Land Grant Trophy on the Line Saturday as Spartans Host No. 6 Nittany Lions

Game 8: No. 6/6 Penn State (7-0, 4-0 B1G) at Michigan State (4-3, 2-2 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 26
Kickoff: 3:36 p.m. EDT
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (75,005)
Surface: Natural Grass
TV/Web/Mobile: ABC/Watch ESPN
Announcers: Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Affiliate Listings
Satellite Radio: Ch. 108 (Sirius), Ch. 196 (XM), Ch. 958 (SiriusXM.com)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Sidearm Live Stats
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 17-15-1
Series in East Lansing: MSU leads, 10-5
Last Meeting: MSU 21, PSU 17 (2018)
Current Series Streak: 2 by MSU (2017-)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 111-54 (13th year)
Overall Record: 129-71 (16th year)
Record vs. PSU: 6-4 (6-3 at MSU)

Penn State Head Coach: James Franklin
PSU Record: 52-21 (sixth year)
Overall Record: 76-36 (ninth year)
Record vs. MSU: 1-4

FIRST-AND-10 –
• For just the third time in school history, Michigan State will play its third consecutive game against a top-10 opponent, as the Spartans welcome No. 6/6 Penn State to Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ABC with Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe on the call. MSU is coming off a bye week and enters the contest at 4-3 (2-2 Big Ten), while the Nittany Lions are 7-0 (4-0 Big Ten) following a 28-21 win over No. 16/16 Michigan at Beaver Stadium last Saturday. MSU is 7-5 after bye weeks under 13th-year head coach Mark Dantonio. MSU is the only FBS team this season to play three AP Top 10 opponents in a row.

• Saturday's game marks the 34th meeting between Michigan State and Penn State, with MSU leading the all-time series, 17-15-1. The Spartans have won five of the last six meetings against the Nittany Lions, including back-to-back wins against top-10 teams (No. 7 in 2017, No. 8 in 2018). MSU holds a 10-5 advantage in games played in East Lansing.

• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 6-3 against Penn State while coaching the Spartans, including a 3-1 record in Spartan Stadium. Dantonio is 6-4 overall against the Nittany Lions (lost at Penn State in 2005 while coaching Cincinnati).

• 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, 14-9, but the Spartans have won five of the last six.

• Michigan State also played three games in a row against AP Top 10 teams in 1970 (No. 4 Notre Dame on Oct. 3, No. 1 Ohio State on Oct. 10 and No. 6 Michigan on Oct. 17) and 1972 (No. 1 USC on Sept. 30, No. 7 Notre Dame on Oct. 7, No. 5 Michigan on Oct. 14). The Spartans played at No. 4 Ohio State on Oct. 5 and No. 8 Wisconsin on Oct. 12.

• Michigan State University will induct five members into its Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, Oct. 24. The Class of 2019 includes: Dan Bass (football), Karen Dennis (track & field), Mike Donnelly (hockey), Tom Milkovich (wrestling) and Mike Robinson (basketball). The annual "Celebrate State" weekend also includes the 10th-annual Varsity Letter Jacket Presentation and Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 24 and culminates on Saturday, Oct. 26 with a special recognition of the Hall of Famers during the Michigan State-Penn State game in Spartan Stadium.

• Fifth-year senior wide receiver Darrell Stewart leads the Big Ten in receptions (46), receiving yards (683), receiving yards per game (97.6 ypg) and receptions per game (6.6 pg). He also ranks among the FBS leaders in total receiving yards (ninth with 683), receiving yards per game (10th with 97.6 ypg), receptions per game (12th with 6.6 pg) and total receptions (14th with 46). Stewart has three 100-yard receiving games and put together back-to-back 100-yard receiving games (career-high 185 yards vs. Western Michigan on Sept. 7 and 121 vs. Arizona State on Sept. 14) for the first time at MSU since Aaron Burbridge had four straight 100-yard games in 2015. Stewart's impressive performance to start the season has made him a late add to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

• The Spartans have consistently produced wins against highly ranked teams under Mark Dantonio. MSU is 10-9 in its last 19 games against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 10, including wins over No. 4 Wisconsin in 2011, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Stanford in 2013, No. 4 Baylor in 2014, No. 7 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Iowa in 2015, No. 7 Michigan and No. 7 Penn State in 2017, and No. 8 Penn State in 2018. Michigan State has won 14 of its last 26 games played against AP Top 25 opponents. Dantonio ranks second in school history in wins over AP Top 10 teams (10) and AP Top 25 teams (21).

