Michigan State University Athletics
No. 18 Spartans Face Indiana on Homecoming
10/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
| Game 7: No. 18/19 Michigan State (5-1, 3-0 B1G) vs. Indiana (3-3, 0-3 B1G) | |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Oct. 21 | 3:36 p.m. |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. Spartan Stadium (75,005/Natural Grass) |
| Television | ABC |
| Broadcast Team | Dave Fleming (play-by-play) | Greg McElroy (analyst) | Tom Luginbill (sideline) |
| Internet Coverage | WatchESPN | |
| Radio | Spartan Sports Network (Listen Live) | Affiliates |
| Satellite Radio | Ch. 135 (Sirius)/Ch. 195 (XM)/Ch. 957 (SiriusXM.com) |
| Radio (Mobile) | Broadcast available on Spartan Sports Network Mobile App: iPhone/iPad | Android |
| Parking/Tailgating/Stadium Information | Gameday Central | Gameday Answers |
| Tickets | Available at msuspartans.com |
| Parking | Lots will open at 9 a.m. | Parking Map (PDF) |
| Stadium Map | Spartan Stadium Map |
| Game Notes | Michigan State | Indiana |
| Series Information | MSU leads, 45-16-2 |
| Social Media | @MSU_Football  | Facebook  |
FIRST-AND-10 --
• Michigan State welcomes Indiana to Spartan Stadium for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. as the Spartans look to start 4-0 in Big Ten play for the fifth time under 11th-year head coach Mark Dantonio. The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC and will also be available via WatchESPN. MSU (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) moved up three spots in both of the national polls this week (No. 18 Associated Press, No. 19 Coaches) following its 30-27 win at Minnesota last Saturday night. The Hoosiers dropped to 3-3 (0-3 Big Ten) after falling in overtime at home to No. 17/16 Michigan, 27-20.
• Saturday's game marks the 64th meeting between Michigan State and Indiana. The Spartans lead the all-time series against the Hoosiers, 45-16-2, including a 24-6-1 record in games played in East Lansing. MSU had its seven-game winning streak over Indiana snapped last season as the Spartans fell in overtime, 24-21, in Bloomington. MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 7-1 during his tenure against Indiana, including a 4-0 mark at Spartan Stadium.
• Since 1950, the winner of the Michigan State-Indiana game has been presented the Old Brass Spittoon. The brass spittoon came from one of Michigan's earliest trading posts and is widely believed to be nearly 190 years old. Legend has it that the spittoon was around when both institutions were founded -- Indiana in 1820 and MAC in 1855. Since 1950, Michigan State leads the series 45-13-1.
• Michigan State is 66-32-3 (.668) in 101 Homecoming games, including an 8-2 record under Mark Dantonio. MSU is 11-1-1 (.885) against Indiana on Homecoming.
• This year's theme for Michigan State's 102nd Homecoming is "Uniquely Spartan." The 2017 MSU Homecoming Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20; the parade starts at the Hannah Community Center, travels down Abbot to Grand River, and into campus at the Farm Lane entrance. For more information on Homecoming, please visit homecoming.msu.edu.
• MSU continues to rank among the Big Ten leaders in several defensive categories, including total defense (second at 263.8 ypg), first downs defense (second with 83), rushing defense (third at 93.3 ypg), pass efficiency defense (third with 97.3 rating), passing defense (third at 170.5 ypg), third-down percentage defense (fourth at .291), and scoring defense (fifth at 18.2 ppg). The Spartans also rank among the FBS leaders in pass efficiency defense (fourth), total defense (fifth), first downs defense (fifth), rushing defense (eighth), passing defense (13th), third-down defense (15th) and scoring defense (18th).
• Junior LJ Scott posted career highs in rushing yards (194) and carries (25) to lead the Spartans past Minnesota. Scott also tied his career high with two rushing TDs (24 yards in second quarter; 6 yards in fourth quarter). He became the first Spartan to record a 100-yard rushing game this season. Scott also became the 18th Spartan to reach the 2,000-yard career milestone (now has 2,101 career rushing yards). Scott's previous career high was 160 yards vs. No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 19, 2016. The 194 yards by Scott were the most rushing yards by a Spartan since the last time MSU played at Minnesota in 2012, when Le'Veon Bell had 266 yards rushing on 35 carries; it was also the fifth most rushing yards by a Spartan against Minnesota. Scott now leads the Spartans in rushing with 408 yards on 83 carries (81.6 ypg), which ranks fifth in the Big Ten.
• Through the first three games of the season, MSU forced just two turnovers and was minus-six in turnover margin (-2.00 per game). The last three games, MSU is plus-six in turnovers (+2.00 per game), forcing nine turnovers on defense (two vs. Iowa, five vs. Michigan, two vs. Minnesota) while committing three on offense (all three at Minnesota). For the season, MSU is even in the turnover battle (11 caused/11 forced), which ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 59th in the FBS.
• In his first full year as the starting quarterback, sophomore Brian Lewerke ranks third in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 249.2 yards per game (196.2 passing ypg, 53.0 rushing ypg). He led the Spartans in rushing through the first five games of the season and still ranks first among Big Ten quarterbacks in rushing, averaging 53.0 ypg (Ohio State's J.T. Barrett is second, averaging 51.3 ypg). Lewerke also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in passing efficiency (fifth with 131.0 rating), passing (seventh at 196.2 ypg), and rushing (15th at 53.0 ypg).
• Now in his 11th season as head coach of the Spartans, Mark Dantonio owns a 95-43 (.688) record. After leading the Spartans to a 5-1 start this season, he was named one of 20 coaches on the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List. Dantonio has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (four) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with nine bowl appearances. He is the only active Big Ten coach to win multiple Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015), claim a victory in the Rose Bowl (2014), and coach in the College Football Playoff (2015). The second-winningest coach in school history with 95 victories, trailing only Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty (109), Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.667, 56-28 record, minimum 10 games), second in Big Ten wins (56), home wins (56) and AP Top 25 victories (18), tied for second in AP Top 25 finishes (six), and fifth in overall winning percentage (.688).
