No. 24 Spartans Open Big Ten Play at Indiana

Game 3: No. 24/23 Michigan State (1-1) at Indiana (3-0)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 22
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. EDT
Location: Bloomington, Ind.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (52,656) | Stadium Information
Surface: FieldTurf
TV/Web/Mobile: BTN/BTN2Go
Announcers: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Glen Mason (analyst), Elise Menaker (sideline)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Affiliate Listings
Satellite Radio: Ch. 134 (Sirius), Ch. 202 (XM), Ch. 971 (SiriusXM.com)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com
Tickets: iuhoosiers.com
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 46-16-2
Last Meeting: MSU 17, Indiana 9 (2017)
Parking/Gameday Information: iuhoosiers.com

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 101-46 (12th year)
Overall Record: 119-63 (15th year)
Record vs. Indiana: 8-1

IU Head Coach: Tom Allen
IU Record: 8-8 (second year)
Overall Record: 8-8 (second year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-1

FIRST-AND-10 –
• No. 24/23 Michigan State opens the Big Ten season at Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7:40 p.m. in Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on BTN and BTN2Go with Brandon Gaudin, Glen Mason and Elise Menaker on the call. The Spartans (1-1) are coming off their bye week, while Indiana defeated Ball State at home, 38-10, to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2015.

• Saturday's game marks the 65th meeting between Michigan State and Indiana. The Spartans lead the all-time series against the Hoosiers, 46-16-2, including a 24-10-1 record in games played in Bloomington. MSU rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat IU last season in Spartan Stadium, 17-9. MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 8-1 during his tenure against Indiana, including a 3-1 mark at Memorial 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 46-13-1.

• Michigan State opens its 66th season of Big Ten play on Saturday. The Spartans have won nine Big Ten Championships since joining the conference for football in 1953, including a school-record three by head coach Mark Dantonio (2010, 2013, 2015). Dantonio's .667 winning percentage (60-30) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games), and he ranks second in school history in conference wins (Duffy Daugherty, 72). Dantonio is 7-4 in Big Ten openers at MSU.

• Junior quarterback Brian Lewerke leads the Big Ten in passing (300.5 ypg) and total offense (310.0 ypg). Lewerke has completed 69 percent of his passes (50-of-72) for 601 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He threw for 314 yards, the fourth-highest output of his career, in his last game at Arizona State.

• Michigan State is coming off its only bye week of the season following its Week 2 loss at Arizona State. MSU is 6-5 after bye weeks under Dantonio.

• Michigan State ranks first in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 34.5 yards per game. Last season, MSU ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 2 in the FBS in rushing defense (95.3 ypg). In the Dantonio era, Michigan State has held its opponent below 100 yards rushing in 74 of 147 games (50 percent). MSU is 64-10 (.865) during those games.

• Last season, Michigan State posted a 5-1 record in games decided by one score or less. The first two games of the 2018 season have been decided by one score or less, with MSU defeating Utah State, 38-31, but falling on the last play of regulation on a field goal at Arizona State, 16-13. Under Dantonio, the Spartans have managed to win their share of close games. Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Michigan State is 26-13 (.667) in games decided by one score or less, including four bowl victories.

• Michigan State will be playing its third consecutive regular-season night game for the first time in school history. The Spartans are 17-10 overall in 27 regular-season night games under Dantonio, including a 6-6 record on the road. MSU played three of its four games at night in 2016.

• Coming in at No. 24 this week, Michigan State has been ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 for 13 consecutive weeks. MSU entered the national polls for the first time in 2017 on Oct. 8 following its 14-10 win at No. 7 Michigan. The Spartans debuted at No. 21 in The Associated Press Poll and No. 22 in the Amway Coaches Poll. Michigan State is 61-18 (.772) as a ranked team in the AP Poll under Dantonio.

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – LJ Scott (30 carries for 103 yards, 3.4 avg, 0 TDs)
Passing – Brian Lewerke (50-of-72, .694, 601 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs)
Receiving – Cody White (14 catches for 183 yards, 13.1 avg., 2 TDs)
Tackles – Joe Bachie (21 tackles, 12 solo, 9 assists, 2.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT)

Indiana:
Rushing – Stevie Scott (69 carries for 388 yards, 5.6 avg, 3 TDs)
Passing – Peyton Ramsey (56-of-76 for 479 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs)
Receiving – Luke Timian (13 catches for 138 yards, 10.6 avg, 0 TDs)
Tackles – Jonathan Crawford (15 tackles, 12 solo, 3 assists)

A QUICK GLANCE AT INDIANA (3-0) –
• The Hoosiers have opened the season 3-0, marking the first 3-0 start since 2015, after IU's 38-10 blasting of Ball State last Saturday . . . Indiana opened the season with a 38-28 win at Florida International, then opened its home schedule with a 20-16 victory over Virginia, before last week's win over Ball State at home.