• With the triumph over Northwestern on Sept. 21, Mark Dantonio became Michigan State's all-time winningest coach, passing Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty, who collected a 109-69-5 record in East Lansing from 1954-72 (19 seasons). Dantonio owns a 111-54 (.673) record at Michigan State and has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (five) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with 11 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). Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.650, 67-36 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (67), home wins (66) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.673). Dantonio is 11th in Big Ten history in conference wins (67) and tied for 12th in overall victories (111).

• Senior linebacker Joe Bachie, who leads the team and ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 65 tackles, was named a first-team midseason All-American by Rivals.com and a second-team midseason All-American by The Associated Press. He also ranks fourth in the league in tackles per game (9.3 avg.). Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time in his career following his performance in the win at Northwestern on Sept. 21 (career-high 14 tackles, 13 solo, two TFLs, one sack, one interception, two pass break-ups). He had 11 tackles at No. 4 Ohio State, marking his 12th career game with double-figure tackles. Bachie also has 8.5 tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, 3.5 sacks and one interception this season.

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-Fr. Elijah Collins (98 carries for 492 yards, 5.0 avg., 3 TDs)
Passing – Sr.-5 Brian Lewerke (131-of-228, .575, 1,596 yards, 11 TDs, 3 INTs)
Receiving – Sr.-5 Darrell Stewart (46 catches for 683 yards, 14.8 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles – Sr. Joe Bachie (65 tackles, 36 solos, 29 assists, 8.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 4 PBUs, 1 INT)

Penn State:
Rushing – Fr. Noah Cain (62 carries for 329 yards, 5.3 avg., 6 TDs)
Passing – So. Sean Clifford (116-of-184, .630, 1,742 yards, 16 TDs, 2 INTs)
Receiving – So. KJ Hamler (32 catches for 563 yards, 17.6 avg., 7 TDs)
Tackles – So. Micah Parsons (45 tackles, 22 solos, 23 assists, 6.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, 1 PBU)

STAT LEADERS VS. PENN STATE –
Michigan State:
Rushing – Sr.-5 Brian Lewerke (2 games, 19 carries for 45 yards, 2.4 avg., 0 TDs)
Passing – Sr.-5 Brian Lewerke (2 games, 57-of-108, .528, 659 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs)
Receiving – Sr.-5 Darrell Stewart (1 game, 5 catches for 65 yards, 13.0 avg., 1 TD)
Tackles – Sr. Joe Bachie (3 games, 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT)

A GLANCE AT NO. 6/6 PENN STATE (7-0, 4-0 B1G) –
• The No. 6/6 Nittany Lions tote an unblemished 7-0 overall and 4-0 Big Ten mark into Spartan Stadium for Saturday's clash with the Spartans. Saturday is Penn State's second straight game against the Great Lakes State after beating No. 16/16 Michigan, 28-21, last Saturday in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions opened a 21-0 lead in the second quarter and held off a second-half Michigan rally.

• Penn State's 28 points marked the Nittany Lions' fifth time scoring 28 or more points in the seven games this season, including all four Big Ten games. The 21 points allowed was a season high for the PSU defense, after holding the opposition to 13 points or less in the previous six games, including 12 or fewer in the previous three Big Ten games. PSU beat Maryland, 59-0, Purdue, 35-7, and No. 17/18 Iowa, 17-12, before the win over Michigan Saturday night. The back-to-back wins over ranked teams marked the first time that PSU defeated ranked opponents in consecutive games since 2005.

