Michigan State Travels to No. 8 Penn State Looking to Keep Land Grant Trophy

Saturday, October 13

State College, Pa.

3:30 P.M.

Michigan State University

Penn State

Photo by: Matthew Mitchell

Michigan State Travels to No. 8 Penn State Looking to Keep Land Grant Trophy

10/10/2018 11:04:00 AM | Football

Michigan State Game Notes Penn State Game Notes Penn State Game Day Information

Game 6: Michigan State (3-2, 1-1 B1G) at No. 8 Penn State (4-1, 1-1 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 13
Kickoff: 3:40 p.m. EDT
Location: University Park, Pa.
Stadium: Beaver Stadium (106,572)
Surface: Natural Grass
TV/Web/Mobile: BTN/BTN2Go
Announcers: Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), James Laurinaitis (analyst), Lisa Byington (sidelines)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Affiliate Listings
Satellite Radio: Ch. 134 (Sirius), Ch. 196 (XM), Ch. 958 (SiriusXM.com)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Sidearm Live Stats
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 16-15-1

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 103-47 (12th year)
Overall Record: 121-63 (15th year)
Record vs. PSU: 5-4 (5-3 at MSU)

PSU Head Coach: James Franklin
PSU Record: 40-18 (fifth year)
Overall Record: 64-33 (eighth year)
Record vs. MSU: 1-3

FIRST-AND-10 –
• Michigan State will face its first ranked team of the season on Saturday, Oct. 13 as the Spartans take on No. 8/8 Penn State at 3:30 p.m. in Beaver Stadium. The game will be televised on BTN, with Kevin Kugler, James Laurinaitis and Lisa Byington on the call. MSU (3-2, 1-1 B1G) fell at home to Northwestern last Saturday, 29-19, while the Nittany Lions had a bye week following their 27-26 loss to fourth-ranked Ohio State.

• Saturday's game marks the 33rd meeting between Michigan State and Penn State, with MSU leading the all-time series, 16-15-1. The Spartans have won four of the last five meetings against the Nittany Lions, including a 27-24 victory last season in Spartan Stadium on Matt Coghlin's 34-yard field goal as time expired. Coghlin's game-winning field goal capped a long day at Spartan Stadium, as the game was delayed for three hours and 22 minutes in the second quarter due to lightning (game started at 12:05 p.m. and finished at 7:03 p.m.). PSU holds a 10-6-1 advantage in games played in University Park.

• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 5-3 against Penn State while coaching the Spartans, including a 2-2 record in Beaver Stadium. Dantonio is 5-4 overall against the Nittany Lions (lost at Penn State in 2005 while coaching Cincinnati). The Spartans clinched the 2010 Big Ten Championship at Penn State, which also marked MSU's first win at Beaver Stadium since 1965.

• Since the renewal of the series in 1993, the winner of the Michigan State-Penn State game has been presented the Land-Grant Trophy. The trophy honors the two universities' unique places in history as the two pioneer land-grant schools in the nation. Each institution was founded in 1855: Michigan State on Feb. 12 and Penn State on Feb. 22. The schools were the prototypes after which the land-grant system was patterned. Since 1993, Penn State leads the series, 14-8, but the Spartans have won four of the last five.

• The Spartans have consistently produced wins against highly ranked teams under Mark Dantonio. MSU is 9-5 in its last 14 games against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 10, including an 8-5 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 and No. 8 Penn State in 2016; beat No. 7 Michigan and No. 7 Penn State in 2017). Michigan State has won 13 of its last 21 games played against AP Top 25 opponents.

• In last year's 27-24 win over No. 7 Penn State, Brian Lewerke completed 33-of-56 passes for 400 yards, the second-highest single-game total in school history (record: Lewerke's 445 vs. Northwestern in 2017).

• Under Mark Dantonio, the Spartans are 20-26 (.435) in 46 games played against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25; however, MSU is 19-17 against ranked teams since 2010 and 13-9 since 2013. The 20 wins over AP Top 25 teams rank second among head coaches in MSU history (Duffy Daugherty with 25 from 1954-72). Dantonio is 9-9 against AP Top 10 teams at MSU (9-5 since 2011).

• Michigan State ranks first in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 33.8 yards per game (169 yards total through five games: Utah State, 25; Arizona State, 44; Indiana, 29; Central Michigan, 63; Northwestern, 8). The 169 rushing yards allowed in the first five games of the season are the fewest in school history dating back to 1945 when complete single-game records are available. It's also the lowest total by a Power 5 team since 2008 and the fourth lowest since 1996, according to STATS. MSU's star-studded 1966 defense that won the Big Ten and National Championship allowed 205 rushing yards in its first five games (41.0 ypg), and MSU's 1999 team gave up just 214 yards in its first five games.

• The Spartans have limited their opponents under 100 yards rushing in eight straight games, dating back to last season, the longest stretch for MSU since 2012-13 (last three games of 2012; first nine games of 2013). In the Dantonio era, Michigan State has held its opponent below 100 yards rushing in 77 of 150 games (51 percent); MSU is 66-11 (.857) during those games. MSU is one of only two teams in the FBS, along with San Diego State, to not allow a rush of more than 20 yards this season. The longest rush MSU has given up was a 16-yard run by Central Michigan's Jonathan Ward. MSU also has only given up nine rushes of 10-plus yards, second fewest in the FBS (San Diego State, 6).

• Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten and tied for seventh in the FBS with nine interceptions in just five games this season. MSU's 1.80 average is also second in the Big Ten and tied for fifth in the FBS. Eight different players – LB Joe Bachie, CB Shakur Brown, S David Dowell, CB Justin Layne, S Matt Morrissey, DT Mike Panasiuk, LB Antjuan Simmons and S Khari Willis – have recorded interceptions this season for MSU. Michigan State has recorded two interceptions in a game four times this season (Utah State, Indiana, Central Michigan, Northwestern).