COACHES --
Michigan State: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 95-43 (11th year)
Overall Record: 113-60 (14th year)
Record vs. Indiana: 7-1
Indiana: Tom Allen
Indiana Record: 3-4 (first year)*
Overall Record: 3-4 (first year)*
Record vs. MSU: 0-0
*coached IU's 2016 bowl game
STAT LEADERS --
Michigan State:
Rushing -- LJ Scott (83 carries for 408 yards, 4.9 avg, 3 TDs)
Passing -- Brian Lewerke (104-of-173, .601, 1,177 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs)
Receiving -- Felton Davis III (24 catches for 300 yards, 12.5 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles -- Joe Bachie (50 tackles, 23 solo, 27 assists, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 1 PBU)
Indiana:
Rushing -- Morgan Ellison (83 carries for 426 yards, 5.1 avg, 3 TDs)
Passing -- Peyton Ramsey (81-of-130 for 815 yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs)
Receiving -- Simmie Cobbs Jr. (37 catches for 409 yards, 11.1 avg, 3 TDs)
Tackles -- Tegray Scales (48 tackles, 33 solo, 15 assists, 6.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks)
A QUICK GLANCE AT INDIANA (3-3, 0-3 BIG TEN) --
• The Hoosiers bring a 3-3 overall and 0-3 Big Ten ledger into Saturday's battle with the Spartans. Indiana is playing back-to-back Great Lakes State teams after just missing upsetting No. 17 Michigan at home last week, losing 27-20 in OT. The Hoosiers rallied from being down 20-10 early in the fourth quarter with a TD with 3:27 to play before kicking a 46-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to force OT. Michigan scored on its opening possession of overtime and the Hoosiers' fourth-and-goal pass was intercepted in the end zone to end the game.
• Indiana's three Big Ten losses are all to teams in the top 20 at the time, losing to No. 2 Ohio State, 49-21, in the season-opener on Aug. 31, losing at No. 4 Penn State, 45-14, on Sept. 30 and last Saturday's loss to No. 17 Michigan.
• The Hoosiers' three non-conference wins were at Virginia, 34-17, on Sept. 9, beating Georgia Southern, 52-17, on Sept. 23 and blanking Charleston Southern, 27-0, on Oct. 7, both at home.
• Indiana head coach Tom Allen is 3-4 as the Hoosiers' head coach, being named head coach on Dec. 1, 2016, and making his IU head coach debut in the Hoosiers' 2016 Foster Farms Bowl game, a 26-24 loss to Utah. Allen was associate head coach/defense in 2016, spearheading the Hoosier defense.
• In the heartbreaking, near-upset loss to Michigan, Hoosiers had 198 yards passing and 80 yards rushing, finishing with 278 yards of total offense, yielding 329 yards of total offense to the Wolverines, but held UM to 2-of-13 on third-down conversions and Michigan had 16 penalties compared to just five for Indiana.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Peyton Ramsey was 20-of-41 for 178 yards with one TD and two INTs, rushing for 14 yards on 14 carries. Freshman running back Morgan Ellison had 68 yards rushing on 14 carries with one TD. Junior wide receiver Luke Timian snared seven catches for 95 yards.
• The Hoosiers are sixth in the B1G in scoring offense, posting 28.0 points per game, while ranking 11th in scoring defense, allowing 25.8 ppg. Indiana is fifth in the B1G in passing offense (249.3 ypg) and 10th in rushing offense (137.3 ypg) to rank sixth in total offense (386.7 ypg). The Hoosier defense is fourth in the B1G and 18th in the FBS in passing yards allowed (180.8 ypg) and 11th in the league in rushing defense (172.2 ypg) to rank seventh in the conference and 39th in the country in total defense (353.0 ypg). IU's defense is also third in the league and 16th in the nation in third-down conversion percentage defense, holding the opposition to just 29.1 percent.
• The Hoosiers lead the league and rank seventh in the nation in punt return average (19.0 ypr).
• Ramsey has thrown for 815 yards on the season (135.8 ypg) on 81-of-130 (62.3 pct.) passing with seven TDs and four INTs. Ramsey has started the Charleston Southern and Michigan games. He is second on the Hoosiers with 185 yards rushing on 63 attempts (30.8 ypg/2.9 ypc) with two TDs. Senior Richard Lagow, who started the first four games of the season, is 59-of-104 (56.7 pct.) passing for 681 yards (136.2 ypg) with four TDs and three INTs.
• Ellison leads the Hoosier rushing effort with 83 carries for 426 yards (71.0 ypg/5.1 ypc) with three TDs. Redshirt freshman running back Cole Gest adds 25 carries for 153 yards (6.1 ypc/30.6 ypg).
• Junior wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. is Ramsey's primary target, as Cobbs is second in the Big Ten and 28th in FBS with 6.2 receptions per game, snaring 37 receptions on the season for 409 yards with three TDs, ranking fourth in the league in receiving yards per game (68.2) as well as fifth in receiving yards. Junior wide receiver Luke Timian adds 29 catches for 235 yards (8.1 ypc/39.2 ypg) and senior tight end Ian Thomas shares the team TD catch lead with Cobbs with three, tallying 17 receptions for 260 yards (52.0 ypg), ranking 10th in the B1G in yards per reception (15.3).
• Senior linebacker Tegray Scales heads the Hoosier defense with 48 tackles, ranking fourth in the Big Ten with 8.0 tackles per game. Scales is also tied for fifth in the league with 0.8 sacks per game (3.5 total), as well as tied for seventh in the conference with 1.1 tackles for loss per game (6.5 total).
• Fellow senior linebacker Chris Covington is second on the team with 39 stops, adding 5.0 TFLs, 0.5 sack, three pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. Crawford has the Hoosiers' only interception on the season to go with a team-leading four pass break-ups.
• Junior wide receiver/punt returner J-Shun Harris leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the FBS with two punt return TDs. Harris also leads the conference and ranks second in the country in punt return average with 23.3 ypr.
• Senior placekicker Griffin Oakes is 21-of-21 on PATs and 7-of-8 on FGs with a long of 51 yards, which is tied for the second-longest in the Big Ten this season. Griffin is fourth in the B1G in field goals per game (1.17).
MSU/INDIANA COACHING CONNECTIONS --
• Michigan State defensive line coach Ron Burton spent five seasons at Indiana (1997-2001) as the linebackers coach. Burton mentored two Butkus Award nominees, Jabar Robinson and Justin Smith, during his time with the Hoosiers. Robinson led the team in tackles two straight years and is eighth in school history with 339 career tackles, while Smith played one season (2003) in the NFL and ranks ninth in IU history with 326 tackles.
