Michigan State University Athletics
No. 4 Spartans Hit the Road to Face Rutgers
10/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
| Game 6: No. 4/3 Michigan State (5-0, 1-0 B1G) at Rutgers (2-2, 0-1 B1G) | |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Oct. 10 | 8:12 p.m. |
| Location | Piscataway, N.J. High Point Solutions Stadium (52,454/FieldTurf) |
| Televison | BTN |
| Broadcast Team | Cory Provus (play-by-play) Chuck Long (analyst) | J Lehman (sidelines) |
| Internet Coverage | BTN2Go | |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) | Affiliates |
| Radio (Mobile) | Broadcast available on Spartan Sports Network Mobile App: iPhone/iPad | Android |
| Parking/Tailgating/Stadium Information | High Point Solutions Stadium/Rutgers Gameday Information |
| Tickets | Limited number available at scarletknights.com |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Rutgers |
| Statistics | Michigan State | Rutgers |
| Series Information | Tied, 3-3 | Last meeting: MSU 45, Rutgers 3 (Nov. 22, 2014) |
| Social Media | @MSU_Football  | #MSURUT | Facebook  |
FIRST-AND-10 â€"
• Michigan State will play its first road game since beginning the season at Western Michigan when it travels to Piscataway, New Jersey, to face Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. in High Point Solutions Stadium. The game will be televised on BTN. The No. 4/3 Spartans improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2010 with their 24-21 victory over Purdue in the Big Ten opener last Saturday in Spartan Stadium. Rutgers (2-2, 0-1) is coming off a bye week; the Scarlet Knights defeated Kansas, 27-14, in their last game on Sept. 26.
• Saturday's game marks the seventh meeting between Michigan State and Rutgers. The series is tied 3-3 overall. The Spartans defeated the Scarlet Knights in their first matchup as Big Ten opponents last season in Spartan Stadium, 45-3. The series is also tied at one game apiece in games played in New Jersey. MSU won the first meeting, 34-10, in 1990 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, while Rutgers won the 2004 season opener, 19-14, in Piscataway. MSU head coach Mark Dantonio went 1-1 against Rutgers during his three seasons at Cincinnati (2004-06), including a 30-11 upset win over the seventh-ranked Scarlet Knights in 2006.
• Michigan State enters Saturday's contest with a nine-game winning streak, which is the second longest under head coach Mark Dantonio (11 straight in 2013-14). The nine-game run is also the fourth-longest active streak in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (Ohio State: 18; TCU: 13; Memphis: 12).
• Michigan State is 23-9 (.719) in Big Ten road games under MSU head coach Mark Dantonio, including a school-record 10-game winning streak and a 17-3 record (.850) since 2010. Dantonio has won at least one road game at every Big Ten stadium (excluding Rutgers, who joined the Big Ten in 2014 and where MSU has yet to play a conference game). Michigan State's 10-game road Big Ten winning streak, dating back to 2012, is the longest in school history, besting the previous record of eight straight set in 1965-67 and 1988-90. It's also the third-longest active conference road winning streak in the FBS (Ohio State: 13; Florida State: 13).
• Fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook earned his 28th career win with the victory over Purdue, making him the winningest starting quarterback in school history. He passed Spartan signal-caller Kirk Cousins' school-record mark of 27 career victories for MSU. Cook owns a 28-3 record (.903) as the starter, including a 17-1 (.944) mark against Big Ten opponents. The 28 wins are tied for the most of any active starting quarterback in the NCAA FBS, along with Stanford's Kevin Hogan, while Cook's .903 winning percentage ranks No. 1.
• Michigan State has won 18 of its last 19 games against Big Ten opponents, including 16 wins by double-figures (only wins not in double-figures: 27-22 victory over No. 19 Nebraska on Oct. 4, 2014; 24-21 win over Purdue on Oct. 3, 2015).
• Although Michigan State had its school-record 12-game 30-point scoring streak snapped against Purdue, the Spartans still have scored at least 24 points in 20 consecutive games, which is tied for the longest active streak in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, along with Baylor. Before scoring 24 points against the Boilermakers, MSU had scored 30-plus points in 12 consecutive games, which also was the longest active streak in the NCAA FBS. The Spartans have scored 30-plus points in 15 of their past 18 games. 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.