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – Connor Heyward (42 carries for 147 yards, 3.5 avg., 29.4 ypg, 3 TDs)
Passing – Brian Lewerke (111-of-173, .642, 1,328 yards, 265.6 ypg, 6 TDs, 6 INTs)
Receiving – Felton Davis III (23 catches for 374 yards, 16.3 avg., 74.8 ypg, 2 TDs)
Tackles – Joe Bachie (39 tackles, 22 solo, 17 assists, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT, 2 PBUs)

Penn State:
Rushing – Miles Sanders (87 carries for 538 yards, 6.2 avg., 107.6 ypg, 6 TDs)
Passing – Trace McSorley (73-of-138 for 1,049 yards, 209.8 ypg, 10 TD, 2 INTs)
Receiving – KJ Hamler (13 catches for 308 yards, 23.7 avg, 61.6 ypg, 4 TDs)
Tackles – Jan Johnson (29 tackles, 17 solo, 12 assists, 0.5 TFLs)

A QUICK GLANCE AT PENN STATE (4-1, 1-1 BIG TEN) –
• The No. 8/8 Nittany Lions are 4-1 overall and 1-1 in B1G action and are coming off a bye last week . . . Last time out, Penn State was edged by No. 4 Ohio State, 27-26, on Sept. 29, for the Nittany Lions' first loss of the season and snapping their 16-game home winning streak . . . PSU opened with a 45-38 OT win over Appalachian State on Sept. 1, then a 51-6 win at Pitt on Sept. 8, followed by a 63-10 rout of Kent State on Sept. 15, before opening B1G action with a 63-24 win at Illinois.

• Last time out against Ohio State, PSU jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the second quarter, but Ohio State scored late in the first half and early in the third quarter to take a 14-13 advantage into the fourth quarter, where Penn State scored two TDs, missing a two-point conversion on the second, to take a 26-14 lead with 8:00 to play . . . However, Ohio State scored a TD with 6:42 left and the go-ahead score with 2:03 remaining, but missed the two-point conversion, for a 27-26 score . . . The Nittany Lions drove to the Buckeyes' side of midfield, reaching the OSU 43, but were stopped on fourth-and-5 with just over a minute left, and OSU ran out the clock.

• PSU amassed 492 yards of total offense (286 passing and 206 rushing), while OSU had 389 yards of total offense (270 passing and 119 rushing).

• Trace McSorley was 16-for-32 passing for 286 yards with two TDs, including a 93-yard pass play to sophomore wide receiver KJ Hamler, which was the second-longest play from scrimmage in Penn State history, and the longest yielded by the OSU defense in Buckeye history . . . It was also McSorley's 33rd-straight game with a TD pass, extending his school record and the longest active streak in FBS . . . McSorley also had 25 carries for a game-best 175 yards (7.0 ypc) with a long of 51 yards, a new career-high.

• Penn State is second in the B1G and fourth in FBS in scoring margin (+28.6), leading the league and ranking fifth in the nation in scoring offense (49.6 ppg), while ranking fifth in the conference and 34th in the country in scoring defense (21.0 ppg).

• The Nittany Lions offense is boosted by its ground attack, ranking second in the B1G and 12th in FBS in rushing offense (261.2 ypg) . . . PSU is fifth in the conference and 54th in the country in passing offense (248.8 ypg), to rank second in the league and 14th in the nation in total offense (510.0 ypg).

• Defensively, PSU is third in the league and 33rd in the nation in passing yards allowed (192.6 ypg), and 10th in the conference and 67th in the country in rushing defense (161.8 ypg), to rank seventh in the B1G and 45th in FBS in total defense (354.4 ypg).

• The Nittany Lion defense leads the B1G and ranks eighth in FBS in team tackles for loss per game (8.8) with 44 total TFLs.

• Through the air, McSorley leads the B1G and ranks 16th in FBS in passing yards per completion (14.37), as well as well as third in the league in passing TDs (10), on 73-of-138 passing with 10 TDs and two INTs for 1,049 yards . . . McSorley is sixth in the conference in passing efficiency (137.8), while ranking eighth in passing yards per game (209.8) . . . On the ground, McSorley is tied for second in the B1G and tied for 24th in the FBS in rushing TDs (6), ranking sixth in the conference in rushing yards per game (82.0 ypg), with 66 carries for 410 yards, ranking fourth in the league and 28th in the nation in rushing yards per game (6.21 ypc).

• Junior running back Miles Sanders is third in the conference and 17th in the country in rushing yards per game (107.6), along with third in the league and 26th in the nation in rushing yards (538), on 87 carries, ranking fifth in the B1G and 31st in FBS (6.18) . . . Sanders has nine catches for 58 yards (6.4 ypc).

• Kamler leads the B1G and ranks fifth in FBS in yards per reception (23.69), as well as 10th in the B1G in both receiving yards per game (61.6) and total receiving yards (308), with 13 catches and four TDs.

• Johnson has a team-leading 17 reception for 202 yards (11.9 ypc/40.4 ypg) with one TD.

• Defensively, junior linebacker Jan Johnson leads PSU with 29 tackles (17 solo, 12 assists) with 0.5 sack and one interception . . . Taylor is second on the team with 27 stops (17 solo, 10 assists), with 1.5 TFL, one interception and one pass break-up.

• Junior defensive end Shareer Miller is fourth in the B1G and 41st in FBS in tackles for loss per game (1.3), ranking sixth in the league with 6.5 total tackles for loss, including three sacks.

• Senior cornerback Amani Oruwariye is tied for third in the B1G in passes defended (7), with two INTs and five pass break-ups, also ranking third in the league in passes defended per game (1.4) . . . Sophomore cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields is tied for 10th in the league in passes defended (5), with five pass break-ups.

• Jake Pinegar is 10th in the B1G in field goal percentage (.500) on 3-of-6, ranking 11th in the league in field goals per game (0.6), with a long of 39 yards . . . Pinegar is also 33-of-33 on PATs, ranking fifth in the conference for scoring (8.4 ppg).

• Blake Gillikin is fifth in the B1G and 54th in FBS in punting with a 41.9 ypp average on 21 punts, with a long of 58 yards, one of five punts of 50+ yards, including nine inside the 20.