• Ball State scored on its opening possession with a field goal and an early 3-0 lead before Indiana reeled off 31 unanswered points, including 21 in the second quarter . . . Indiana finished with 457 total yards and 255 yards on the ground, as IU surpassed 450 yards of total offense for the second time this season and 200 rushing yards for the third time in as many weeks.

• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Peyton Ramsey was 20-of-27 for 173 yards, while adding 43 yards rushing on six carries and scoring one TD, a 5-yard scamper in the second quarter, one of the Hoosiers' four rushing TDs on the day.

• A total of 10 different Hoosiers made receptions and nine recorded carries in the game.

• Freshman running back Stevie Scott tallied 114 yards on 18 carries with two TDs, posting his second consecutive 100-yard game and his first career two-touchdown game, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors . . . senior wide receiver Luke Timian led IU in receiving with five catches for 56 yards.

• Indiana's defense yielded 347 yards of total offense to Ball State with 204 rushing and 143 passing, and had an interception, along with limiting Ball State to 4-of-14 on third-down conversions.

• Junior linebacker Reakwon Jones shared the team lead with five tackles, including posting his first career sack as part of two tackles for loss.

• Senior wide receiver/punt returner J-Shun Harris II had an 86-yard punt return for a TD in the third quarter, tying for the most in IU history with his third career punt return for a touchdown . . . Harris was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.

• Indiana is fifth in the Big Ten in scoring offense (32.0 points per game), while also ranking fifth in scoring defense (17.3 ppg) . . . the Hoosiers are seventh in the league in rushing offense (235.0 ypg) and ninth in passing offense (201.3 ypg), to rank sixth in total offense (436.3 ypg) . . . the Indiana defense leads the league in passing defense (135.3 ypg), while ranking 13th in rushing defense (187.3 ypg), to rank fifth in total defense (322.7 ypg).

• The Hoosier offensive line has only allowed one sack this season, coming in the season-opener at Florida International, leading the B1G and tied for fourth in the FBS in sacks against.

• For the season, Ramsey is 56-of-76 passing for 479 yards and five TDs, while getting intercepted twice, adding 106 yards rushing on 23 carries and one TD . . . Ramsey leads the B1G and ranks seventh in the FBS in completion percentage (.737), along with seventh in the B1G in pass efficiency (143.1) and eighth in total offense (195.0 ypg).
• Scott is second in the B1G and eighth in FBS in rushing at 129.3 ypg with 69 carries for 388 yards (5.6 ypc) with three TDs . . . he is also fourth in the league in all-purpose yardage at 133.3 ypg.

• Timian tops the Hoosier receiving corps with 13 receptions for 138 yards (46.0 ypg/10.6 ypc), while junior wide receiver Donavan Hale adds 116 receiving yards on eight catches (38.7 ypg/14.5 ypc) with a team-leading three TD catches, which ranks tied for third in the B1G and tied for 19th in FBS.

• Crawford leads the IU defense with 15 tackles (5.0 pg) with two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.

• Senior linebacker Dameon Willis Jr. adds 14 stops (4.7 pg) with one TFL, while Jones adds 13 tackles (4.3 pg) with a team-leading 3.5 TFLs with one sack . . . the 3.5 TFLs ranks Jones tied for 16th in the B1G, while ranked tied for 21st with 1.17 TFL/game.

• Harris is second in the league and 23rd in the nation in punt return (13.9 ypg) and is also tied for first in the conference and tied for second in the country with one punt return TD.

• Junior placekicker Logan Justus is 10th in the B1G in scoring among kickers with 6.0 points per game on 12-of-13 PATs and 2-of-3 FGs . . . Justus has a long of 37-yard field goal and has had one blocked.

MSU/INDIANA 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 sixth 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/INDIANA SERIES NOTES –
• Saturday's game marks the 65th meeting between Michigan State and Indiana. The Spartans lead the all-time series against the Hoosiers, 46-16-2, including a 24-10-1 record in games played in Bloomington. MSU rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat IU last season in Spartan Stadium, 17-9.

• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 8-1 during his tenure against Indiana, including a 3-1 mark at Memorial 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 46-13-1.

THE LAST MEETING –
Oct. 21, 2017, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP): Brian Lewerke threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Felton Davis III with 5:59 remaining as No. 18 Michigan State edged Indiana 17-9.