• 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 1.80 per game, which is tied for fifth best in the nation and also tied for first in the Big Ten. The Spartans have forced 11 takeaways and have turned the ball over just twice this season (+9). In addition, MSU has scored 41 points off of its opponents' turnovers, while the opposition has yet to score on a Spartan miscue.
• Michigan State is ranked No. 4 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 3 in the Amway Coaches Poll. The Spartans were ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll the previous two weeks, the highest for the program since finishing the 1966 season at No. 2. MSU has been ranked in the AP Poll for 31 consecutive weeks, dating back to Oct. 27, 2013 (school record: 34 weeks from Sept. 19, 2010 to Sept. 23, 2012). For 23 of those 31 weeks, MSU has been ranked in the Top 10. MSU was ranked No. 5 in the Preseason AP Poll. Michigan State is 45-11 (.804) 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 (33-1; at Notre Dame, 2011).
• MSU's 58 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 58 of its last 72 games (.806), dating back to the beginning of the 2010 season. In addition, the Spartans have won 31 of their last 34 games (.912), dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale. MSU has won 29 games since the beginning of 2013 (29-3 record), third most in the FBS during that period.
STAT LEADERS â€"
Michigan State (after five games):
Rushing â€" LJ Scott (61 carries for 376 yards, 6.2 avg., 4 TDs)
Passing â€" Connor Cook (74 of 124 for 977 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving â€" Aaron Burbridge (25 catches for 414 yards, 16.6 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles â€" Riley Bullough (51 tackles, 22 solos, 29 assists, 3.5 TFL, 3 sacks)
Rutgers (after four games):
Rushing â€" Josh Hicks (62 carries for 371 yards, 6.0 avg., 4 TDs)
Passing â€" Chris Laviano (72 of 100 for 794 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs)
Receiving â€" Janarion Grant (12 catches for 126 yards, 10.5 avg., 0 TDs)
Tackles â€" Steve Longa (39 tackles, 28 solos, 11 assists)
MSU/RUTGERS NOTES â€"
• Saturday's game marks the seventh meeting between Michigan State and Rutgers. The series is tied 3-3 overall.
• The Spartans defeated the Scarlet Knights in their first matchup as Big Ten opponents last season in Spartan Stadium, 45-3.
• The series is also tied at one game apiece in games played in New Jersey. MSU won the first meeting, 34-10, in 1990 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, while Rutgers won the 2004 season opener, 19-14, in Piscataway.
• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio went 1-1 against Rutgers during his three seasons at Cincinnati (2004-06), including a 30-11 upset win over the seventh-ranked Scarlet Knights in 2006.
A QUICK GLANCE AT RUTGERS (2-2, 0-1 BIG TEN) â€"
• Rutgers is off to a 2-2 start, with wins over Norfolk State and Kansas, and losses to Washington State and Penn State. The Scarlet Knights are coming off of a bye week after defeating the Jayhawks in Piscataway on Sept. 26, 27-14.
• Rutgers features the No. 4 scoring offense in the Big Ten with 31.8 points per game. RU also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in rushing offense (fourth with 211.0 ypg.), total offense (fourth with 437.0 ypg.) and passing offense (fifth with 226.0 ypg.).
• Sophomore running back Josh Hicks leads the team and ranks fifth in the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 92.8 yards per game.
• Sophomore quarterback Chris Laviano has completed 72 percent of his passes (72-of-100) for 794 yards and six touchdowns, but has thrown five interceptions. He ranks second in the conference in passing efficiency with a 148.5 rating.
• Junior Janarion Grant was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 14 after collecting a school record 337 all-purpose yards, including two special teams touchdowns vs. Washington State. He returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score and had a 55-yard punt return touchdown. Grant became the first Rutgers player in the modern era to return both a kickoff and punt for a touchdown in the same game. Grant ranks third in the NCAA FBS in combined kick returns with 436 yards.
• Junior linebacker Steve Longa leads the team and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 39 tackles (9.8 avg.).
