to the beginning of the 2010 season. In addition, the Spartans have won 30 of their last 33 games (.909), dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale. MSU has won 28 games since the beginning of 2013 (28-3 record), third most in the FBS during that period.
STAT LEADERS â€"
Michigan State (after four games):
Rushing â€" Madre London (63 carries for 275 yards, 4.4 avg., 3 TDs)
Passing â€" Connor Cook (61 of 105 for 838 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving â€" Aaron Burbridge (24 catches for 405 yards, 16.9 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles â€" Riley Bullough (46 tackles, 20 solos, 26 assists, 3.5 TFL, 3 sacks)
Purdue (after four games):
Rushing â€" D.J. Knox (65 carries for 251 yards, 3.9 avg., 1 TD)
Passing â€" Austin Appleby (60 of 110 for 669 yards, 5 TDs, 6 INTs)
Receiving â€" Danny Anthrop (16 catches for 124 yards, 7.8 avg., 1 TD)
Tackles â€" Ja'Whaun Bentley (40 tackles, 23 solos, 17 assists, 6 TFL, 2 PBUs)
MSU/PURDUE NOTES â€"
• Saturday's game marks the 66th meeting between Michigan State and Purdue. The Spartans lead the all-time series 34-28-3, including a 20-12 record in games played in East Lansing. Michigan State has won six straight in the series, matching the longest winning streak against the Boilermakers in school history (won six in a row from 1985-90). Mark Dantonio is 6-0 against Purdue (3-0 in East Lansing, 3-0 in West Lafayette), including a 45-31 victory last year in Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue's last win in the series came on Nov. 4, 2006, 17-15, in East Lansing. Six of the last 10 games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less.
A QUICK GLANCE AT PURDUE (1-3) â€"
• Purdue is led by third-year head coach Darrell Hazell. Hazell previously spent two seasons as the head coach at Kent State from 2011-12 and compiled a 16-10 record before arriving in West Lafayette. Hazell was named the 2012 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Golden Flashes to 11 wins and their first bowl appearance in 40 years. He also spent seven years as an assistant coach at Ohio State (2004-10) under former Buckeye head coach Jim Tressel.
• Red-shirt freshman quarterback David Blough completed 29-of-39 passes for 340 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in his first career start last Saturday vs. Bowling Green. He also scored on a 1-yard rushing TD against the Falcons.
• The Boilermakers feature two primary backs in their offense: sophomore D.J. Knox and freshman Markell Jones. Knox leads the team with 251 yards on 65 carries and one touchdown, while Jones ranks first with three rushing TDs and has 248 yards on 38 attempts (6.5 avg.). Knox also ranks second on the team with 15 receptions for 110 yards.
• Junior DeAngelo Yancey leads Purdue with 250 receiving yards on 13 catches (19.2 avg.).
• Defensively, Purdue ranks 10th in the NCAA FBS in tackles for loss (8.8 per game) and 26th in sacks (2.75 per game). Sophomore Antoine Miles leads the team with four sacks, while sophomore Ja'Whaun Bentley ranks tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 40 tackles.
MSU/PURDUE COACHING CONNECTIONS â€"
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio spent the 1981 season at Purdue as a graduate assistant under Jim Young.
• Michigan State wide receivers coach Terrence Samuel was a four-year letterman (1991-94) as a receiver for Coach Jim Colletto at Purdue. He earned his bachelor's degree in communication and psychology from Purdue in 1995. While at Purdue, Samuel was the recipient of the 1994 Kiwanis Citizenship Award, which is presented to a Boilermaker football player who excels most in the combined roles of player, student and community volunteer. As a senior in 1994, Samuel finished fourth on the team with 13 catches for 200 yards (15.4 avg.). He also returned 14 kickoffs for 273 yards (19.5 avg.). As a sophomore in 1992, Samuel's first career reception resulted in a game-winning touchdown, as his 32-yard grab from Matt Pike with 2:21 left in the fourth quarter gave the Boilermakers a 24-20 victory over Minnesota.
• Michigan State co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Jim Bollman and Purdue defensive backs coach Taver Johnson worked together at Ohio State for five years (2007-10) under former head coach Jim Tressel. Bollman was the team's offensive coordinator, while Johnson coached the defensive backs. Bollman also worked with current Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell for seven seasons at Ohio State when Hazell was an assistant under Tressel.