MSU/PENN STATE SERIES NOTES –
• Saturday's game marks the 33rd meeting between Michigan State and Penn State, with MSU leading the all-time series, 16-15-1. The Spartans have won four of the last five meetings against the Nittany Lions, including a 27-24 victory last season in Spartan Stadium on Matt Coghlin's 34-yard field goal as time expired. Coghlin's game-winning field goal capped a long day at Spartan Stadium, as the game was delayed for three hours and 22 minutes in the second quarter due to lightning (game started at 12:05 p.m. and finished at 7:03 p.m.). PSU holds a 10-6-1 advantage in games played in University Park.

• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 5-3 against Penn State while coaching the Spartans, including a 2-2 record in Beaver Stadium. Dantonio is 5-4 overall against the Nittany Lions (lost at Penn State in 2005 while coaching Cincinnati). The Spartans clinched the 2010 Big Ten Championship at Penn State, which also marked MSU's first win at Beaver Stadium since 1965.

• Since the renewal of the series in 1993, the winner of the Michigan State-Penn State game has been presented the Land-Grant Trophy. The trophy honors the two universities' unique places in history as the two pioneer land-grant schools in the nation. Each institution was founded in 1855, Michigan State on Feb. 12 and Penn State on Feb. 22. The schools were the prototypes after which the land-grant system was patterned. Since 1993, Penn State leads the series, 14-8, but the Spartans have won four of the last five.

• This marks the first time MSU will play at Penn State in the month of October since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten Conference in 1993. The Spartans and Nittany Lions traditionally met on the last game of the regular season prior to the Big Ten splitting up into divisions in 2011. MSU and PSU resumed playing on the last game from 2014-16. MSU last played at Penn State in October during the Spartans' undefeated 1951 National Championship season. The Spartans also beat Penn State in September 1965 en route to winning the school's fifth National Championship.

THE LAST MEETING –
Nov. 4, 2017, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP): Michael Geiger had the windmill. Now Matt Coghlin has the slide. On a long, wet, wacky day at Spartan Stadium, Coghlin's celebration sure felt appropriate.

Coghlin kicked a 34-yard field goal as time expired -- some seven hours after the game began -- and No. 24 Michigan State upset No. 7 Penn State 27-24 on Saturday in a game that was delayed nearly 3 1/2 hours by severe weather in the second quarter. After making his winning kick, Coghlin ran back down the field and slid across it on his stomach while his teammates joined him in celebration.

Two years ago, Geiger kicked a field goal to beat No. 2 Ohio State and took off running, making a windmill motion with his arm. That gesture became one of the highlights of Michigan State's run to a Big Ten title in 2015.

Trace McSorley threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns for Penn State, but star Saquon Barkley was held in check. He had 0 yards rushing in the first half and finished with only 63. McSorley was intercepted three times.

Brian Lewerke threw for 400 yards and two touchdowns for the Spartans, and Michigan State was aided at the end by a roughing the passer call on Penn State's Marcus Allen. Lewerke was hit by Allen on a third-down pass that fell incomplete in the final minute. The penalty moved the ball to the Penn State 22, and the Spartans were able to run the clock down before Coghlin's winning kick.

Penn State was ahead 14-7 in the second quarter when the game was halted for a lengthy weather delay. The game kicked off at 12:05 p.m. and didn't end until after dark at 7:03.

INJURIES STARTING TO MOUNT FOR MSU –
• Michigan State has suffered a rash of injuries early in the season to key personnel. The Spartans tied for the most returning starters in the FBS with 22, but eight of those returning starters have missed time this season due to injury, including six on offense, one on defense and one on special teams.

• On offense, senior running back LJ Scott left the Arizona State game on Sept. 8 in the second half with an ankle injury and hasn't returned to the field since . . . junior left tackle Cole Chewins entered the season with 16 straight starts, but has yet to see consistent action this season, playing just 74 snaps in four games (did not play in season opener vs. Utah State) . . . both junior wide receiver Darrell Stewart and sophomore right guard Kevin Jarvis were injured in the second half at Indiana; Jarvis has missed the last two games and Stewart did not play vs. Central Michigan . . . sophomore wide receiver Cody White, the team's second-leading receiver, broke his hand in the second quarter vs. CMU and is out for an indefinite amount of time . . . starting left guard David Beedle suffered an injury on MSU's first series against Northwestern and is likley out for a month . . . in addition, freshman wide receiver Jalen Nailor, who scored two TDs at Indiana including a 75-yard run in the fourth quarter, has not dressed the last two weeks.

• Defensively, sophomore cornerback Josiah Scott, a 2017 Freshman All-American, had his meniscus repaired during preseason camp and has yet to see the field for the Spartans in 2018. His timetable to return is still indefinite . . . fifth-year senior Dillon Alexander, a reserve defensive end, missed the first four games but returned to action against Northwestern on Oct. 6.

• Entering the 2018 season, Michigan State had only three starting punters in the Mark Dantonio era: Aaron Bates (2007-10), Mike Sadler (2011-14) and Jake Hartbarger (2015-present); however, Hartbarger was injured in the fourth quarter at Arizona State – just one quarter after he booted a career-long 74-yarder – and Dantonio announced on Oct. 9 that Hartbarger would be out the rest of the season with a lower-leg injury. Redshirt freshman walk-on Tyler Hunt has been Hartbarger's replacement the last three games.

SPARTANS STILL ONE OF THE YOUNGEST TEAMS IN THE NATION –
• Last season, Michigan State's roster was one of the youngest in the nation with 77 underclassmen, but MSU still managed to win 10 games and finished No. 15 in the final AP Poll.

• Although nearly everyone returned from last season, including 19 of 22 position starters, MSU's 2018 roster is still one of the youngest in the country, as 81 out of the 120 players (67.5 percent) are underclassmen (28 true freshmen, 22 redshirt freshmen, 31 sophomores, 21 juniors, 18 seniors). That 67.5 percentage puts MSU as the 17th youngest team in the FBS.

Felton Davis

LAST TIME OUT: NORTHWESTERN 29, MSU 19
• In the 57th meeting between Michigan State and Northwestern, the Wildcats defeated the Spartans, 29-19, last Saturday in Spartan Stadium . . . MSU leads the all-time series, 37-20 . . . Mark Dantonio is 5-5 in his tenure against NU, while Pat Fitzgerald is 5-6 against MSU . . . MSU leads the series in East Lansing, 18-9.