SPARTANS FROM THE GARDEN STATE â€"
• Michigan State has two players on its 2015 roster from New Jersey: fifth-year defensive end Shilique Calhoun (Middletown/Middletown North High School) and red-shirt reshman defensive tackle Gerald Owens (Thorofare/West Deptford High School).
MSU/RUTGERS COACHING CONNECTIONS â€"
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio and Rutgers offensive line coach Mitch Browning coached together on the same staff at Kansas for four seasons (1991-95) under Glen Mason. Dantonio was the secondary coach, while Browning coached the offensive line.
• Browning also has coached with Michigan State co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach Dave Warner. Browning and Warner coached together on the offensive staff at Kent State for four seasons (1984-87). Warner worked with the running backs (1984-85) and quarterbacks (1986-87), while Browning worked with the quarterbacks and wide receivers in 1984 and was the offensive coordinator from 1985-87. The two then worked together at Kansas for nine seasons (1988-96) under Glen Mason.
• Michigan State Director of Football Operations Tim Allen and Browing worked together at Minnesota for 10 seasons (1997-2006) under Glen Mason. Allen was the Director of Football Operations at Minnesota while Browning worked with the tight ends and was the offensive coordinator from 2000-06.
• Michigan State co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach Dave Warner and Rutgers assistant head coach/running backs coach Norries Wilson spent two seasons on the same staff at Connecticut (1999-2000). Warner was the offensive coordinator for those two seasons, while Norries was the offensive line coach.
THE LAST MEETING â€"
Nov. 22, 2014, in East Lansing, Mich.: No. 11 Michigan State finished its home season with a convincing 45-3 win over Rutgers as 18 Spartans played their final home game in Spartan Stadium on Senior Day. A week after setting the school record for most points and touchdowns in a season, Michigan State set the single-season record for total offense with 520 yards against Rutgers.
The Spartans were in complete control the entire game, building a 35-0 halftime lead before surrendering a field goal in the third quarter. MSU tacked on 10 more points in the fourth quarter, including a 16-yard TD run by Nick Hill â€" his second of the day â€" to finish off the Scarlet Knights, 45-3.
Tony Lippett and Jeremy Langford had big Senior Days for the Spartans in their final home appearance. Lippett opened the game's scoring with a 30-yard TD catch from Connor Cook in the first quarter. Langford followed suit later in the first with an 18-yard touchdown run and then scored his second TD of the game with a 38-yard burst down the sideline early in the second. He closed with 126 rushing yards on 16 carries.
R.J. Shelton's 7-yard TD reception from Cook made it 35-0 just before halftime. Cook was 16-of-24 passing for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
Michigan State's defense forced three turnovers and held the Scarlet Knights to just 234 yards of total offense, including 95 on the ground.
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 1.80 per game, which is tied for fifth best in the nation and also tied for first in the Big Ten. The Spartans have forced 11 takeaways and have turned the ball over just twice this season (+9). In addition, MSU has scored 41 points off of its opponents' turnovers, while the opposition has yet to score on a Spartan miscue.
GAME CONTROL â€"
• Out of 300 minutes played this season in five games, Michigan State has only trailed for one minute and eight seconds. The Spartans gave up an early first quarter touchdown to Oregon, but scored three plays and 1:08 later to tie the game at 7. In addition, the Spartans have led for nearly 282 of those 300 minutes (tied with Western Michigan for 3:49; tied with Oregon for 14:17).
ROAD WARRIORS â€"
• Michigan State is 23-9 (.719) in Big Ten road games under MSU head coach Mark Dantonio, including a school-record 10-game winning streak and a 17-3 record (.850) since 2010. Dantonio has won at least one road game at every Big Ten stadium (excluding Rutgers, who joined the Big Ten in 2014 and where MSU has yet to play a conference game).
• Michigan State's 10-game road Big Ten winning streak, dating back to 2012, is the longest in school history, besting the previous record of eight straight set in 1965-67 and 1988-90. It's also the third-longest active conference road winning streak in the FBS. MSU's last road conference loss was at Michigan on Oct. 20, 2012.
• The Spartans have won nine consecutive road games in November and 10 of 11 November road games under Dantonio (only November road loss: Nov. 22, 2008 at No. 7 Penn State).