• MSU defensive ends/special teams coach Mark Snyder and Indiana assistant defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Mark Hagen coached together at Texas A&M in 2013-14. Snyder was the defensive coordinator for the Aggies, while Hagen coached the linebackers.
MSU/INDIANA SERIES NOTES --
• Saturday's game marks the 64th meeting between Michigan State and Indiana. The Spartans lead the all-time series against the Hoosiers, 45-16-2, including a 24-6-1 record in games played in East Lansing. MSU had its seven-game winning streak over Indiana snapped last season as the Spartans fell in overtime, 24-21, in Bloomington.
• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 7-1 during his tenure against Indiana, including a 4-0 mark at Spartan Stadium.
• Since 1950, the winner of the Michigan State-Indiana game has been presented the Old Brass Spittoon. The brass spittoon came from one of Michigan's earliest trading posts and is widely believed to be nearly 190 years old. Legend has it that the spittoon was around when both institutions were founded -- Indiana in 1820 and MAC in 1855. Since 1950, Michigan State leads the series 45-13-1.
THE LAST MEETING --
Oct. 1, 2016, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP): Tyler O'Connor threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns, but the Spartans fell to Indiana in overtime 24-21. Indiana quarterback Richard Lagow caught a touchdown pass, threw for two more and took advantage of a second chance in overtime to set up Griffin Oakes for a 20-yard field goal.
The Hoosiers trailed 14-0 late in the third quarter before Lagow's 5-yard TD catch on third-and-goal finally helped the Hoosiers turn the corner. Indiana ended a seven-game losing streak in the series, reclaimed the Old Brass Spittoon for the first time since 2006, beat a ranked team at home for the first time in a decade and earned their first overtime win since 2010.
Michigan State kicker Michael Geiger missed a 49-yard field goal to start overtime, and Oakes missed a 33-yard field goal on the ensuing possession when MSU was called for leaping to give Indiana a first down.
The Spartans controlled the game most of the night until receiver Mitchell Paige threw a perfect pass across the field to Lagow for a 5-yard score in the final minute of the third quarter. Lagow tied it with a 22-yard TD pass to Ricky Jones midway through the fourth quarter. Indiana took the lead with Lagow's 15-yard TD pass to Paige with 4:38 to play. O'Connor answered with a 2-yard TD pass to Josiah Price with 11 seconds left.
KALEB THORNHILL NAMED HONORARY CAPTAIN FOR INDIANA GAME -
• Former Michigan State captain Kaleb Thornhill, a Lansing, Michigan, native, will serve as the honorary captain for Saturday's game against Indiana. A four-year letterwinner (2004-07) as a linebacker, Thornhill was elected a team captain as a senior in 2007 in Mark Dantonio's first season as head coach at MSU. He recorded 227 career tackles, including 20.5 tackles for loss, in 48 career games. Thornhill earned the team's Potsy Ross Award as a senior, which is given annually to the player who has made the best contribution to the team both athletically and academically. He is just one of 25 Spartans in program history to earn Academic All-Big Ten honors four times.
• Currently the director of player engagement for the Miami Dolphins, Thornhill is also back on campus to receive the College of Education Young Alumni Award. Thornhill, who received his master's degree in kinesiology in 2009, is co-founder and executive director of operations for APEX Academy. The organization aims to assist under-resourced student-athletes to leverage characteristics and lessons learned in sports and apply them outside of the game. Co-created with a fellow MSU alumnus, APEX Academy provides young men with access to education, mentorship and leadership development opportunities.
POST-GAME NOTES FROM THE MINNESOTA GAME --
• Michigan State defeated Minnesota for the fifth straight time with a 30-27 victory last Saturday night . . . the Spartans are 30-17 all-time against the Gophers, including a 13-11 record in games played in Minneapolis . . . MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 5-1 against Minnesota, with a 2-1 record at TCF Bank Stadium . . . Dantonio is 3-0 against P.J. Fleck (2-0 vs. Western Michigan; 1-0 vs. Minnesota).
• MSU improved to 3-0 in the Big Ten, marking the seventh time the Spartans have started at least 3-0 in conference play under Dantonio (2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017).
OFFENSE
• LJ Scott recorded career highs in both carries (25) and rushing yards (194) . . . he also tied his career high with two rushing TDs (24 yards in second quarter; 6 yards in fourth quarter) . . . he became the first Spartan to record a 100-yard rushing game this season . . . he also became the 18th Spartan to reach the 2,000-yard career milestone (now has 2,101 career rushing yards) . . . Scott's previous career high was 160 yards vs. No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 19, 2016 . . . it marked the most rushing yards by a Spartan since the last time MSU played at Minnesota in 2012, when Le'Veon Bell had 266 yards rushing on 35 carries . . . it also marked the fifth most rushing yards by a Spartan against Minnesota.
• The Spartans gained 289 yards on the ground, but technically netted 245 rushing yards . . . the Spartans officially lost 28 rushing yards on a fumbled snap by Jake Hartbarger on a punt attempt in the first quarter . . . the 245 yards rushing were the second most by the Spartans this season (296 vs. Western Michigan on Sept. 9) and it was the third time MSU ran for more than 200 yards (215 vs. Bowling Green on Sept. 2) . . . MSU is 36-6 under Dantonio when rushing for more than 200 yards in a game . . . the 245 yards rushing were the second most allowed by Minnesota all season, as the Gophers ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 25 in the FBS in rushing defense (114.2 ypg) entering the game. • Madre London ran for a season-high 74 yards on 16 carries, including a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
• The Spartans outgained the Gophers, 365-290 . . . Minnesota was held to 124 yards of total offense the first three quarters.
• The Spartans held a 34:07-25:53 advantage in time of possession . . . MSU went on a 16-play, 73-yard scoring drive in 9:13 during the third quarter, capped by a 25-yard Matt Coghlin field goal . . . the Spartans held the ball for 13:28 in the third quarter.
DEFENSE
• The Spartans held Minnesota to 74 rushing yards, the Gophers' lowest output of the season; Minnesota entered the game averaging 190.0 rushing yards per game . . . the Spartans have held three opponents under 100 yards rushing this season (Bowling Green with 67; Iowa with 19).