On the next possession, the Spartans forced an Indiana punt -- one of 17 the teams combined for. Then LJ Scott ran 18 yards for a touchdown for Michigan State, which may have actually helped the Hoosiers because it gave them the ball back with 1:49 remaining and a chance to tie it. But Indiana (3-4, 0-4) wasn't able to cross midfield before turning the ball over on downs.

Shut down for most of the game, the Spartans drove 55 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Lewerke completed a short pass to freshman Hunter Rison to convert fourth-and-3, and a reverse to Davis on the next play gained 16 yards, setting up first down at the Indiana 13. Lewerke's pass to Davis for the game's first touchdown gave Michigan State a breakthrough in a tough, defensive matchup.

Griffin Oakes kicked three field goals for Indiana, the last of which put the Hoosiers up 9-3 with 12:29 remaining.

POST-GAME NOTES FROM THE ARIZONA STATE GAME –
• In only the third-ever meeting between the two schools, Arizona State scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to rally past Michigan State, 16-13, on Sept. 8 at Sun Devil Stadium . . . ASU leads the series, 2-1, and will travel to East Lansing for the 2019 season.

• The kickoff at temperature was 100 degrees. The last time MSU played at Sun Devil Stadium for the 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, the temperature at kickoff was 53 degrees.

OFFENSE
• Brian Lewerke threw his fourth 300-yard passing game of his career, completing 27-of-39 passes for 314 yards . . . he threw a 31-yard touchdown to Cody White in the third quarter that gave MSU a 13-3 lead.

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

DEFENSE
• Joe Bachie recorded the seventh double-digit tackle game of his career with 10 . . . he also registered a 2-yard sack.

• Matt Morrissey recorded his first career interception with a pick in the second quarter.

• Tre Person produced his first career sack and forced a fumble on the same play in the third quarter.

• The Spartans recorded two sacks (11 yards) and nine tackles for loss (29 yards).

• MSU held Arizona State to 44 yards rushing; both of MSU's opponents have rushed for under 50 yards this season (Utah State, 25).

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin was 2-for-2 on field goals, connecting on a 37 yarder in the first, and a 28 yarder in the second . . . he is 5-for-5 in field-goal attempts this season.

• Jake Hartbarger boomed a career-long 74-yard punt in the third quarter, which also tied for the eighth-longest punt in MSU history. Unfortunately, Hartbarger was later injured in the fourth quarter, and Dantonio announced at a Sept. 10 press conference that the fifth-year senior punter will be out 6-8 weeks with a lower leg injury.

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 33 of its last 45 games against Big Ten opponents (including the Big Ten Championship Game), dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale, including 21 wins by double-figures. MSU has won 31 of its last 43 regular-season Big Ten Conference games (.721). Michigan State is 47-19 (.712) 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 (60-30) in Big Ten regular-season games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games).

• MSU is 29-16 (.644) in Big Ten road games under Dantonio, including a 23-10 record (.697) since 2010. Dantonio has won at least one road game at every Big Ten stadium.

BRIAN LEWERKE PROVING TO BE A DUAL-THREAT QUARTERBACK –
• Junior quarterback Brian Lewerke leads the Big Ten in passing (300.5 ypg) and total offense (310.0 ypg). Lewerke has completed 69 percent of his passes (50-of-72) for 601 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He threw for 314 yards, the fourth-highest output of his career, in his last game at Arizona State.

• 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.

• Lewerke completed 23-of-33 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener vs. Utah State. He also had 10 rushes for 31 yards on the ground to compile 318 total yards.

• 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, 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. 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). On MSU's 12-play, 88-yard game-tying touchdown drive at the end of the fourth quarter, Lewerke was 10-of-11 for 88 yards on the drive, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Felton Davis III. 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 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 ran for a career-high 81 yards against Western Michigan on Sept. 9, the most by a Spartan quarterback since Drew Stanton had 83 against Purdue in Nov. 4, 2006.

• 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 19 career games (11-6 record as the starter), Lewerke has completed 60 percent of his passes (327-for-546) for 3,775 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has 727 career rushing yards on 163 carries (38.3 ypg; 4.5 avg.).

RUNNING GAME KEY FOR SPARTANS UNDER DANTONIO –
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 83-18 (.822) when outrushing its opponent, including a 67-11 record (.859) 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.

LJ SCOTT LEADS RUSHING ATTACK –
• 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 leads the team after two games with 103 yards rushing on 30 carries.

• 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).

VETERAN FELTON DAVIS III LEADS YOUNG RECEIVING CORPS –
• Wide receiver Felton Davis III 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. Davis' career-high nine TD catches also tied for 25th in the FBS.

• 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 has eight catches for 133 yards and one TD through the first two games of the season.