• Michigan State is 9-2 in true road games since 2013, with the only losses arriving at Notre Dame (2013) and No. 3 Oregon (2014). MSU's .818 winning percentage on the road since 2013 is tied for seventh best in the FBS. In addition, MSU is 19-6 (.760) in true road games since 2010, good for the seventh-best winning percentage in the FBS.
LJ Scott NAMED BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2015 â€"
Running back LJ Scott was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after recording career highs for carries (18), rushing yards (146) and rushing touchdowns (2) in No. 2 Michigan State's 24-21 victory over Purdue in the Big Ten opener. It marked Scott's first career 100-yard rushing game (previous high: 77 yards on 13 rushes in 2015 season opener at Western Michigan).
He also posted his second career multi-TD game (also scored two rushing TDs against Oregon in Week 2). Scott scored on TD runs of 18 and 1 yard in the first quarter against Purdue. His 30-yard run in the fourth quarter helped set up Michael Geiger's 30-yard field goal.
Scott's 146 rushing yards were the most by a Spartan freshman since Javon Ringer had 194 at Illinois on Sept. 24, 2005.
This marks the second time Scott has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. He also earned the honor after collecting 76 rushing yards on 11 carries in the victory over then-No. 7 Oregon, including touchdown runs of 6 and 38 yards.
Scott leads the Spartans in rushing with 376 yards on 61 carries (6.2 avg.) through five games, and his four rushing TDs also rank first on the team.
It also marks the fifth time a Spartan has been 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; Shilique Calhoun, defense, Week 4 vs. Central Michigan).
Aaron Burbridge ADDED TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST â€"
Michigan State senior wide receiver Aaron Burbridge, who leads the Spartans in receptions (25), receiving yards (414) 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 (third with 82.8 ypg.) and receptions (fifth with 5.0 per game). Those figures also rank among the best in the NCAA FBS (tied for 18th in TD receptions; 25th in receiving yards; 37th 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). Only four other players in the NCAA FBS this season have at least 150 yards receiving and three TDs in the same game.
RECORD WATCH â€"
• Fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook is three touchdown passes away from becoming the third Spartan quarterback to record 60 career touchdown passes. He is currently third all-time in the school record book with 57 TD 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. The 12 wins over AP Top 25 teams since 2010 is tied for ninth most in the NCAA FBS.
• 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):
SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF â€"
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has produced a 48-12 record (.800) 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 currently has a five-game winning streak in Spartan Stadium.
• MSU is 33-6 (.846) at home since 2010 and 17-1 (.944) since 2013. The .944 winning percentage at home since 2013 is tied for fourth best in the FBS (Baylor, Boise State, Florida State all at 1.000).
• 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: PURDUE (MSU 24, PURDUE 21) â€"
• The Spartans are 5-0 for the first time since 2010 and second time under head coach Mark Dantonio . . . It is also the 12th time in school history that MSU has started a season 5-0 . . . Dantonio becomes the fifth Spartan head coach to start 5-0 in a season at least two times doing so in 2010 and ‘15, joining Nick Saban (1997, ‘99), Biggie Munn (1951, ‘52) and Charlie Bachman (1934, ‘44) with two, while Duffy Daugherty had three (1961, ‘65, ‘66) 5-0 starts.
• Senior Connor Cook earned his 28th career win, making him the winningest starting quarterback in school history . . . He passed Spartan signal-caller Kirk Cousins' school-record mark of 27 career victories for MSU . . . Cook owns a 28-3 (.903) as the Spartans' starting quarterback..
• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio won his 80th game as head coach of the Spartans . . . Dantonio is already MSU's second winningest coach in school history (Duffy Daugherty: 110) . . . Dantonio is 80-31 (.721) in his ninth season as MSU's head coach . . . He is one of 15 active coaches in the FBS to have at least 80 wins at the same school.
• Cook accounted for 187 total yards against Purdue . . . He completed 13-of-19 throws for 139 yards, including a 23-yard TD toss to R.J. Shelton in the second quarter . . . Cook connected on eight consecutive throws during one stretch in the first half . . . He also completed throws to eight different receivers . . . Cook rushed five times for a career-high 48 yards (previous high: 35 yards on four carries vs. Western Michigan in 2013 season opener) . . . He had a career-long 22-yard run in the third quarter.