• Michigan State forced two turnovers, giving the Spartans nine forced turnovers in the first three games of the Big Ten season . . . Kenny Willekes recovered a fumble in the first quarter, setting up MSU's first TD of the game, a 3-yard run by London, while Khari Willis recorded his first career interception and returned it 19 yards in the second quarter.
• In addition to the fumble recovery, Willekes had six tackles, including two sacks; he has four sacks in the past two games.
• The Dowell brothers, Andrew and David, tied for the team lead with seven tackles apiece.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin made three of his four field-goal attempts (made: 42 yards in first quarter; 35 and 25 yards in third quarter; missed: 45 yards in fourth quarter) . . . it marked his first career multi-field goal game . . . he is now 5-of-7 on field goals this season.
• Connor Heyward returned the first kickoffs of his career, totaling 115 yards on three returns, including a 55-yarder in the fourth quarter that set up Scott's second rushing TD of the game to put MSU on top, 30-13.
MSU FOOTBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION REUNION WEEKEND --
• Hundreds of former players, coaches and managers will return to campus for the MSU Football Players Association Reunion Weekend (Oct. 20-21). As part of the Reunion Weekend, Michigan State will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its 1957 National Championship and the 30th anniversary of its 1987 Big Ten/1988 Rose Bowl Championships.
• The Spartans opened the 1957 season with three straight victories, including a 35-6 win at No. 6 Michigan. Following a 20-13 loss to Purdue, MSU closed out the regular season with a five-game winning streak, including victories over No. 16 Illinois (19-14) and No. 15 Notre Dame (34-6). The Spartans (8-1) were named National Champions by three major selectors recognized by the NCAA: Billingsley, Dunkel and Sagarin. Four members of the 1957 team are participating in this weekend's reunion activities, including Richard Barker, Glenn Burgett, Greg Montgomery Sr., and Robert Ricucci.
• Michigan State opened the 1987 season with an impressive 27-13 victory over No. 16 USC. After suffering back-to-back losses to No. 9 Notre Dame (31-8) and No. 7 Florida State (31-3), the Spartans recorded three wins over Top 25 teams down the stretch (No. 12 Michigan, W 17-11; No. 15 Ohio State, W 13-7; and No. 16 Indiana, W 27-3) en route to an 8-2-1 regular-season record. Thanks to its 20-17 triumph over No. 16 USC in the 1988 Rose Bowl, MSU ranked No. 8 in the final AP, UPI and USA TODAY/CNN Polls. More than 30 members of the 1987 team will return to East Lansing for the reunion, including former All-Americans Bob Kula, Greg Montgomery and Lorenzo White.
• Members of the 1957 and 1987 teams will be introduced during first-quarter timeouts of Saturday's Homecoming game against Indiana.
Andrew Dowell AND Grayson Miller NAMED GAME CAPTAINS AGAINST INDIANA --
• Junior linebacker Andrew Dowell and junior safety Grayson Miller will be the Eagles to rotate as game captains vs. Indiana on Saturday. In order for all of the Eagles to serve as game captains twice, team captain Chris Frey didn't walk out to midfield for the Western Michigan game, and Brian Allen didn't walk out to midfield for the Minnesota game. Dowell also served as a game captain vs. Notre Dame.
YOUTH MOVEMENT --
• Michigan State features one of the youngest teams in the nation with 76 underclassmen on its 2017 roster (36 true freshmen, 16 redshirt freshmen, 24 sophomores), to go along with 24 juniors and 13 seniors.
• Fourteen of MSU's 22 projected starters either on offense or defense are underclassmen (11 sophomores, one redshirt freshman, two true freshmen), and 35 underclassmen are listed on the depth chart (14 sophomores, seven redshirt freshman, 14 true freshmen).
• Michigan State has already played 13 true freshmen (TE Matt Dotson, RB Connor Heyward, OG Kevin Jarvis, S Dominique Long, WR Laress Nelson, DE Jacub Panasiuk, S Tre Person, OG Jordan Reid, WR Hunter Rison, CB Josiah Scott, LB Antjuan Simmons, WR Andre Welch, WR Cody White), the most ever in one season under Dantonio (previous high: nine in 2016).
• Thirteen Spartans have made their first career starts this season (DE Dillon Alexander, LB Joe Bachie, CB Josh Butler, RT Luke Campbell, TE Noah Davis, S David Dowell, WR Trishton Jackson, OG Kevin Jarvis, FB Collin Lucas, WR Laress Nelson, TE Matt Sokol, CB Josiah Scott, DE Kenny Willekes).
Brian Lewerke PROVING TO BE A DUAL-THREAT QUARTERBACK --
• In his first full year as the starting quarterback, sophomore Brian Lewerke ranks third in the Big Ten in total offense, averaging 249.2 yards per game (196.2 passing ypg, 53.0 rushing ypg). He led the Spartans in rushing through the first five games of the season and still ranks first among Big Ten quarterbacks in rushing, averaging 53.0 ypg (Ohio State's J.T. Barrett is second, averaging 51.3 ypg). Lewerke also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in passing efficiency (fifth with 131.0 rating), passing (seventh at 196.2 ypg), and rushing (15th at 53.0 ypg). Lewerke was named one of the top 10 players in the Big Ten at midseason (No. 10) by CollegeFootballNews.com.
• The 6-3, 212-pound Lewerke is 104-of-173 passing (.601) for 1,177 yards, nine touchdowns and three interception in six games this season. He has played in 10 career games (eight starts; 5-3 record).
• Lewerke has led the Spartans in rushing four times (69 yards vs. Bowling Green; career-high 81 vs. Western Michigan; 42 vs. Iowa; 61 vs. Michigan) and had 56 yards vs. Notre Dame.
• Against Notre Dame, Lewerke's career-high 396 yards of total offense (340 passing, 56 rushing) was the fourth-highest single-game total in the school record book. He also set career highs for passing yards (340; tied for 18th most in MSU single-game history), completions (31, tied for fifth in MSU single-game history) and passing attempts (51, seventh in MSU single-game history) against the Fighting Irish.
• Lewerke ran for a career-high 81 yards against Western Michigan, the most by a Spartan quarterback since Drew Stanton had 83 against Purdue in Nov. 4, 2006.