• 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

• In 34 career games, Davis is MSU's active leader in receptions (77), receiving yards (1,109) and TD catches (11).

CODY WHITE LEADS SPARTANS IN CATCHES AND RECEIVING YARDS –
• Sophomore Cody White leads the team in catches (14), receiving yards (183) and touchdown receptions (2). White ranks second in the Big Ten in both receptions (7.0 pg) and receiving yards (91.5 ypg).

• 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, who started the last six games in 2017, ranked third on the team in catches (35) and receiving yards (490) and second in touchdown receptions (4). White recorded 30 of his 35 catches in the second half of the season.

• White tied his career high with two touchdown catches (15 yards in second quarter; 10 yards in third quarter) in the Holiday Bowl. He finished with three receptions for 41 yards against Washington State.

• 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. White had a career-high nine catches against the Wildcats, including six for first downs with two touchdown catches. He caught a season-long 60-yard pass in the first quarter on the opening series of the game, the longest pass play of the season for the Spartans, to set up his first career touchdown catch on a 6-yard reception later in the same drive. A native of Novi, Michigan, the 6-3, 206-pound White also had a 45-yard reception on third-and-18 in the fourth quarter. He started his first career game against the Wildcats.

09.08.18_MSU FTBL VS ASU

STOPPING THE RUN –
• Michigan State ranks first in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 34.5 yards per game. Utah State was limited to 25 rushing yards on 25 carries, while Arizona State had 29 rushes for 44 yards.

• Last season, the Spartans led the Big Ten in rushing defense for the fifth time in the Dantonio era (2011-14, 2017) and ranked No. 2 in the FBS, allowing just 95.3 yards per game. Michigan State has finished in the FBS Top 10 in rushing defense five times under Dantonio and seven times in the Top 25.

• 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 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 147 games under Dantonio, Michigan State has held its opponent under 100 yards rushing 74 times (50 percent). MSU is 63-10 (.865) in those games, including a 54-5 (.915) record since 2010.

SPARTAN DEFENSE ONE OF THE NATION'S BEST –
• 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 NAMED 2017 TEAM MVP –
• 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.

• Bachie is right back at it this season, leading the Big Ten with 10.5 tackles per game (21 total; 12 solo and nine 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.

• 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 20 career games, including 14 consecutive starts, Bachie has 123 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four interceptions.

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. Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. The native of Rockford, Michigan, 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). Willekes played in just one game as a redshirt freshman in 2016.

• 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).

• The native of Rockford, Michigan, leads the Spartans in tackles for loss (3) and sacks (2) through the first two games of the season.

• Willekes led the defensive line and ranked third on the team with 73 tackles in 2017. He also had two fumble recoveries, two pass break-ups, one forced fumble and eight quarterback hurries. He ranked second on the team during the regular season with 158 production points.

MATT COGHLIN PROVING TO BE ONE OF THE BIG TEN'S BEST PLACEKICKERS –
• Sophomore Matt Coghlin has made 13 consecutive field goals, dating back to the Penn State game last season, which is tied for the second-longest streak in school history. Paul Edinger also made 13 straight in 1998, while Brett Swenson holds the school record with 15 straight, set during the 2008 season.

• Coghlin is 5-for-5 in field-goal attempts this season, which ranks tied for first in the Big Ten. He also ranks third in the Big Ten in kick scoring (9.5 ppg).

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 third in the Big Ten and 11th in the FBS in time of possession in 2018 (34:54-25:06).

• The Spartans have led in time of possession in 68 percent of games under Mark Dantonio; the Spartans own an .809 winning percentage (80-19) in those games.

SPARTANS RANKED FOR 13TH CONSECUTIVE WEEK IN AP POLL –
• Coming in at No. 24 this week, Michigan State has been ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 for 13 consecutive weeks.

• Michigan State entered the national polls for the first time in 2017 on Oct. 8 following its 14-10 win at No. 7 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.

• Michigan State is 61-18 (.772) as a ranked team in the AP Poll under Dantonio.

• As a ranked team, Michigan State has only lost to an unranked opponent five times under Dantonio (43-5; at Notre Dame, 2011; at Nebraska, 2015; at Indiana, 2016; at Northwestern, 2017; at Arizona State, 2018). Northwestern won 10 games and finished No. 17 in the final 2017 AP Poll.

Game 3: No. 24/23 Michigan State (1-1) at Indiana (3-0)

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Players Mentioned

Joe Bachie

Matt Coghlin

Felton Davis III

Jake Hartbarger

Brian Lewerke

Matt Morrissey

Tre Person

Hunter Rison

LJ Scott

Cody White

Kenny Willekes