• Cook amassed a total of 187 yards of total offense against the Boilermakers (139 passing, 48 rushing), giving him 7,257 career total offense yards.
• With 139 yards passing vs. Purdue, Cook has 7,040 career passing yards, becoming the third Spartan QB to eclipse the 7,000-yard career milestone.
• Cook's 13 pass completions vs. Purdue gave him 518 for his career, becoming the fifth MSU QB with 500 career completions.
• Michigan State is 66-31-3 (.675) in 100 Homecoming games, including an 8-1 record under Mark Dantonio. MSU is 3-1 against Purdue on Homecoming (lost in 1954, won in 1966, 1974 and 2015).
• Saturday's game marked the 67th meeting between Michigan State and Purdue . . . The Spartans lead the all-time series 35-28-3, including a 21-12 record in games played in East Lansing. Michigan State has won seven straight in the series - the longest winning streak against the Boilermakers in school history . . . Mark Dantonio is 7-0 against Purdue (4-0 in East Lansing, 3-0 in West Lafayette)
• The Spartans amassed a season-high 267 rushing yards against Purdue . . . MSU improved to 30-3 (.909) under Dantonio when gaining 200-plus rushing yards . . . the Spartans have produced a 100-yard rusher in 17 consecutive games against Big Ten opponents (last game without a 100-yard rusher: at Iowa, Oct. 5, 2013).
• Junior Monty Madaris made his season debut for the Spartans and finished up with two catches for 47 yards . . . His career-long 34-yard reception from Connor Cook set up LJ Scott's second rushing TD in the first quarter.
• The MSU defense recorded a takeaway for the fifth consecutive game while the Spartan offense didn't turn the ball over for the third game in a row.
• The Spartan defense had three takeaways in the game, marking their fourth multi-takeaway game this season . . . MSU also had multiple takeaways against Western Michigan (two interceptions) Oregon (two interceptions) and Air Force (two fumbles, one interception) . . . Michigan State has a total of 11 takeaways with an even split of five fumbles and six interceptions . . . MSU is outscoring its opponents on points off turnovers, 41-0 . . . MSU is 51-10 when forcing at least two turnovers in a game under Dantonio.
• Senior Darien Harris led the MSU defense with eight tackles . . . It was Harris' fourth game with eight or more stops, behind his season-high 12 vs. Oregon, eight at Western Michigan and eight vs. Central Michigan .
• Sophomore Malik McDowell tied a career high with six tackles against Purdue, matching his six stops against Air Force . . . McDowell also recorded a career-best two tackles for loss against the Boilermakers, including a 6-yard sack.
• Fifth-year senior Arjen Colquhoun contributed five tackles against Purdue, including a career 1.5 for losses . . . Colquhoun recorded his first career sack (11 yards) in the third quarter . . . His two pass break-ups also matched his career high (vs. Jacksonville State, 2014); his pass break-up on fourth-and-9 with 58 seconds remaining in the game sealed the victory for the Spartans . . . Colquhoun has produced 20 tackles this season, surpassing his three-year total heading into 2015.
• Fifth-year senior Jack Allen started the 40th game of his career (35 at center and five at left guard) at center against Purdue but played the majority of the game at left tackle following the season-ending leg injury to Dennis Finley (second quarter).
Donavon Clark NAMED FOURTH GAME CAPTAIN AGAINST RUTGERS â€"
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has named fifth-year offensive lineman Donavon Clark the fourth game captain for the Rutgers game. Clark has seen action in 38 career games, including 24 starts (10 at right guard, eight at right tackle, six at left tackle).
DANTONIO RANKS SECOND IN WINS AT MICHIGAN STATE â€"
• Ninth-year Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio owns an 80-31 (.721) record as head coach of the Spartans. His .721 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). Dantonio is one of 15 active coaches in the FBS to have at least 80 victories at the same school.
• 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: 111).
• 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 .708 winning percentage (46-19) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games).