OFFENSE
• Felton Davis III led all players with 146 all-purpose yards, including a career-high 50 rushing yards . . . he also led MSU with a season-high seven receptions for 96 yards . . . Davis scored the first rushing TD of his career on a 48-yard score off of a double reverse in the third quarter . . . he also had a 3-yard TD grab in the third quarter, the 12th receiving TD of his career . . . Davis recorded his fourth career multi-TD game, as his previous three had been two receiving scores, last doing so vs. Northwestern (10/28/17).

• Brian Lewerke threw for a season-high 329 yards, the fourth-highest output of his career . . . he completed 31-of-51 passes . . . the 51 passes tied for ninth most by a Spartan QB in a single game . . . the 31 completions tied for seventh most in an MSU single game.

• Connor Heyward accounted for 71 all-purpose yards (30 receiving, 29 kick return, 12 rushing) . . . he caught a career-high seven passes for 30 yards.

• Cam Chambers recorded career highs in catches (5) and receiving yards (82).

• C.J. Hayes snared his first career reception, with one catch for 13 yards.

DEFENSE
• Michigan State, the nation's top-ranked rushing defense, limited Northwestern to 8 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

• Mike Panasiuk recorded his first career interception off a deflected pass in the third quarter.

• Khari Willis picked off his second pass of the season and returned it 10 yards . . . it marked Willis' fourth career interception.

• Raequan Williams tied a career high with two tackles for loss (8 yards).

• Kenny Willekes tied a season high with eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss (3 yards) . . . Willekes now has a team-high eight TFLs this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin established a school record for consecutive field goals by making his 16th straight on a 25-yarder with 2:50 left in the second quarter . . . he made his 15th in a row on a 27-yarder in the first quarter . . . the previous record was held by Brett Swenson (15 straight in 2008) . . . Coghlin is 8-for-8 in field-goal attempts this season.

• Tyler Hunt placed a career-high five of his seven punts inside the 20 . . . he averaged 40.9 yards on seven punts, including a career-long 63-yarder.

BRIAN LEWERKE RANKS AMONG BIG TEN LEADERS IN PASSING AND TOTAL OFFENSE –
• Junior quarterback Brian Lewerke ranks second in the Big Ten in passing (265.6 ypg) and fourth in total offense (278.2 ypg). Lewerke has completed 64 percent of his passes (111-of-173) for 1,328 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. He threw for a season-high 329 yards, the fourth-highest output of his career, against Northwestern on Oct. 6.

• In his first full year as the starter in 2017, Brian Lewerke became the first quarterback in school history to throw for more than 2,500 yards and rush for more than 500 yards in the same season. Lewerke finished 2017 with the second-most yards of total offense in an MSU season with 3,352 (Drew Stanton with 3,415 in 2005). He also finished the 2017 campaign ranked among MSU's single-season leaders in passing completions (third with 246), passing attempts (fourth with 417), passing yards (seventh with 2,793) and touchdown passes (tied for eighth with 20). He rushed for 559 yards on 124 carries with five TDs. Through five games this season, Lewerke has rushed 43 times for 63 yards, although he has been sacked 11 times for 93 yards. He has gained 162 yards and lost 99 for a net total of 63.

• In 2017, Lewerke set MSU sophomore records for total offense (3,352 yards), passing yards (2,793), passing attempts (417) and passing completions (246). He also finished the season with 559 yards rushing on 124 carries, the fourth most by a Spartan quarterback in a single season and the most since Drew Stanton had 687 in 2004.

• Lewerke was named the Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP after finishing with 286 yards of total offense against Washington State. He was 13-of-21 passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns, and set a Spartan bowl record for most rushing yards by a quarterback (14 carries for 73 yards). Lewerke was 9-of-10 passing for 162 yards and two TDs in the second quarter alone. Lewerke's three touchdown passes tied a Spartan bowl record (accomplished three previous times).

• A week after setting numerous school records at Northwestern on Oct. 28, 2017, Lewerke had another impressive game against Penn State on Nov. 4, becoming the first Spartan quarterback to throw for 400 yards in back-to-back games. He threw for a school-record 445 yards at Northwestern, and for 400 against Penn State; the 400 yards tied for the second-most yards by a Spartan QB in a single game (Bill Burke with 400 in win over Michigan in 1999). Lewerke became one of just three Big Ten quarterbacks in the last 20 years to throw for 400 yards in two consecutive games (Drew Brees, Purdue, 1998; C.J. Bacher, Northwestern, 2007).

• Lewerke set school single-game records for passing yards (445), total offense (475) and completions (39) in the triple-overtime loss at Northwestern on Oct. 28, 2017. His 57 passing attempts also marked a career high and tied for the second most in school history (record: 61 by Brian Hoyer vs. Penn State in 2006); MSU's previous single-game records were 400 passing yards (Bill Burke vs. Michigan, 1999), 416 yards of total offense (Connor Cook vs. Indiana, 2015) and 35 completions (Jeff Smoker vs. Ohio State, 2003). Lewerke also threw a career-high four touchdowns against the Wildcats, tied for the second most in school history (accomplished 13 previous times). Lewerke's 445 yards passing and 475 total yards against Northwestern were both the most by a Big Ten quarterback in a single game in 2017.

• 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. 29. He bounced back quickly from the injury and fully participated in all of spring practice in 2017. In 2016, Lewerke became the first Spartan freshman quarterback to start a game (Northwestern) since 2004 (Stephen Reaves vs. Central Michigan).

• In 22 career games (13-7 record as the starter, including 18 straight starts), Lewerke has completed 60 percent of his passes (388-for-647) for 4,502 yards, 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He has 771 career rushing yards on 188 carries (35.0 ypg; 4.1 avg.).

• Lewerke crossed the 4,000 career yards passing milestone during the Central Michigan game, becoming the 12th Spartan quarterback to reach that mark. He currently ranks 10th in MSU history with 4,502 passing yards.

• Lewerke is also one of just eight Spartans to collect more than 5,000 yards of total offense in his career; he curently ranks seventh in MSU history with 5,273 total yards.