• Lewerke scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 61-yard run in the first quarter vs. WMU, the longest TD run by a Spartan quarterback since Charlie Baggett ran for a 69-yard score on Oct. 27, 1973 vs. Purdue. It tied the longest rush by a Spartan QB since Damon Dowdell also had a 61-yard run against Wisconsin on Nov. 13, 2004; the last time a Spartan QB had a longer run was Bobby McAllister at Purdue (70 yards) on Nov. 5, 1988.
• Lewerke also had a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter vs. WMU to become the first Spartan QB to record two rushing TDs in a single game since Drew Stanton in 2006 against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 9). Lewerke finished with 242 yards of total offense against the Broncos, as he was 13-of-21 passing for 161 yards and one touchdown.
• The native of Phoenix, Arizona, recorded his first career win as a starting quarterback in the season-opening victory over Bowling Green while recording then-career highs in passing yards (250), completions (22), attempts (33), passing touchdowns (3) and total offense (319 yards) against the Falcons. Lewerke also rushed eight times for 69 yards.
• Lewerke played in four games and started twice (Northwestern, Maryland) as a redshirt freshman in 2016 before suffering a season-ending injury (broken tibia) in the fourth quarter of the Michigan game on Oct. 28. He bounced back quickly from the injury and fully participated in all of spring practice.
• Last season, Lewerke became the first Spartan freshman quarterback to start a game (Northwestern) since 2004 (Stephen Reaves vs. Central Michigan).
• In 10 career games, Lewerke has completed 59 percent of his passes (135-for-230) for 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has 467 rushing yards on 78 carries (46.7 ypg; 6.0 avg.).
RUNNING GAME KEY FOR SPARTANS UNDER DANTONIO --
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 78-16 (.830) when outrushing its opponent, including a 62-9 record (.873) since 2010. Conversely, MSU is 17-27 (.386) under Dantonio when being outgained on the ground by its opponent. The Spartans are 36-6 (.857) in games when gaining 200 or more rushing yards under Dantonio.
• Michigan State emphasized the ground game at Minnesota, and the offense responded with 245 rushing yards on 50 attempts (4.9 avg.). MSU gained 289 yards rushing, but technically netted 245 rushing yards, as MSU officially lost 28 rushing yards on a fumbled snap by Jake Hartbarger on a punt attempt in the first quarter. The 245 yards rushing were the second most by the Spartans this season (296 vs. Western Michigan on Sept. 9) and it was the third time MSU ran for more than 200 yards (215 vs. Bowling Green on Sept. 2).
LJ Scott RETURNS TO LEAD POTENT RUSHING ATTACK --
• Junior LJ Scott, who is on the Maxwell Player of the Year and Doak Walker Running Back of the Year Watch Lists, leads the Spartans in rushing with 408 yards on 83 carries (4.9 avg.). He ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 81.6 rushing yards per game.
• Scott posted career highs in rushing yards (194) and carries (25) to lead the Spartans past Minnesota. Scott also tied his career high with two rushing TDs (24 yards in second quarter; 6 yards in fourth quarter). He became the first Spartan to record a 100-yard rushing game this season. Scott's previous career high was 160 yards vs. No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 19, 2016. The 194 yards by Scott were the most rushing yards by a Spartan since the last time MSU played at Minnesota in 2012, when Le'Veon Bell had 266 yards rushing on 35 carries; it was also the fifth most rushing yards by a Spartan against Minnesota. Scott also had a season-high 220 all-purpose yards at Minnesota (one catch for 26 yards).
• The 6-1, 230-pound Scott is one of 18 Spartan running backs in school history to rush for more than 2,000 career yards. He eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark during the Minnesota game and currently ranks 18th in the MSU record book with 2,101 rushing yards.
• Last season, Scott led the Spartans in nearly every rushing category, compiling career highs in rushing yards (994), carries (184) and rushing touchdowns (6). His 82.8 rushing yards per game average ranked eighth in the Big Ten during the regular season and his 86.9 ypg in conference play was sixth best. Scott's 994 rushing yards were seventh most by a Spartan sophomore in a single season. He also had five 100-yard games, tied for third most in the Big Ten in the regular season, including four of the last six games (109.7 ypg last six games).
• In 31 career games, including 13 starts, the Hubbard, Ohio, product has rushed for 2,101 yards (67.8 ypg; 4.9 avg.) and 20 touchdowns. Scott ranks 17th in MSU history in carries (413) and rushing touchdowns (20), and 18th in rushing yards (2,101). He has seven career 100-yard rushing games. His 1,693 rushing yards ranked No. 5 in school history for a player through their sophomore season (Lorenzo White: 2,682 yards in 1984 and 1985).
Gerald Holmes, Madre London ALSO BRING EXPERIENCE TO THE BACKFIELD --
• In addition to LJ Scott, senior Gerald Holmes and junior Madre London bring significant experience and will see their share of carries in the backfield. Holmes has rushed for 1,147 yards on 254 carries in 33 career games, including 13 starts, while London has 201 carries for 849 career yards in 27 games with seven starts. The trio of Holmes, London and Scott own a combined total of 4,097 rushing yards on 868 carries with 40 rushing touchdowns.
Brian Allen NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR NFF SCHOLAR-ATHLETE CLASS --
• Senior offensive lineman Brian Allen has been named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is widely known as the "Academic Heisman." Allen is also a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Class.
• A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Allen is an economics major with a 3.24 GPA. He was voted a captain by his teammates entering his senior season and has started a team-best 20 consecutive games. For his career, Allen has played in 44 career games, including a team-high 31 starts (16 at left guard, 10 at center, five at right guard). He has been named second-team All-Big Ten the past two seasons and is on watch lists for the Outland Trophy (nation's most outstanding interior lineman) and Rimington Trophy (nation's most outstanding center).
• This marks the sixth time in the past seven years that the Spartans have had a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy. The Spartans had a finalist three of four years from 2011-14 (QB Kirk Cousins in 2011, LB Max Bullough in 2013, P Mike Sadler in 2014). Center Jack Allen (2015) and tight end Josiah Price (2016) were semifinalists the past two seasons.