THE LAST MEETING â€"
Oct. 11, 2014, in West Lafayette, Ind.: No. 8 Michigan State collected 532 yards of total offense, including 294 rushing yards, to defeat Purdue for the third straight time at Ross-Ade Stadium and for the sixth consecutive time in the series, tying MSU's longest winning streak against the Boilermakers.
Jeremy Langford paced the Spartan running game that averaged 6.8 yards per carry (43 attempts for 294 yards). He had 104 rushing yards on just 13 attempts (8.0 avg.).
The Spartans scored on their first four possessions of the game and on six of their first seven, including five touchdowns and one field goal, to build a 38-17 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Tony Lippett caught a touchdown pass for the eighth straight game with a 39-yard reception from Connor Cook on the first series of the afternoon. Nick Hill's 2-yard TD run later in the first quarter put MSU on top, 14-3.
Josiah Price caught a 2-yard TD pass from Cook early in the second quarter to increase MSU's advantage to 21-3, but Purdue scored two touchdowns before halftime to cut Spartan lead to 24-17 at the break.
Two Spartan scores in the third quarter gave MSU a 21-point lead at 38-17. Aaron Burbridge made an acrobatic catch in the back of the end zone on a 13-yard reception at the 7:16 mark, while Hill ran for his second touchdown of the day, this time from 4 yards out, with 4:49 left in the quarter. Purdue staged a comeback in the fourth quarter with two rushing touchdowns by Akeem Hunt (52 yards, 3 yards). With Michigan State leading 38-31 and Purdue facing a third-and-8 from its own 22-yard line with 1:29 left in the game, Ed Davis and Shilique Calhoun applied pressure to Boilermaker quarterback Austin Appleby, forcing an errant pass that Darien Harris intercepted and returned 15 yards for the touchdown that sealed the game for the Spartans.
Cook finished the game 19-of-37 passing for 238 yards and three touchdowns, while Lippett had seven catches for 138 yards.
SPARTANS FROM THE HOOSIER STATE â€"
Michigan State's 2015 roster features two players from the state of Indiana: junior wide receiver Paul Andrie (Valparaiso) and junior tight end Josiah Price (Greentown/Eastern).
REUNION WEEKEND â€"
• The Michigan State Football Players Association is hosting its annual reunion dinner on Friday, Oct. 2 at the Kellogg Center. The MSUFPA will be recognizing several championship teams this weekend, including the 50-year reunion of the 1965 and 1966 Big Ten and National Championship teams. In addition, the 1955 Rose Bowl Championship team is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
• The 1965 and 1966 Michigan State Spartans went a combined 19-1-1 during those two years, including a 14-0 record in Big Ten games, under Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty and claimed Big Ten and National Championships both seasons. The Spartans (10-1) finished the 1965 season ranked No. 1 in the United Press International Poll to win the school's fifth National Championship. MSU (9-0-1) won its second consecutive Big Ten title in 1966 and again was selected National Champion by several outlets, including the National Football Foundation.
TURNOVERS PROVING TO BE THE DIFFERENCE IN 2015 â€"
• Michigan State, which ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in turnover margin (+1.46 per game) in 2014 and No. 10 in 2013 (0.93 per game), is once again in the Top 10 in 2015 with 1.50 per game, which is eighth best in the nation and also tied for first in the Big Ten. The Spartans have forced eight takeaways and have turned the ball over just twice this season (+6). In addition, MSU has scored 27 points off of its opponents' turnovers, while the opposition has yet to score on a Spartan miscue.
Shilique Calhoun NAMED BIG TEN CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK â€"
Fifth-year senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after recording a season-high six tackles in No. 2 Michigan State's 30-10 victory Central Michigan, with three resulting in losses (24 yards) including 2.5 sacks (24 yards). His six stops were one shy of his career high (vs. Minnesota, 2013) while he matched his career highs for tackles for loss and sacks. His previous career highs for tackles for loss and sacks came against Michigan in 2013. Calhoun also was credited with four quarterback hurries, one pass break-up and a blocked kick against CMU. He finished the game with a team-high 37 production points, the most by a Spartan defensive player this season.