• In the win over Michigan, sophomore quarterback Sean Clifford was 14-of-25 for 182 yards with three TD passes, while rushing 11 times for 17 yards with a 2-yard scoring run, overcoming two sacks. Two of Clifford's TD passes went to sophomore wide receiver KJ Hamler, a 25-yard score in the second quarter and a 53-yard scoring strike in the fourth quarter, Clifford's longest pass of the day. Hamler ended with six catches for 108 yards on the night, his second career two TD outing and his fourth career 100-yard game.

• The PSU defense was spearheaded by sophomore linebacker Micah Parsons' career-high 14 stops, while senior linebacker Cam Brown added 10 tackles.

• Penn State won despite getting out-gained by Michigan, 417-283, as the Nittany Lions had 182 yards passing and 101 rushing, while the Wolverines posted 276 passing and 141 rushing. However, the PSU defense snared one interception and stopped UM twice on fourth-down conversions.
• On the season, Penn State is second in the Big Ten and 10th in the FBS in scoring offense (40.0 ppg) and third in both the Big Ten and FBS in scoring defense (10.0 ppg).

• PSU is fourth in the Big Ten and 40th in the FBS in total offense, ranking third in the league and 44th in the nation in passing offense (261.0 ypg), while ranking sixth in the conference and 52nd in the country in rushing offense (178.3 ypg).

• Penn State is tied for first in the Big Ten and tied for 10th in the FBS in fewest turnovers (6), with four fumbles and two interceptions.

• Defensively, the Nittany Lions are fourth in the Big Ten and 12th in the FBS in total defense (282.1 ypg), ranking second in the conference and fourth in the FBS in rushing defense (66.3 ypg) and 10th in the league and 59th in the nation in passing defense (215.9 ypg).

• The PSU defense is also second in the conference and fourth in the country in both team sacks (4.0 pg) and tackles for loss (8.9 pg).

• Individually, Clifford is second in the B1G and 32nd in the FBS in passing yards per game (248.9), along with third in the conference and eighth in the country in passing efficiency (169.1), completing 116-of-184 (.630), ranking fourth in the league in passing completion. Clifford is also second in the Big Ten and 14th in the FBS in passing TDs (16), as well as second in the league and seventh in the nation in passing yards per completion (15.0). Clifford has thrown for 1,742 yards on the season with 16 TDs and just two INTs. Clifford also has 70 rushing attempts for 269 yards rushing with three TDs, ranking 15th in the B1G in rushing yards per carry (3.8).

• Hamler leads the league and is 12th in the nation in receiving TDs (7), with 32 receptions for 563 yards. He also is fifth in the B1G and 27th in the FBS in receiving yards per game (80.4) and fifth in the conference and 29th in the country in receiving yards (563), as well as sixth in the league and 75th in the nation in receptions per game (4.6). Hamler also is fifth in the Big Ten and 43rd in the FBS in punt return average (5.5 ypr), with 19 punt returns for 104 yards.

• Freshman running back Noah Cain leads PSU's rushing attack with 62 carries for 329 yards (5.3 ypc/47.0 ypg) with six rushing touchdowns, ranking eighth in the Big Ten and 37th in the FBS in rushing TDs. Cain also had six catches for 50 yards (8.3 ypc).

• Parsons spearheads the Nittany Lion defense with 45 total tackles (22 solo, 23 assists), ranking 18th in the Big Ten with 6.4 tackles per game. Parsons is tied for 22nd in the league with 6.0 tackles for loss, ranking tied for 24th in the conference in TFL/game (0.86), adding one sack and one pass break-up.

• Junior defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos is tied for eighth in the Big Ten and tied for 33rd in the FBS in tackles for loss per game (1.3), ranking tied for seventh in the league with 9.0 TFLs.

• Gross-Matos and junior defensive lineman Shaka Toney are tied for sixth in the conference and tied for 27th in the country in sacks per game (0.8) with 5.5 total sacks, also ranking tied for sixth in the Big Ten. Toney adds 6.5 TFLs, ranking tied for 16th in the league, as well as tied 17th in the conference with 0.93 TFL/game.