SPARTANS MAINTAIN SUCCESS IN BIG TEN PLAY â€"
• Michigan State has won 18 of its last 19 games against Big Ten opponents, including 16 wins by double-figures (only wins not in double-figures: 27-22 victory over No. 19 Nebraska on Oct. 4, 2014; 24-21 win over Purdue on Oct. 3, 2016).
• Michigan State's 13-game Big Ten winning streak from Nov. 24, 2012 to Oct. 25, 2014 was the second-longest Big Ten winning streak in school history (16 straight from Oct. 2, 1965 to Oct. 21, 1967). In addition, MSU had won 14 consecutive games against Big Ten opponents (2013 Big Ten Championship Game vs. No. 2 Ohio State).
• Mark Dantonio's .708 winning percentage (46-19) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games).
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES â€"
• Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Michigan State is 19-7 (.731) 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.
• Michigan State has won five consecutive games decided by a touchdown or less (24-21 vs. Purdue, 31-28 vs. Oregon in 2015; 42-41 vs. Baylor, 27-22 vs. Nebraska in 2014; 24-20 vs. Stanford in 2013). The last loss in a game decided by a touchdown or less for MSU came at Notre Dame in 2013 (17-13).
MSU'S 24-POINT SCORING STREAK LONGEST IN NCAA FBS â€"
• Although Michigan State had its school-record 12-game 30-point scoring streak snapped against Purdue, the Spartans still have scored at least 24 points in 20 consecutive games, which is tied for the longest active streak in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, along with Baylor.
• Before scoring 24 points against the Boilermakers, MSU had scored 30-plus points in 12 consecutive games, which also was the longest active streak in the NCAA FBS. The Spartans have scored 30-plus points in 15 of their past 18 games.
• 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.
SHUFFLING ALONG THE OFFENSIVE LINE â€"
• Michigan State, which has one of the deepest and most talented offensive lines in the nation, has already featured three different starting lineups in the first five games of the season due to injuries up front. The Spartans have been forced to display their versatility and use their depth at all five positions.
• Starting junior right tackle Kodi Kieler has been missing since injuring his knee vs. Oregon in Week 2, moving fifth-year senior Donavon Clark from right guard to right tackle and pushing junior Benny McGowan into the starting rotation at right guard.
• Starting junior left tackle Jack Conklin was forced to exit the Central Michigan game in Week 4 late in the second quarter with a leg injury, which moved sophomore Dennis Finley to the starting role at left tackle; however, Finley broke his leg in the second quarter vs. Purdue in Week 5, setting forth another set of changes, including fifth-year senior All-America center Jack Allen to left tackle in the second half against the Boilermakers.
• Junior Miguel Machado (right tackle) and fifth-year senior Brandon Clemons (guard) have also seen action in the playing rotation.
• Amid all of the lineup changes, MSU has still only allowed three sacks all season - tied for fewest in the Big Ten and eighth fewest in the NCAA FBS. Last season, the offensive line allowed just 11 sacks, the least in the Big Ten and tied for third fewest in the NCAA FBS. Since 2013, Michigan State has allowed just 31 sacks, least in the Big Ten and fifth fewest in the NCAA FBS.
RUNNING GAME KEY FOR SPARTANS UNDER DANTONIO â€"
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 65-11 (.855) when outrushing its opponent, including a 49-4 record (.925) since 2010. MSU has outrushed its opponent in four of the first five games this season (only game outrushed: Air Force). Conversely, MSU is 15-20 under Dantonio when being outgained on the ground by its opponent.
• The Spartans are 30-3 (.909) in games when gaining 200 or more rushing yards under Dantonio.
100-YARD RUSHING STREAK IN BIG TEN GAMES â€"
• Michigan State has had a 100-yard rusher in 17 consecutive games against Big Ten opponents. Jeremy Langford rushed for more than 100 yards in a school-record 16 straight games against Big Ten opponents from 2013-14, and LJ Scott collected 146 yards for MSU in the Big Ten opener last week.
SPARTANS LOOK TO CONTROL TIME OF POSSESSION â€"
• Since the beginning of the 2013 season, Michigan State ranks No. 1 in the FBS in time of possession (33:57). The Spartans ranked No. 1 in the FBS in time of possession last season (35:21) and tied for sixth in 2013 (33:19). This season, MSU ranks 30th in the FBS in time of possession (32:05).