Felton Davis III LEADS YOUNG RECEIVING CORPS --
• Junior wide receiver Felton Davis III is the veteran of a receiving corps that features one junior (Davis), two sophomores (Trishton Jackson, Darrell Stewart), one redshirt freshmen (Cam Chambers) and three true freshmen (Laress Nelson, Hunter Rison, Cody White) in its regular rotation.
• Davis was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 2 after recording career highs in catches (9) and receiving yards (114) in the Sept. 30 win over Iowa. Davis also tied his career high with two touchdown catches. In the first half alone, Davis had seven receptions for 88 yards. On the first play from scrimmage, Davis had a 31-yard reception to set up his first TD catch later in the drive, a 22-yard scoring strike from Brian Lewerke. Davis also had a 6-yard TD reception later in the first quarter. • The 6-4, 195-pound native of Richmond, Virginia, leads the Spartans in receptions (24), receiving yards (300) and touchdown catches (4), all of which are already career highs. Nineteen of his 24 receptions (79 percent) have been for either a first down or a touchdown, highlighted by seven of his nine catches against Iowa.
• In 25 career games, Davis is MSU's active leader in receptions (38), receiving yards (500) and TD catches (5).
PLENTY OF TARGETS ON OFFENSE FOR THE SPARTANS --
• Fourteen different Spartans have caught at least one pass this season for the Spartans, including nine with at least four receptions or more. MSU averages 8.2 players per game with a reception.
SPARTAN DEFENSE OFF TO FAST START IN 2017 --
• MSU ranks among the Big Ten leaders in several defensive categories, including total defense (second at 263.8 ypg), first downs defense (second with 83), rushing defense (third at 93.3 ypg), pass efficiency defense (third with 97.3 rating), passing defense (third at 170.5 ypg), third-down percentage defense (fourth at .291), and scoring defense (fifth at 18.2 ppg).
• The Spartans also rank among the FBS leaders in pass efficiency defense (fourth), total defense (fifth), first downs defense (fifth), rushing defense (eighth), passing defense (13th), third-down defense (15th) and scoring defense (18th).
• Michigan State's defense has only allowed nine touchdowns this season, with four of those coming against Notre Dame and three at Minnesota. In MSU's first three Big Ten games, the defense has only allowed five touchdowns (one vs. Iowa, one vs. Michigan, three vs. Minnesota). MSU has allowed 13 touchdowns overall (one kickoff return for a touchdown, one interception return for a touchdown, two fumble returns for a touchdown). Although MSU's scoring defense is officially 18.2 points per game, the defense itself is only allowing 13.5 points per game.
STOPPING THE RUN --
• Michigan State ranks third in the Big Ten and eighth in the FBS in rushing defense (93.3 ypg). MSU has held three opponents under 100 yards rushing this season (Bowling Green had 67 in season opener on Sept. 2; Iowa had 19 on Sept. 30; Minnesota had 74 on Oct. 14), and No. 7 Michigan had a season-low 102 yards on Oct. 7.
• MSU held Iowa to just 19 rushing yards, the fewest by the Hawkeyes against the Spartans since 1999 (7 yards) . . . the 19 rushing yards were also the fewest by an Iowa team since Sept. 24, 2005 (-9 against Ohio State) . . . MSU's defense now has two of Iowa's five lowest single-game rushing totals since 2005, as the Spartans limited Iowa to 23 yards on Oct. 5, 2013.
• A week after Western Michigan collected 263 yards on the ground at No. 4 USC, the Spartans held the Broncos to 116 yards rushing in Week 2.
• Although Notre Dame rushed for 182 yards against the Spartans, MSU did hold the Fighting Irish 149 yards below their season average (UND entered the game No. 5 in the FBS in rushing at 330.7 ypg.).
• Stopping the run has been the main theme for MSU on defense in the Dantonio era, and it led to ranking No. 1 in the NCAA FBS in rushing defense in 2014 (88.5 ypg). Since the Big Ten began awarding stat champions in all games in 1985, Michigan State (2011-14) became only the second team in conference history to lead the league in rushing defense four years in a row (Michigan, 1990-93). MSU's 88.5 rushing yards allowed in 2014 was the eighth-lowest total in school history. The Spartans have ranked in the Top 25 in rushing defense six times in the last eight seasons, including a run of five straight years in the top 11 (2011-15).
• In 138 games under Dantonio, Michigan State has held its opponent under 100 yards rushing 66 times (48 percent). MSU is 58-8 when holding opponents under 100 yards rushing in the Dantonio era, including a 48-3 record since 2010.
THREE-AND-OUT --
• In six games this season, the Spartans have forced their opponents to go three-and-out on 24 of 72 possessions (.333 percent; 4.0 per game). [Three-and-out: either holding opponent without a first down within its first three plays on a new series or forcing a turnover in the first three plays.]
Joe Bachie LEADS SPARTAN DEFENSE IN TACKLES AND PRODUCTION POINTS --
• Sophomore Joe Bachie has started all six games at middle linebacker for the Spartans and leads the team in tackles (50; 8.3 avg.), which ranks third in the Big Ten. In addition, he ranks second on the team in tackles for loss (5 for 21 yards) and third in sacks (2 for 14 yards). He also leads the team in production points with 162.
• Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after helping lead the Spartan defense to an impressive performance in the 14-10 win at No. 7 Michigan on Oct. 7 in Ann Arbor. He recorded double-digits in tackles for the third time of the season, tying a team high with 10 stops against the Wolverines, and had an 11-yard sack in the second quarter. He compiled a career-high 40 production points.
• He forced a fumble on Michigan's second offensive series in the first quarter, giving MSU excellent field position at the Michigan 46-yard line. The Spartans capitalized with a six-play, 46-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 14-yard TD run by Brian Lewerke, giving the Spartans a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
• Bachie was at it again in the second half, as he recorded his first career interception on the second play of the fourth quarter. He was also credited with a pass break-up on the game's final play as Michigan attempted a Hail Mary pass in the end zone. The Spartans held Michigan to 10 points, the lowest total in the Jim Harbaugh era at UM, and just 102 yards rushing.
• According to STATS, Bachie became just the second Big Ten linebacker and fifth in the FBS in the last five years (since 2012) to record double-digit tackles and at least one interception, one forced fumble, one sack and one pass break-up in the same game.