LJ SCOTT STILL LOOKING TO RETURN TO STARTING LINEUP –
• Senior LJ Scott is looking to become just the third Spartan in school history to lead the team in rushing four straight years (Javon Ringer, 2005-08; Lorenzo White, 1984-87). He has played in just two games, however, after leaving the Arizona State game in the second half. Scott currently ranks third on the team 103 yards rushing on 30 carries (51.5 ypg; 3.4 avg.).

• The 6-1, 225-pound Scott is one of 12 Spartan running backs in school history to rush for more than 2,500 career yards. He eclipsed the 2,500-yard mark during the Holiday Bowl and currently ranks 10th in the MSU record book with 2,694 rushing yards. In addition, his 25 career rushing touchdowns are tied for 12th in the school record book.

• Scott has nine career 100-yard rushing games, including three in 2017 (career-high 194 yards at Minnesota on Oct. 14; 147 vs. Maryland on Nov. 18; 110 vs. Washington State on Dec. 28).

• In 40 career games, including 20 starts, Scott has rushed for 2,694 yards (67.4 ypg; 4.8 avg.) and 25 touchdowns. Scott ranks 10th in MSU history in carries (561) and rushing yards (2,694) and tied for 12th in rushing touchdowns (25).

• In Scott's absence, sophomore Connor Heyward and true freshman La'Darius Jefferson, a high school quarterback, have received the bulk of the workload in the backfield. Heyward has 42 carries for 147 yards, while Jefferson has 32 carries for 125 yards. Heyward scored two rushing TDs in the season opener against Utah State, including the game-winning 13-yard score with 2:00 left in the fourth quarter, while Jefferson ran for a season-high 56 yards on 13 attempts and one TD vs. Central Michigan. Redshirt freshman Weston Bridges has also seen brief time in the playing rotation with seven carries for 18 yards.

SPARTANS FEATURE POTENT PASSING ATTACK –
• All three of Michigan State's starting wide receivers from last season are back this year, and the trio of senior Felton Davis III, junior Darrell Stewart and sophomore Cody White is picking up right where they left off in 2017. The trio has accounted for 58 receptions (52 percent of team total), 816 receiving yards (61 percent) and four touchdowns (67 percent). Unfortunately, White suffered a broken hand in the second quarter of the Central Michigan game while diving for a catch in the end zone and is out indefinitely; in addition, Stewart missed the CMU game with an injury and was limited against Northwestern.

• MSU ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 38th in the FBS in passing, averaging 266.8 ypg.

• White leads the team and ranks sixth in the Big Ten with 75.0 receiving yards per game (300 total). He also ranks first on the team and tied for ninth in the conference in receptions (5.0 per game; 20 total). Fifteen of his 20 catches (75 percent) have resulted in either a first down or touchdown.

• Davis is first on the team in receiving yards (374; 74.8 ypg) and catches (23; 4.6 pg). He also ranks seventh in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (74.8 ypg). Nineteen of his 23 receptions (83 percent) have resulted in either a TD or first down.

• Stewart is third on the Spartans in receiving yards (142; 35.5 ypg) and fourth in receptions (15). He missed the CMU game with an injury and saw limited action against Northwestern (33 snaps).

VETERAN FELTON DAVIS IS MSU'S ACTIVE LEADING RECEIVER –
• Senior Felton Davis III is MSU's active leader in receptions (92), receiving yards (1,350) and touchdown catches (12). He has played in 37 career games, including 18 consecutive starts.

• Davis led a young receiving corps last season with career highs in receptions (55), receiving yards (776) and touchdown catches (9), all of which ranked among the Big Ten leaders (tied for third in TD catches with nine; tied for seventh in receptions at 4.2 pg; seventh in receiving yards at 59.7 ypg). Forty-three of his 55 receptions (78 percent) were for either a first down or a touchdown. He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and third team by the coaches.

• Davis got off to an excellent start his senior season with three catches for 69 yards vs. Utah State, including a diving 31-yard grab late in the fourth quarter on MSU's game-winning touchdown drive against the Aggies.
During the game, Davis become the 43rd Spartan in school history to cross the 1,000-yard receiving mark for his career.

• Davis recorded his third 100-yard receiving game of the 2017 season in the Holiday Bowl, hauling in four catches for 118 yards against Washington State, including a career-long 49-yard touchdown pass from Brian Lewerke in the second quarter. The 118 receiving yards were fifth most by a Spartan in a bowl game.

• This season, is first on the team in receiving yards (374; 74.8 ypg) and catches (23; 4.6 pg). He also ranks seventh in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (74.8 ypg). Nineteen of his 23 receptions (83 percent) have resulted in either a TD or first down.

SOPHOMORE WIDE RECEIVER CODY WHITE OUT INDEFINITELY WITH BROKEN HAND –
• Sophomore Cody White leads the team and ranks sixth in the Big Ten with 75.0 receiving yards per game (300 total). He also ranks first on the team and tied for ninth in the conference in receptions (5.0 per game; 20 total). Fifteen of his 20 catches (75 percent) have resulted in either a first down or touchdown. Unfortunately, White suffered a broken hand in the second quarter of the Central Michigan game on Sept. 29 while diving for a catch in the end zone and is out indefinitely.

• White recorded his second career 100-yard receiving game with 113 yards, including a 31-yard TD in the third quarter, at Arizona State. He also tied his career high with nine receptions (Northwestern, 2017).

• White, a BTN All-Freshman Team selection in 2017, closed his first year in the Green and White with the most receiving yards by a true freshman in school history with 490. His 35 catches were second most by a true freshman (Sedrick Irvin with 40 in 1996) and most by a true freshman wide receiver (B.J. Cunningham had 41 catches for 528 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2008). White recorded 30 of his 35 catches in the second half of the season.

• In his first career start, White was named the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week after setting a Spartan freshman single-game record with 165 receiving yards at Northwestern on Oct. 28, 2017. That total was also the 20th-most overall by an MSU player in a single game and the third most by a Spartan against Northwestern.

• In just 17 career games, including 10 starts, White has 55 catches for 710 yards and six touchdowns.

SHUFFLING ALONG THE OFFENSIVE LINE –
• Michigan State has featured five different starting lineup combinations along the offensive line during the first five games of the season. The only player to start all five games at the same position is sophomore right tackle Jordan Reid.