With his performance against the Chippewas, Calhoun moved up to No. 6 on MSU's all-time list with 21 career sacks. Calhoun also climbed to No. 9 on MSU's all-time charts with 34 career tackles for loss. He also ranks among MSU's career leaders in tackles for loss yardage (third with 220 yards) and sack yardage (fourth with 171 yards).
It marked the second time in his career Calhoun has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9, 2013, vs. South Florida).
Calhoun is the fourth Spartan to be recognized with a player of the week honor by the Big Ten this season (Riley Bullough, defense, Week 2 vs. Oregon; LJ Scott, freshman, Week 2 vs. Oregon; Aaron Burbridge, offense, Week 3 vs. Air Force).
Aaron Burbridge ADDED TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST â€"
Michigan State senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge, who leads the Spartans in receptions (24), receiving yards (405) and touchdown catches (4), has been added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, which is given annually to the nation's outstanding college football receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. Burbridge has already recorded career highs in receiving yards and touchdown receptions.
The 6-1, 208-pound Burbridge ranks among the Big Ten leaders in touchdown catches (tied for first with four), receiving yards (second with 101.2 ypg.), receptions (third with 6.0 per game) and scoring (tied for fifth with 6.0 per game). Those figures also rank among the best in the NCAA FBS (tied for 11th in TD receptions; 16th in receiving yards; 21st in receiving yards per game).
The Farmington Hills, Michigan, native set career highs for receptions (8), receiving yards (156) and touchdown catches (3) in Michigan State's 35-21 victory over Air Force on Sept. 19 in Spartan Stadium and was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. He scored on TD grabs of 28, 32 and 21 yards from Connor Cook. Burbridge's first TD grab was an acrobatic reception in the corner of the end zone that was named one of the top plays of the week by several national media outlets.
Burbridge's three TD receptions tied MSU's single-game record (last player: B.J. Cunningham vs. Wisconsin, 2011 Big Ten Championship Game), and it also marked Burbridge's third-straight 100-yard receiving game. He topped the 100-yard receiving mark in the first half alone, with five catches for 112 yards and two TDs. His eight receptions matched his career best (8 for 134 yards vs. Indiana, 2012). Seven of his eight catches resulted in either a first down or touchdown against the Falcons, including four receptions of 20 yards or more.
Burbridge's performance marked just the fourth time in school history a Spartan wide receiver caught three TDs and had more than 150 yards receiving in the same game (Plaxico Burress: 13 catches for 185 yards and three TDs vs. Florida on Jan. 1, 2000; Burress: 5 catches for 164 yards and three TDs vs. Northwestern on Nov. 13, 1999; Andre Rison: 9 catches for 252 yards and three TDs vs. Georgia on Jan. 1, 1989).
Burbridge has recorded 104 receptions for 1,321 yards and seven TDs in 41 career games.
RECORD WATCH â€"
• With a win on Saturday, fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook would surpass Kirk Cousins for the most wins by a starting quarterback in school history with 28. Cook owns a 27-3 record (.900) as the starter, including a 16-1 (.941) mark against Big Ten opponents. The 27 wins are tied for the most of any active starting quarterback in the NCAA FBS, along with Stanford's Kevin Hogan, while Cook's .900 winning percentage ranks No. 1. Cousins collected a 27-12 record (.692) as the starting quarterback for the Spartans from 2009-11.
• Cook also continues to climb up MSU's record book in several categories. He is 99 passing yards shy of throwing for 7,000 yards in his career. In addition, Cook is four touchdown passes away from becoming the third Spartan quarterback to record 60 career touchdown passes.
BIG GAME SPARTANS â€"
• Following the Sept. 12 win over then-No. 7 Oregon, the Spartans are 5-1 (.833) in their last six games against AP Top 10 teams. In addition, the Spartans are 4-1 against AP Top 10 teams since 2013.
• Under Mark Dantonio, the Spartans are 13-20 (.394) in 33 games played against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25; however, MSU is 12-11 against ranked teams since 2010.
• Michigan State has won six of its last eight games played against ranked opponents.
• MSU's victory over No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game marked the highest ranked opponent the Spartans have defeated since knocking off the top-ranked Buckeyes in 1998.
• According to ESPN, Michigan State has the best winning percentage of any team in the FBS in regular-season matchups between AP Top 10 teams (AP Poll dates back to 1936) with a 13-5-1 record (.711).
SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF â€"
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has produced a 47-12 record (.797) in home games since 2007, including a 15-game winning streak (7-0 in 2010, 7-0 in 2011, won first game in 2012) and a 12-game winning streak (7-0 in 2013; won first five in 2014), which rank second and tied for third, respectively, in Spartan Stadium history.
• MSU is 32-6 (.842) at home since 2010 and 16-1 (.941) since 2013.
• Mark Dantonio is 25-2 (.926) against non-conference opponents in Spartan Stadium (only losses: 2009 to Central Michigan; 2012 to No. 20 Notre Dame).
• Dantonio is 9-0 in home openers at MSU and the Spartans' 17-game winning streak in home openers is tied for the third longest in the nation.
POST-GAME NOTES: CENTRAL MICHIGAN (MSU 30, CMU 10) â€"
• The Spartans are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2010 and third time under head coach Mark Dantonio . . . It is also the 18th time in school history that MSU has started a season 4-0 . . . Dantonio is the fourth Spartan head coach to start 4-0 in a season at least three times, doing so in 2007, 2010 and 2015, joining Biggie Munn (1951, ‘52, ‘53) and Charlie Bachman (1934, ‘36, ‘44) with three, while Duffy Daugherty had four (1956, ‘61, ‘65, ‘66) 4-0 starts.
• It marked the 10th meeting between Michigan State and Central Michigan . . . The Spartans lead the all-time series 7-3, including 3-1 under Dantonio, winning the last three.
• The Spartans improved to 40-6 (.870) against current members of the Mid-American Conference.
• Under Dantonio, the Spartans are 59-7 (.894) when leading at halftime, including a perfect 4-0 this season when holding the lead at the intermission.
• The first-quarter field goal block by sophomore Demetrius Cooper was the first of his career . . . Shilique Calhoun also blocked a CMU field goal attempt in the first quarter . . . The last time that Michigan State had blocked a field goal was when Marcus Rush blocked a Chris Callahan field goal against Baylor in the 2015 Cotton Bowl . . . It marked the first time since 1989 that the Spartans had two blocked field goals in the same game, and both were by Percy Snow against Minnesota.
• With his 5-yard scoring grab in the second quarter, junior Josiah Price set the MSU career record for TD receptions (14) by a tight end (previously shared with Chris Baker, 1998-2001) . . . Price has a TD reception in each of the Spartans' first four games this season and five straight overall.
• The 6-yard TD run by freshman Madre London in the first half was his third of the season and first since the season opener at Western Michigan when he scored twice . . . London ended the game with 73 total yards, his third game with 50+ yards behind his season-high 103 yards vs. Oregon and 59 at Western Michigan.
• Freshman LJ Scott's 29-yard run was the second-longest of the season for the Spartan back after a 38-yard run against Oregon ... Scott's 54 yards was also his third 50-plus yard rushing effort of the season behind 77 at Western Michigan and 76 vs. Oregon.
• Sophomore Gerald Holmes' two rushing TD's marked his first multi-touchdown game of his career . . . Holmes scored on fourth-quarter TD runs of 3 and 6 yards . . . He has three rushing scores this season and for his career, also scoring at Western Michigan.
• Connor Cook amassed a total of 159 yards of total offense (143 passing, 16 rushing), giving him 7,070 career yards of total offense to become the fourth MSU quarterback to surpass the 7,000-yard milestone . . . Cook's 11 pass completions give him 505 for his career, becoming the fifth MSU QB with 500 career completions . . . He passed Brian Hoyer (2005-08), who had 500 completions during his Spartan career.
• Sophomore Shane Jones earned his first career start at middle linebacker vs. Central Michigan, with Riley Bullough suspended for the first half (targeting in second half vs. Air Force in Week 3) . . . Jones responded by registering a career-best five tackles vs. CMU, including his first career tackle for loss (1 yard).
• Junior Riley Bullough tallied his first fumble recovery this season and second of his career (Nebraska, 2014) . . . the 13-yard fumble recovery set up MSU's final touchdown of the game, a Gerald Holmes 6-yard TD with 3:21 left in the game that put MSU on top, 30-10 . . . Bullough ended the game with seven stops, which came all in the second half after having to sit out the first half due to a targeting penalty against Air Force.