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, is the winningest quarterback in Michigan State history. He owns a 28-3 record (.903) in his third year as the starter, including a 17-1 (.944) mark against Big Ten opponents. The 28 wins are tied for the most of any active starting quarterback in the NCAA FBS, along with Stanford's Kevin Hogan, while Cook's .903 winning percentage ranks No. 1.
Cook leads the Big Ten in passing efficiency with a 150.9 rating and also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in passing TDs (second with 10), total offense (sixth with 208.2 ypg.) and passing (seventh with 195.4 ypg.).
Cook earned his 28th career win in the victory over Purdue on Oct. 3, making him the winningest starting quarterback in school history. He passed Spartan signal-caller Kirk Cousins' school-record mark of 27 career victories for MSU (27-12 record from 2009-11).
Cook accounted for 187 total yards against Purdue. He completed 13-of-19 throws for 139 yards, including a 23-yard TD toss to R.J. Shelton in the second quarter, and connected on eight consecutive throws during one stretch in the first half. He also completed throws to eight different receivers. In addition, Cook rushed five times for a career-high 48 yards (previous high: 35 yards on four carries vs. Western Michigan in 2013 season opener), including a career-long 22-yard run in the third quarter.
In MSU's 35-21 victory over Air Force on Sept. 19, Cook matched his career high with four touchdown passes and was 15-of-23 passing for 247 yards. He connected three times for scores with Aaron Burbridge, who tied MSU's single-game touchdown reception record against the Falcons and was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Cook completed 20-of-32 throws for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-28 win over then-No. 7 Oregon on Sept. 12 in Spartan Stadium. Cook improved his record to 4-1 as the starting quarterback at MSU against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 10, which ranks tied for second most in school history (Steve Juday: six wins from 1963-65; Bill Burke: four wins from 1998-99).
In the season opener at Western Michigan, Cook threw for a season-high 256 yards and two touchdowns while completing 15-of-31 passes.
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).
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 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.
The Hinckley, Ohio, native is ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in passing efficiency (third with 142.8 rating), 300-yard passing games (third with six), 200-yard passing games (third with 20), touchdown passes (third with 57), passing yards (third with 7,070), total offense (fourth with 7,257 yards), pass attempts (fourth with 886), pass completions (fourth with 518), and pass completion percentage (ninth at .585). In addition, Cook's touchdown-to-interception ratio (57/16) of 3.56 is sixth best among NCAA FBS active quarterbacks.
PRICE IS RIGHT IN THE END ZONE â€"
Junior tight end Josiah Price has the most career touchdown receptions (14) of any tight end in Michigan State history. He set the record with his 14th career TD catch against Central Michigan on Sept. 26. Price also ranks tied for 10th among all Spartans with his 14 career touchdown grabs. In addition, Price's 14 TDs are the most by an active tight end in the NCAA FBS.
Price has caught a touchdown pass in the last five games he's played in, dating back to the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic against Baylor. He has four TDs this season (did not play in Week 5 vs. Purdue due to ankle injury). Price has seven receptions for 92 yards (13.1 avg.) this season - and all of them have resulted in either a touchdown or first down.
TWO SPARTAN STARTERS OUT FOR SEASON ON DEFENSE; STARTING SAFETY RJ Williamson OUT INDEFINITELY â€"
Michigan State's defense has unfortunately suffered a rash of injuries this season.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Ed Davis suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through the first preseason practice in full pads on Aug. 12. A preseason All-Big Ten selection, Davis led the team with 200 production points during the 2014 regular season and ranked fourth on the team with a career-high 58 tackles. He also finished third on the team in tackles for loss (12 for 48 yards) and sacks (seven for 33 yards).
In the second game of the season against Oregon, red-shirt freshman cornerback Vayante Copeland suffered a season-ending neck injury in the second half against the Ducks. Copeland started the first two games at cornerback and collected seven tackles, including two for losses. He recorded an interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter at Western Michigan with under two minutes remaining to ice the game against the Broncos.