• Bachie had 38 production points vs. Iowa on Sept. 30 in which he led MSU in tackles (9) and tackles for loss (3.5) to go along with a 3-yard sack and fumble recovery in the red zone.
• The 6-2, 233-pound Bachie has led the Spartans in tackles four times this season, including a career-high 11 tackles against Western Michigan and 10 in the season opener vs. Bowling Green.
• Bachie sat out the first six games of the season last year, but had his redshirt removed at Maryland on Oct. 22 and played the final six contests in 2016.
• The Brook Park, Ohio, native emerged as a leader during the offseason and was voted to the team's Eagles Leadership Council in the spring and again in the fall.
SPARTANS INCREASING THE PRESSURE ON THE QUARTERBACK IN 2017 --
• A year after recording just 11 sacks, fewest in the Big Ten, the Spartans have already surpassed that total through six games in 2017 with 16. Kenny Willekes leads the team with four sacks.
• MSU recorded four sacks each against Western Michigan (Sept. 9) and No. 7 Michigan (Oct. 7), and had three apiece against Iowa on Sept. 30 and Minnesota on Oct. 14.
TURNOVER MARGIN THE KEY INGREDIENT FOR SPARTAN SUCCESS --
• Through the first three games of the season, MSU forced just two turnovers and was minus-six in turnover margin (-2.00 per game). The last three games, MSU is plus-six in turnovers (+2.00 per game), forcing nine turnovers on defense (two vs. Iowa, five vs. Michigan, two vs. Minnesota) while committing three on offense (all three at Minnesota). For the season, MSU is even in the turnover battle (11 caused/11 forced), which ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 59th in the FBS.
• Michigan State's record-setting three-year stretch in which it won 36 games from 2013-15 was fueled by creating turnovers and limiting mistakes. The Spartans ranked in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Top 10 and led the Big Ten in turnover margin for three consecutive seasons from 2013-15; however, MSU ranked No. 101 in the FBS and No. 10 in the Big Ten in turnover margin (-0.42) in 2016 (13 turnovers gained; 18 turnovers lost).
• MSU was No. 4 in the FBS in 2015 with a +1.00 turnover margin, which led to a Big Ten title and a berth in the College Football Playoff. The Spartans forced 28 turnovers (15 interceptions, 13 fumbles) and turned the ball over just 14 times all season (eight interceptions, six fumbles). In addition, MSU scored 108 points off of its opponents' turnovers, while the opposition only scored 20 points on Spartan miscues (+88).
• The Spartans ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in turnover margin (+1.46 per game) in 2014. MSU was +19 in the turnover department and forced 34 turnovers (16 fumbles, 18 interceptions), which ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and third most in the FBS. Conversely, the Spartans turned the ball over just 15 times (six fumbles, nine interceptions), fewest in the Big Ten.
• Michigan State ranked first in the Big Ten and tied for 10th in the FBS in turnover margin (+13, 0.93 per game) during its Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship season in 2013. The Spartans forced the most turnovers in the Big Ten (28) and also turned the ball over the least amount of times (15) in the conference. • Michigan State has forced at least one turnover in 110 of 138 games under head coach Mark Dantonio (80 percent of the games since 2007).
• Michigan State is 60-12 (.833) when forcing at least two turnovers in a game under head coach Mark Dantonio.
DANTONIO RANKS SECOND IN WINS AT MICHIGAN STATE --
• Now in his 11th season as head coach of the Spartans, Mark Dantonio owns a 95-43 (.688) record. After leading the Spartans to a 5-1 start this season, he was named one of 20 coaches on the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List. Dantonio has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (four) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with nine bowl appearances. He is the only active Big Ten coach to win multiple Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015), claim a victory in the Rose Bowl (2014), and coach in the College Football Playoff (2015). The second-winningest coach in school history with 95 victories, trailing only Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty (109), Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.667, 56-28 record, minimum 10 games), second in Big Ten wins (56), home wins (56) and AP Top 25 victories (18), tied for second in AP Top 25 finishes (six), and fifth in overall winning percentage (.688).
• Dantonio 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 won his 100th career game as a head coach on Oct. 17, 2015, at Michigan Stadium as the Spartans rallied to defeat the Wolverines, 27-23, on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired. His career record stands at 113-60 (.653) in his 14th season.
• Dantonio's .667 winning percentage (56-28) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games). He ranks second in school history in conference wins (Duffy Daugherty, 72).
• Dantonio led the Spartans to the 2015 Big Ten Championship with a 16-13 victory over previously undefeated and fourth-ranked Iowa. It marked Dantonio's third Big Ten Championship (2010, 2013, 2015), establishing a school record (previous: Daugherty and Perles with two each).
• Dantonio became the first coach in Big Ten history to record five 11-win seasons in a six-year span (11 in 2010; 11 in 2011; 13 in 2013, 11 in 2014; 12 in 2015), and his five 11-win seasons are tied with Joe Paterno of Penn State and Urban Meyer of Ohio State for the second most in Big Ten history (Jim Tressel with six; Paterno with five at Penn State as Big Ten member). Prior to Dantonio's arrival, MSU had not recorded an 11-win season in its history, and had just two 10-win seasons (1965, 1999). • A two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2010, 2013), Dantonio has led Michigan State to Top 25 finishes in six of his 10 seasons (2008: No. 24 in both polls; 2010: No. 14 in both polls; 2011: No. 10 USA TODAY/No. 11 AP; 2013: No. 3 in both polls; 2014: No. 5 in both polls; and 2015: No. 6 in both polls). His six AP Top-25 finishes are tied for second most in school history ("Biggie" Munn, who coached from 1947-53, had six consecutive from 1948-53). Daugherty's teams posted seven Top-25 finishes during his 19-year tenure from 1954-72.
• Michigan State extended its school record by playing in a bowl game for the ninth consecutive season in 2015 (2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl, 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal at Cotton Bowl).
• Dantonio also extended his school record for most bowl appearances (nine) by a head coach with a trip to the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl Classic in 2015 (previous record: Perles with seven from 1983-94). Dantonio is 4-5 in bowl games at Michigan State, including a school-record four-game winning streak (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton). Dantonio has led his teams to 11 bowl berths in 13 seasons as a head coach (nine at MSU, two at Cincinnati).