• Junior Michael Geiger extended his school record consecutive PAT streak to 98 with his three extra points . . . That streak came to an end, however, when Geiger's fourth attempt was blocked by CMU's Jabari Dean in the fourth quarter.
• A total of five true freshmen saw action against Central Michigan: wide receiver Felton Davis III, linebacker Andrew Dowell, safety Grayson Miller, running back LJ Scott, and safety Khari Willis . . . It marked the first appearance of the season for Willis.
Riley Bullough NAMED FOURTH GAME CAPTAIN AGAINST PURDUE â€"
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has named junior linebacker Riley Bullough the fourth game captain for the Purdue game. Bullough leads the team and is tied for first in the Big Ten with 46 tackles this season.
ROBERT VINEY NAMED HONORARY CAPTAIN AGAINST PURDUE â€"
Former Michigan State defensive end Robert Viney has been selected honorary captain for Saturday's game against Purdue. He will address the team during the pre-game meal and join the 2015 captains at midfield for the coin toss.
Viney was a three-year letterwinner under Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty from 1963-65 and helped lead the Spartans to the Big Ten and National Chamionship in 1965. The Pittsburgh native earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors his senior year as the Spartans ranked No. 1 in the nation in rushing defense, allowing a school-record low 47.3 yards per game. Viney was the first-ever recipient of the Biggie Munn Award in 1965, which is given annually to the team's most inspirational player.
DANTONIO RANKS SECOND IN WINS AT MICHIGAN STATE â€"
• Ninth-year Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio owns a 79-31 (.718) record as head coach of the Spartans. His .718 winning percentage currently ranks third best at MSU. He won his 71st game at MSU on Oct. 25, 2014, against Michigan to move into second place all-time in victories in school history (record: Duffy Daugherty, 109).
• Prior to Dantonio's head coaching tenure that began in 2007, the Spartans had never recorded an 11-win season. Under Dantonio, MSU has won 11 games four times in the past five seasons. Dantonio is one of just four coaches in Big Ten history to win 11 games four times (Fielding Yost, Michigan; Joe Paterno, Penn State; Jim Tressel, Ohio State). He's also just the third to do so in a five-year span (Yost, Michigan, 1901-05; Tressel, Ohio State, 2006-10*). *wins vacated in 2010
• Dantonio is one of just four Spartan head coaches to coach in at least 100 games at MSU (Duffy Daugherty: 183; George Perles: 139; Charlie Bachman: 114; Dantonio: 110).
• Dantonio is the third-longest tenured coach in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: 17th season; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, 10th season) and the 16th longest in the FBS.
• Dantonio's eight-game bowl streak at Michigan State is tied for the seventh longest by an active head coach at the same school and is the longest in the Big Ten.
• Dantonio's .703 winning percentage (45-19) in Big Ten games ranks first at MSU (minimum 10 Big Ten games).
• Along with Dantonio, four Spartan assistant coaches - Harlon Barnett, Mark Staten, Mike Tressel and Dave Warner - have also coached in more than 100 games at MSU.
POLL SPEAK â€"
• Michigan State remained at No. 2 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and also moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 in the Amway Coaches Poll. The No. 2 AP ranking is the highest for the program since finishing the 1966 season at No. 2. MSU also received five first-place votes in the AP Poll.
• MSU has been ranked in the AP Poll for 30 consecutive weeks, dating back to Oct. 27, 2013 (school record: 34 weeks from Sept. 19, 2010 to Sept. 23, 2012). For 22 of those 30 weeks, MSU has been ranked in the Top 10.
• Michigan State is 44-11 (.800) as a ranked team in the AP Poll under Mark Dantonio.
• As a ranked team, Michigan State has only lost to an unranked opponent once under Dantonio (32-1; at Notre Dame, 2011).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS â€"
• Michigan State has won 17 of its last 18 games against Big Ten opponents, including 16 wins by double-figures (only win not by double-figures: 27-22 victory over No. 19 Nebraska on Oct. 4, 2014).
• Under Dantonio, Michigan State has compiled a 63-8 record (.887) when leading after three quarters, including a perfect 10-0 in 2014.