• The only starter the Spartans lost from last season, Brian Allen, started every game at center, but was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft and is now playing for the Los Angeles Rams. Junior Tyler Higby, who started at 13 games at left guard over the course of 2016 and 2017, started the first two games at center, but sophomore Matt Allen took over the starting job at Indiana on Sept. 22 and has started the last three games at center. Allen became the third member of the Allen family to start at center for the Spartans, joining his older brothers Jack and Brian.

• Three different players have started at left tackle in 2018. Junior Cole Chewins, who started every game in 2017, has been battling back from an injury and has only seen brief time in 2018 (74 total snaps). He started at Arizona State on Sept. 8 but only played one snap from scrimmage. Sophomore Luke Campbell started the season opener vs. Utah State, but moved to left guard at Indiana on Sept. 22, then started at right guard vs. Central Michigan on Sept. 29 with regular starter Kevin Jarvis out with an injury.

• Fifth-year senior David Beedle started the first two games at left guard but was limited at Indiana due to an injury; he returned to the starting lineup vs. CMU but was injured in the first series against Northwestern and is likely out for at least a month. Redshirt freshman Matt Carrick replaced Beedle at left guard and saw the first extensive action of his career (35 snaps).

• Redshirt freshman Blake Bueter, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship during MSU's bye week, started his first career game at right guard against Northwestern and played a career-high 78 snaps.

• Junior Tyler Higby has started at left tackle the past three games after starting the first two games at center.

Williams, Raequan

STOPPING THE RUN –
• Michigan State ranks first in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 33.8 yards per game (169 yards total through five games: Utah State, 25; Arizona State, 44; Indiana, 29; Central Michigan, 63; Northwestern, 8). The 169 rushing yards allowed in the first five games of the season are the fewest in school history dating back to 1945 when complete single-game records are available. It's also the lowest total by a Power 5 team since 2008 and the fourth lowest since 1996, according to STATS. MSU's star-studded 1966 defense that won the Big Ten and National Championship allowed 205 rushing yards in its first five games (41.0 ypg), and MSU's 1999 team gave up just 214 yards in its first five games.

• MSU is one of only two teams in the FBS, along with San Diego State, to not allow a rush of more than 20 yards this season. The longest rush MSU has given up was a 16-yard run by Central Michigan's Jonathan Ward. MSU also has only given up nine rushes of 10-plus yards, second fewest in the FBS (San Diego State, 6).

• MSU's opponents have only run the ball 128 times (37 percent of snaps), the third-fewest allowed in the FBS; however, MSU's opponents have attempted 220 passes (63 percent of snaps), tied for ninth most most among FBS teams

• The Spartans have limited their opponents under 100 yards rushing in eight straight games, dating back to last season, the longest stretch for MSU since 2012-13 (last three games of 2012; first nine games of 2013).

• 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). The Spartans have ranked in the Top 25 in rushing defense seven times in the last nine seasons, including a run of five straight years in the top 11 (2011-15). MSU led the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2017 (95.3 ypg).

• In 150 games under Dantonio, Michigan State has held its opponent under 100 yards rushing 77 times (51 percent). MSU is 66-11 (.857) in those games, including a 56-6 (.903) record since 2010.

SPARTANS RANK TIED FOR FIRST IN BIG TEN WITH SEVEN INTERCEPTIONS –
• Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten and tied for seventh in the FBS with nine interceptions in just five games this season. MSU's 1.80 average is also second in the Big Ten and tied for fifth in the FBS.

• Eight different players – LB Joe Bachie, CB Shakur Brown, S David Dowell, CB Justin Layne, S Matt Morrissey, DT Mike Panasiuk, LB Antjuan Simmons and S Khari Willis – have recorded interceptions this season for MSU.
• Redshirt freshman cornerback Shakur Brown returned an interception 69 yards for a TD in the first quarter at Indiana to give MSU a 14-0 lead. It was MSU's first pick six since Tyson Smith vs. Bowling Green in 2017 and it marked MSU's 30th defensive TD in the Dantonio era.

• Michigan State has recorded two interceptions in a game four times this season (Utah State, Indiana, Central Michigan, Northwestern).

HISTORY OF STINGY DEFENSES UNDER DANTONIO –
• Michigan State finished 2017 ranked among the FBS leaders in rushing defense (No. 2 at 95.3 ypg), total defense (No. 7 at 297.6 ypg), first-downs defense (No. 9 at 206), pass efficiency defense (No. 17 with 113.5 rating), third-down defense (No. 18 at .328) and scoring defense (No. 19 at 20.0 ppg).

• The Spartans led the Big Ten in rushing defense for the fifth time in the Dantonio era (2011-14, 2017). MSU also ranked third in the Big Ten in total defense.

• Michigan State finished No. 7 in the FBS in total defense (297.6), marking the fifth time the Spartans have finished in the FBS Top 10 in total defense under Dantonio (No. 6 in 2011, No. 4 in 2012, No. 2 in 2013, No. 8 in 2014, No. 7 in 2017).

LINEBACKER JOE BACHIE LEADS TEAM IN TACKLES –
• Joe Bachie, who started all 13 games at middle linebacker as a sophomore for the Spartans in 2017 and led the team in tackles (100; 7.7 avg.), was named the recipient of the Governor's Award, which is given annually to the program's most valuable player as voted on by the team. He was the first Spartan sophomore to win the Governor's Award since quarterback Drew Stanton in 2004.

• A team captain, Bachie is right back at it this season, leading the Spartans and ranking tied for sixth in the Big Ten with 7.8 tackles per game (39 total; 22 solo and 17 assists). Against Utah State, Bachie had 11 tackles, including 1.5 for losses. He sealed the victory after he batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage and then dove for the interception with 1:15 left in the game. Bachie had 10 tackles and a 2-yard sack at Arizona State, and posted nine stops at Indiana.

• A third-team All-Big Ten choice by the coaches and media, Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2017.

• In last season's win at No. 7 Michigan, 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 (10) and at least one interception, one forced fumble, one sack and one pass break-up in the same game.