• From his first day on the job, Dantonio has pledged to support student-athletes as they pursue excellence, both in the classroom and on the playing field. In his first 10 seasons, a total of 189 players have earned their undergraduate degrees. In addition, 136 Spartans have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, including seven Academic All-America selections. Michigan State has placed three student-athletes in the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Class in the past five years.
• Dantonio is one of just four Spartan head coaches to coach in at least 100 games at MSU and ranks third in Spartan history with 138 games coached at Michigan State (Duffy Daugherty: 183; George Perles: 139; Dantonio: 138; Charlie Bachman: 114).
• Dantonio is the third-longest tenured coach in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: 19th season; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern: 12th season) and eighth-longest in the FBS at the same school.
SPARTAN FOOTBALL PROGRAM NOTES --
• Michigan State is in the midst of its second-winningest decade in school history. The Spartans are 73-26 (.737) since 2010 and during that span, MSU has claimed three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and three Big Ten Division titles (2011, 2013, 2015). In addition, the Spartans recorded a school-record four consecutive bowl victories (2012 Outback against No. 18 Georgia, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings against TCU, 2014 Rose Bowl Game against No. 5 Stanford, 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic against No. 4 Baylor), which also tied a Big Ten record. MSU was the only school to finish in the top-six of the national polls from 2013-15 (No. 3 in 2013, No. 5 in 2014, No. 6 in 2015).
• The 73 wins this decade are tied for second most in the Big Ten and tied for 11th most in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, while the 44 wins since 2013 are third in the Big Ten and eighth most in the FBS. The 36 wins from 2013-15 marked the winningest three-year stretch in the history of the program. MSU's highest winning percentage by decade is currently the 1950s (.766, 70-21-1 record).
• The Spartans have had sustained success in the Big Ten Conference under Dantonio. MSU has won two of the past four Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015) and three overall this decade, also claiming a championship in 2010. The Spartans own victories in 29 of their last 39 games against Big Ten opponents (including the Big Ten Championship Game), dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale, including 19 wins by double-figures.
SPARTANS MAINTAIN SUCCESS IN BIG TEN PLAY --
• MSU has won nine Big Ten Championships in school history (1953, 1965, 1966, 1979, 1987, 1990, 2010, 2013, 2015), including a school-record three by Mark Dantonio.
• Michigan State has won 29 of its last 39 games against Big Ten opponents (including the Big Ten Championship Game), dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale, including 19 wins by double-figures. MSU has won 27 of its last 37 regular-season Big Ten Conference games. Michigan State is 43-17 (.717) in Big Ten regular-season games since 2010.
• 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 .667 winning percentage (56-28) in Big Ten regular-season games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games).
• MSU is 28-14 (.667) in Big Ten road games under Dantonio, including a 22-8 record (.733) since 2010. Dantonio has won at least one road game at every Big Ten stadium.
• Since 2008, MSU has recorded 53 Big Ten regular-season victories, third most of any team in the conference.
PLAYING THEIR BEST UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT --
• The Spartans have consistently produced wins against highly ranked teams under Dantonio. MSU is 8-5 in its last 13 games against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 10, including a 7-5 record since 2013 (beat No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Stanford in 2013; lost to No. 3 Oregon and beat No. 4 Baylor in 2014; beat No. 7 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Iowa, and lost to No. 2 Alabama in 2015; lost to No. 2 Michigan; No. 2 Ohio State in 2016 and No. 8 Penn State in 2016; beat No. 7 Michigan in 2017).
• Michigan State defeated nine bowl teams in 2015, including four wins over AP Top 25 teams (No. 7 Oregon on Sept. 12, No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17, No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 21, No. 4 Iowa on Dec. 5). It marked the first time in school history the Spartans beat three AP Top-10 teams (No. 7 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Iowa) in the same season. In the final AP rankings, MSU defeated four Top 25 teams (No. 4 Ohio State, No. 9 Iowa, No. 12 Michigan, No. 19 Oregon).
• The win over No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus on Nov. 21, 2015, snapped the defending National Champion Buckeyes' 23-game winning streak, and the last-second victory against No. 12 Michigan on Oct. 17, 2015, marked MSU's seventh win in eight years over the Wolverines.
• Michigan State has won 11 of its last 18 games played against ranked opponents, including seven out of the last 12 (wins: No. 4 Baylor in 2014; No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Michigan, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Iowa in 2015; No. 18 Notre Dame in 2016; No. 7 Michigan in 2017; losses: No. 2 Alabama in 2015; No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 2 Michigan, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 8 Penn State in 2016).
• Under Mark Dantonio, the Spartans are 18-25 in 43 games played against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25; however, MSU is 11-8 against ranked teams since 2013. The 18 wins over AP Top 25 teams rank second among head coaches in MSU history (Duffy Daugherty with 25 from 1954-72). Dantonio is 8-9 against AP Top 10 teams at MSU (8-5 since 2011).
SPARTANS BACK IN THE NATIONAL POLLS --
• Michigan State entered the national polls for the first time this season on Oct. 8 following its 14-10 win at Michigan. The Spartans debuted at No. 21 in The Associated Press Poll and No. 22 in the Amway Coaches Poll. It marked the first time MSU was ranked since Sept. 25, 2016, when the Spartans were ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll. At that time, MSU had been ranked for a school-record 46 consecutive weeks, spanning back to Oct. 27, 2013. For 33 of those 46 weeks, MSU had been ranked in the Top 10.
• The Spartans moved up three spots in each of the national polls this week to No. 18 (AP) and No. 19 (Coaches).
• Michigan State is 55-15 (.786) as a ranked team in the AP Poll under Dantonio. As a ranked team, Michigan State has only lost to an unranked opponent three times under Dantonio (36-3; at Notre Dame, 2011; at Nebraska, 2015; at Indiana, 2016).
SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF --
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has produced a 56-18 record (.757) 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 41-12 (.774) at home since 2010 and 25-7 (.781) since 2013.
• Mark Dantonio is 28-4 (.875) against nonconference opponents in Spartan Stadium (only losses: 2009 to Central Michigan; 2012 to No. 20 Notre Dame; 2016 to BYU; 2017 to Notre Dame).
• Dantonio is 11-0 in home openers at MSU and the Spartans' 19-game winning streak in home openers is tied for the fifth-long longest in the nation.