• Under Dantonio, Michigan State is 64-11 (.853) when outrushing its opponent, including a 48-4 record (.923) since 2010. The Spartans are 29-3 (.906) in games when gaining 200 or more rushing yards under Dantonio.
• Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Michigan State is 18-7 (.720) in games decided by 10 points or less, including all four bowl victories. The losses have come against Wisconsin in the 2011 Big Ten Championship Game (42-39), Ohio State (17-16), Iowa (19-16 in 2OT), Michigan (12-10), Nebraska (28-24) and Northwestern (23-20) in 2012, and Notre Dame (17-13) in 2013.
QUICK STRIKE SPARTANS â€"
• Michigan State's offense has scored a touchdown on its first possession three consecutive games.
• Last season, MSU scored TDs on its first possession in eight of its 13 games (.615).
Connor Cook RANKS FIRST AMONG NCAA FBS ACTIVE QUARTERBACKS IN WINS â€"
Fifth-year senior Connor Cook, a back-to-back second-team All-Big Ten selection, returns for his third season as the starting quarterback in 2015. He owns a 27-3 record (.900) as the starter, including a 16-1 (.941) mark against Big Ten opponents. The 27 wins are tied for the most of any active starting quarterback in the NCAA FBS, along with Stanford's Kevin Hogan, while Cook's .900 winning percentage ranks No. 1.
Cook and Dan Enos are the only two Spartan quarterbacks to win two bowl games as the starting quarterback (Cook: 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton; Enos: 1989 Aloha, 1990 Sun). Cook also led the Spartans on a game-winning drive in the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl against TCU. Cook has led the Spartans to three straight fourth-quarter comebacks in bowl games.
In leading MSU to back-to-back bowl wins over No. 5 Stanford and No. 4 Baylor (Associated Press final regular-season ranking), Cook hit 46-of-78 throws (.590) for 646 yards (323.0 yards per game), four TDs and three interceptions. In three postseason bowl appearances (add 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings vs. TCU), he owns MSU career records for passing yards (693) and TD passes (5).
Cook finished the 2014 season ranked among MSU's single-season leaders in TD passes (second with 24), passing yards (third with 3,214 yards), 200-yard passing games (tied for third with 10), passing efficiency (fifth with 149.4 rating), pass attempts (sixth with 365) and pass completions (ninth with 212).
In addition, Cook led the Big Ten in passing (247.2 ypg.) and ranked second in the NCAA FBS in passing yards per completion (15.2). He ranked second in the Big Ten and 19th in the FBS in passing efficiency (149.4 rating), and also ranked among the Big Ten leaders in passing yards (3,214), touchdown passes (second with 24), total offense (third with 253.4 ypg.) and completion percentage (sixth at .581).
Cook tied a school record, shared by Kirk Cousins and Drew Stanton, by throwing for a TD pass in 16 straight games (streak snapped at Maryland Nov. 15). Cook threw for at least 200 yards in seven of eight Big Ten games, and led the league in passing in conference games (257.9 ypg.).
The Hinckley, Ohio, native is ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in passing efficiency (third with 142.7 rating), 300-yard passing games (third with six), 200-yard passing games (third with 20), touchdown passes (third with 56), passing yards (third with 6,901), total offense (fourth with 7,070 yards), pass attempts (fourth with 867), pass completions (fourth with 505), and pass completion percentage (ninth at .582).
Cook will also have an opportunity on Saturday against Purdue to become the winningest quarterback in school history (currently tied with Kirk Cousins, who had 27 wins from 2009-11).
RED ZONE STOPS â€"
• Michigan State ranks third in the Big Ten in red-zone defense, as opponents are scoring at a .692 clip (9-of-13) when inside the Spartan 20.
• The Spartans have already posted two stops on fourth-and-goal: against Oregon in the second quarter and against Air Force in the fourth quarter. In Mark Dantonio's previous eight seasons, the Spartans posted four stops on fourth-and-goal (2014 vs. Jacksonville State, third quarter; 2013 vs. Illinois, second quarter; 2008 vs. Eastern Michigan, third quarter; 2008 vs. Florida Atlantic, first quarter).
• In addition to the two fourth-and-goal stops, MSU has forced two turnovers in the red zone (interception vs. Western Michigan, fourth quarter; interception vs. Air Force, fourth quarter).