• In 23 career games, including 18 consecutive starts, Bachie has 151 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

FROM WALK-ON TO LEADING THE TEAM IN TACKLES FOR LOSS AND SACKS –
• Kenny Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on for the 2015 season, emerged as a force on the defensive line for the Spartans in 2017. A chemistry major, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. The native of Rockford, Michigan, who is MSU's active leader in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (22.5), started 12 games at defensive end and led the team in tackles for loss (14.5 for 42 yards) and sacks (7.0 for 28 yards) in 2017. He ranks sixth in FBS among active career leaders with 1.18 tackles for loss per game (Ed Oliver of Houston leads active players with 1.52 TFL/game).

• After playing in just one game as a redshirt freshman in 2016, Willekes earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 with a team-leading 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

• Willekes entered this season on the preseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, and began his junior season with a two-sack performance against Utah State. He also recorded two sacks in a game three times last season (Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland).

• Willekes leads the Spartans in tackles for loss (eight) and sacks (4) through the first five games of the season. He ranks tied for third in the Big Ten in sacks (0.8 pg) and tied for second in TFLs (1.60 pg).

SENIOR CAPTAIN KHARI WILLIS UP FOR TWO NATIONAL AWARDS –
• Michigan State senior safety Khari Willis has been named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the nation's top scholar-athlete. The award is also widely known as the "Academic Heisman."

• Willis was also selected one of 30 national candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the prestigious award – which former Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins won in 2011 – a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

• This marks the seventh time in the past eight 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, tight end Josiah Price and center Brian Allen were semifinalists the past three seasons.

• A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Willis owns a 3.24 grade-point average as an interdisciplinary studies in social science major, with an emphasis on community governance & advocacy. He was voted a captain by his teammates entering his senior season and has 139 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and four interceptions in 38 career games, including 22 starts. Through five games this season, Willis has recorded 27 tackles, four pass break-ups and a team-leading two interceptions for the Spartans.

• Willis was the keynote player speaker at the 2018 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon in Chicago, and delivered an inspirational speech calling on his fellow Big Ten players to make a difference in their communities. He received a standing ovation and video of his speech went viral across social media. The Jackson, Michigan, native is a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, presented annually to the player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement, and was MSU's nominee for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team.

MIKE PANASIUK & RAEQUAN WILLIAMS CONSISTENT IN THE MIDDLE OF SPARTAN D-LINE –
• Junior defensive tackles Mike Panasiuk and Raequan Williams have started alongside each other on the interior of the defensive line for 21 consecutive games, dating back to the Ohio State game on Nov. 19, 2016. The duo is a big reason why MSU ranks No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense and ranked No. 2 in the FBS in rushing defense last season.

• Williams ranks second on the team with six tackles for loss, which already ties a career high. The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 17 career tackles for loss, including six career sacks, in 29 career games.

• Panasiuk, a native of Roselle, Illinois, has 46 tackles, including six for losses, in 30 career games.

MATT COGHLIN PROVING TO BE ONE OF THE BIG TEN'S BEST PLACEKICKERS –
• Sophomore Matt Coghlin has made 16 consecutive field goals, dating back to the Penn State game last season, which is the longest streak in school history. Brett Swenson held the previous school record with 15 straight, set during the 2008 season.

• Coghlin is 8-for-8 in field-goal attempts this season, which ranks tied for first in the Big Ten. He ranks first in MSU history with his .852 career field-goal percentage (23-of-27). He is one of nine placekickers in the FBS to have a perfect field-goal percentage (minimum 1.0 field goal per game).

• Coghlin was named the Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance at Indiana. He scored on a 6-yard touchdown run on a fake field goal in the third quarter to give MSU a 28-7 lead over Indiana, becoming the first Spartan to score a touchdown and then kick the PAT on his own TD since Sam Williams in 1958 against Wisconsin. Coghlin also connected on all five of his PATs in MSU's 35-21 win at Indiana.

• The Cincinnati, Ohio, native ranks among the Big Ten leaders in PAT percentage (first at 1.000), field-goal percentage (first at 1.000), scoring (second at 8.8 ppg) and field goals made (tied for second with eight).

• Coghlin also was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking the game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired against No. 7 Penn State last season.

SPARTANS LOOKING FOR INTERIM REPLACEMENT AT PUNTER –
• Entering the 2018 season, Michigan State had only three starting punters in the Mark Dantonio era: Aaron Bates (2007-10), Mike Sadler (2011-14) and Jake Hartbarger (2015-present); however, Hartbarger was injured in the fourth quarter at Arizona State – just one quarter after he booted a career-long 74-yarder – and Dantonio announced on Sept. 10 that Hartbarger would be out 6-8 weeks with a lower-leg injury.

• Two Spartan punters made their collegiate debuts against Indiana on Sept. 29. Redshirt freshman Tyler Hunt was the starter, punting four times for 155 yards (38.8 avg.), including a long of 46 yards, while fellow redshirt freshman Bryce Baringer, who joined the team as a walk-on during the bye week, punted twice for 34.0 yards.
• Hunt has started the last three games at punter. He placed a career-high five of his seven punts inside the 20 against Northwestern, averaging 40.9 yards on seven punts, including a career-long 63-yarder.

• Back-up quarterback and redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi was the emergency punter at Arizona State, and filled in once for Hartbarger, punting his only attempt 32 yards in the fourth quarter. MSU also has a walk-on true freshman punter, William Przystup, on the 2018 roster.

PROGRAM NOTES –
• After finishing the 2017 campaign with a 10-3 record and a No. 15 ranking by The Associated Press, Michigan State is looking to use the momentum built from last year into another successful season in 2018. The Spartans capped the greatest single-season turnaround in school history with a dominating 42-17 win over No. 18 Washington State (CFP ranking) in the Holiday Bowl to record their sixth double-digit win season in the last eight years.

• After featuring one of the youngest teams in the nation last season, Michigan State returned a total of 48 letterwinners and 19 position starters in 2018. A total of 33 players returning have starting experience (16 offense, 14 defense, three special teams). Out of a combined 286 possible starting positions in 2017 on offense and defense throughout the course of 13 games, the Spartans are returning 239 of those starts (84 percent). The 19 position starters returning on offense and defense were tied for the most in the FBS along with Florida, and the 22 overall starters (including specialists) are also tied for first (Baylor).