In Week 5 against Purdue, fifth-year senior and two-year starting safety RJ Williamson injured his arm and was forced to undergo surgery on a torn bicep; he is out indefinitely, with a possible return slated for late in the regular season or for postseason play. The 6-foot, 216-pound Williamson is MSU's active career leader in tackles (154) and interceptions (8). He has played in 43 career games, including 17 starts.
Williamson was selected by the Football Writers Association of America as the AutoNation National Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 21 for his role in the win over Air Force. He recorded five tackles, returned a fumble 64 yards for a touchdown and intercepted a pass in the red zone against the Falcons. He also recovered an on-side kick attempt with 2:10 left in the game to help preserve MSU's two touchdown lead. His 64-yard fumble return for a score gave the Spartans a 14-0 lead with 6:31 remaining in the first quarter. On a third-and-goal play midway through the fourth quarter, he intercepted Karson Roberts' pass attempt at the MSU 8-yard line.
Williamson has scored three defensive touchdowns in his career, which is tied for the most by any player in school history (Shilique Calhoun, T.J. Turner). In addition to the fumble return for a score against Air Force, he returned interceptions for touchdowns against Michigan and Maryland in 2014.
Shilique Calhoun AMONG THE ELITE SPARTAN DEFENSIVE ENDS IN SPARTAN HISTORY â€"
Fifth-year senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and two-time second-team All-American who led the 2014 Spartans in tackles for loss (12.5 for 109 yards) and sacks (8 for 91), is back for his fifth year in East Lansing in 2015. Calhoun is one of 13 defensive players on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List and is featured on preseason watch lists for the Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), Lombardi Award (lineman of the year), Nagurski Trophy (nation's most outstanding defensive player) and Lott IMPACT Trophy. He also was a preseason All-America selection by Athlon Sports (first team), Lindy's (first team), CBSSports.com (second team), Phil Steele (second team), SI.com (second team) and Sporting News (second team).
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Calhoun earned All-America honors in 2014 from the Football Writers Association of American (second team), Walter Camp Football Foundation (second team), Phil Steele (second team), Athlon Sports (fourth team) and SI.com (honorable mention).
With his second straight selection to the All-Big Ten First Team, Calhoun entered elite company in Michigan State history, joining College Football Hall of Famer Charles "Bubba" Smith (1965-66) and Sam Williams (1957-58) as the only other Spartan defensive ends to earn back-to-back first-team All-Big Ten honors. He also was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2013.
This season, Calhoun leads the team in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (5.5), and ranks first among Spartan defensive linemen with 20 tackles overall.
He 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. 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 ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss yardage (third with 221), sack yardage (fourth with 171), sacks (sixth with 21), tackles for loss (ninth with 34.5), and fumble recoveries (tied for 10th with five). In 44 career games, including 31 consecutive starts, he has 102 tackles with 34.5 resulting in losses (34 percent). His 21 sacks rank fourth most among active players in the NCAA FBS.
Riley Bullough LEADS TEAM, RANKS THIRD IN BIG TEN IN TACKLES â€"
Junior linebacker Riley Bullough, who is in his first year as the starting middle linebacker, leads the team and ranks third in the Big Ten and 16th in the NCAA FBS in tackles (51; 10.2 avg.). Bullough also leads the team in production points (108) and fumble recoveries (2), and ranks second in sacks (3) and tackles for loss (3.5). He was added to the Lott IMPACT Trophy List following Week 4.
Bullough was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording 14 tackles and a pass break-up in the win over No. 7 Oregon on Sept. 12 in Spartan Stadium. He also was credited with a quarterback hurry on Oregon's fourth-and-16 play from the MSU 43-yard line with just over a minute left in the game, forcing Vernon Adams to come up short on his pass attempt intended for Bralon Addison. The Spartans limited Oregon to 123 rushing yards (43 attempts) -- the lowest single-game total by the Ducks since they were held to 64 vs. Stanford on Nov. 7, 2013.
The next week against Air Force, Bullough collected a career-high 16 stops against the Falcons.
In the season opener at Western Michigan, Bullough became the first player since Denicos Allen in 2011 to record three sacks in a single game.