• Michigan State is in the midst of its winningest decade in school history based on total wins, as the Spartans are 81-30 (.730) since the beginning of the 2010 season. During that span, MSU has won five bowl games (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2017 Holiday), three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and three Big Ten Division titles (2011, 2013, 2015). MSU's .730 winning percentage this decade is second best in school history (.766 in 1950s, 70-21-1). 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) and the 36 wins from 2013-15 marked the winningest three-year stretch in the history of the program.

• In addition, the Spartans have earned 10 bowl bids since 2007, including 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.

• The 81 wins this decade are third most in the Big Ten and tied for 13th most in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.

• MSU's highest winning percentage by decade is currently the 1950s (.766, 70-21-1 record), but the 81 wins this current decade are already the most of any previous decade in school history (previous: 70 in 1950s).

• The Spartans have had sustained success in the Big Ten Conference under Dantonio. MSU has won two of the past five Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015) and three overall this decade, also claiming a championship in 2010. The Spartans own victories in 34 of their last 47 games against Big Ten opponents (including the Big Ten Championship Game), dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale, including 22 wins by double-figures.

PLAYING THEIR BEST UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT –
• The Spartans have consistently produced wins against highly ranked teams under Dantonio. MSU is 9-5 in its last 14 games against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 10, including an 8-5 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, and No. 8 Penn State in 2016; beat No. 7 Michigan and No. 7 Penn State in 2017).

• Michigan State has won 13 of its last 21 games played against AP Top 25 opponents.

• Under Mark Dantonio, the Spartans are 20-26 (.435) in 46 games played against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25; however, MSU is 19-17 against ranked teams since 2010 and 13-9 since 2013. The 20 wins over AP Top 25 teams rank second among head coaches in MSU history (Duffy Daugherty with 25 from 1954-72). Dantonio is 9-9 against AP Top 10 teams at MSU (9-5 since 2011).

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 34 of its last 47 games against Big Ten opponents (including the Big Ten Championship Game), dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale, including 22 wins by double-figures. MSU has won 32 of its last 45 regular-season Big Ten Conference games (.711). Michigan State is 48-20 (.706) 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 .663 winning percentage (61-31) in Big Ten regular-season games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games).

• MSU is 30-16 (.652) in Big Ten road games under Dantonio, including a 24-10 record (.706) since 2010. Dantonio has won at least one road game at every Big Ten stadium.

MARK DANTONIO ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COACHES IN BIG TEN HISTORY –
• Now in his 12th season as head coach of the Spartans, Mark Dantonio owns a 103-47 (.687) record. He is one of just nine active FBS coaches to own at least 100 victories at his current school. For the fourth time in his career, Dantonio was named a semifinalist in 2017 for the George Munger College Coach of the Year, presented by the Maxwell Football Club. Dantonio has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (five) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with 10 bowl appearances. He is the only 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 103 victories, trailing only Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty (109), Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.663, 61-31 record, minimum 10 games), tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven), second in Big Ten wins (61) and home wins (61), and fifth in overall winning percentage (.687).

• Dantonio's incredible run at Michigan State ranks among the best in Big Ten history. Dantonio is one of just six Big Ten coaches to have at least six 10-win seasons on their resume (Bo Schembechler, Michigan; Jim Tressel, Ohio State; Joe Paterno, Penn State; Lloyd Carr, Michigan; Urban Meyer, Ohio State) and one of four to have at least five 11-win seasons (Tressel, Paterno, Meyer).

• Dantonio is one of just 14 coaches in Big Ten history to record 100 victories. He is currently No. 14 in Big Ten history with 103 wins.

• Overall, Dantonio owns a 121-64 (.654) record in his 15th season as a head coach (18-17 in three seasons at Cincinnati; 103-47 in 12 seasons at MSU). Dantonio's 121 career wins rank 15th among active FBS coaches and third most in the Big Ten (Urban Meyer, 180; Kirk Ferentz; 159).

• 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 121-64 (.654) in his 15th season.

• Dantonio's .663 winning percentage (61-31) 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 George 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 for third most in Big Ten history (Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer of Ohio State 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 seven times (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; 2015: No. 6 in both polls; 2017: No. 15 AP/No. 16 USA TODAY). His seven AP Top-25 finishes are tied for the most in school history. Duffy 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 ranks first in school history with 10 bowl appearances, including a school-record streak of nine straight bowl games from 2007-15. He is 5-5 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 12 bowl berths in 14 seasons as a head coach (10 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 11 seasons, a total of 203 players have earned their undergraduate degrees. In addition, 163 Spartans have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, including eight Academic All-America selections (five first-team honorees). Michigan State has placed three student-athletes in the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Class during Dantonio's tenure.

• Dantonio is one of just four Spartan head coaches to coach in at least 100 games at MSU and ranks second in Spartan history with 150 games coached at Michigan State (Duffy Daugherty: 183; Dantonio: 150; George Perles: 139; Charlie Bachman: 114).

• Dantonio is the third-longest tenured coach in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: 20th season; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern: 13th season) and eighth-longest in the FBS at the same school.

RUNNING GAME KEY FOR SPARTANS UNDER DANTONIO –
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 85-19 (.817) when outrushing its opponent, including a 69-12 record (.852) since 2010. Conversely, MSU is 18-28 (.391) under Dantonio when being outgained on the ground by its opponent. The Spartans are 39-6 (.867) in games when gaining 200 or more rushing yards under Dantonio.

BALL CONTROL –
• Michigan State has traditionally won the time of possession battle under Mark Dantonio. The Spartans ranked second in the Big Ten and third in the FBS in time of possession in 2017, holding onto the ball for an average of 35:18 a game. In fact, although the NCAA doesn't officially keep track of single-game time of possession records, MSU's time of possession (47:50 to 12:10) vs. Rutgers on Nov. 25, 2017, is believed to be an FBS record. Air Force had the previous record of 45:14 set in 2016 (according to Air Force Athletics).

• The Spartans are second in the Big Ten and ninth in the FBS in time of possession in 2018 (34:30-25:30).

• The Spartans have led in time of possession in 68 percent of games under Mark Dantonio; the Spartans own an .804 winning percentage (82-20) in those games.