• Sophomore placekicker Jake Pinegar is sixth in the Big Ten in kick scoring and ninth in the league in overall scoring at 7.4 ppg. Pinegar is 37-of-37 PATs, one of 11 placekickers in the B1G with a perfect 100 PAT percentage. He has made 5-of-6 FGs, ranking third in the league in FG percentage (.833), with a long of 38 yards.

• Sophomore placekicker Jordan Stout is 2-of-3 on FGs with all three attempts coming from 50+ yards, making a long of 57 yards. Stout also handles PSU's kickoffs, with 40 touchbacks on 49 total kickoffs (.816).

• Senior punter Blake Gillikin has 36 punts for a 41.7 ypp average with a long of 62 yards, one of seven punts of 50-plus yards, with 19 inside the 20. Gillikin is ninth in the Big Ten in punting average and third in punts inside the 20.

MSU/PENN STATE SERIES NOTES –
• Saturday's game marks the 34th meeting between Michigan State and Penn State, with MSU leading the all-time series, 17-15-1. The Spartans have won five of the last six meetings against the Nittany Lions, including back-to-back wins against top-10 teams (No. 7 in 2017, No. 8 in 2018). MSU holds a 10-5 advantage in games played in East Lansing.

• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 6-3 against Penn State while coaching the Spartans, including a 3-1 record in Spartan Stadium. Dantonio is 6-4 overall against the Nittany Lions (lost at Penn State in 2005 while coaching Cincinnati).

• 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, 14-9, but the Spartans have won five of the last six.

THE LAST MEETING –
Oct. 13, 2018, in University Park, Pa. (AP): Each Michigan State player brought a poker chip to Happy Valley and coach Mark Dantonio encouraged the Spartans to push them all to the center of the table. As the evening wore on against No. 8 Penn State, it was clear the Spartans were all-in. They converted a fake punt early, tried a fake field goal instead of kick for the tying points late in the fourth quarter and opted to throw to the end zone instead of run it to preserve another shot at an equalizing kick. That go-for-broke mentality paid off in Michigan State's 21-17 win.

Brian Lewerke threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Felton Davis with 19 seconds left to lift the Spartans over the Nittany Lions, making it two consecutive seasons Michigan State used a late score to hand Penn State a second straight loss.

Davis stayed in despite hurting his hip on Michigan State's penultimate drive and finished with eight catches for 100 yards.

Miles Sanders ran for 162 yards and a touchdown for the Nittany Lions and McSorley completed 19 of 32 passes for 192 yards with a touchdown to become the program's all-time passing yardage leader.

THE LAST MEETING IN EAST LANSING –
Nov. 4, 2017, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP): Matt 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 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.

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.
• The Spartans fell at No. 8/8 Wisconsin, 38-0, on Oct. 12 at Camp Randall Stadium . . . MSU leads the overall series against the Badgers, 30-24, but the series is tied in Madison, 14-14 . . . UW has won two straight over the Spartans.

LAST TIME OUT VS. WISCONSIN –
OFFENSE
• Senior wide receiver Darrell Stewart finished with five receptions for 59 yards against the Badgers . . . he has led MSU in receptions in all seven games this season . . . Stewart holds the Spartans' longest active streak with at least one reception in 31 consecutive games as well as 13 games in a row with three or more catches.

• MSU was shut out for the first time since Dec. 31, 2015, against Alabama (38-0).

• The Spartans were held to season lows in rushing yards (30), passing yards (119), total yards (149) and first downs (7) against Wisconsin . . . the Badgers entered the game ranked No. 1 in the FBS in total defense, scoring defense and passing defense while ranking No. 2 in rushing defense.

DEFENSE
• Junior linebacker Antjuan Simmons led the Spartans with a career-high 10 tackles, including a 1-yard tackle for loss . . . he has a team-leading nine tackles for loss this season . . . he also had one pass break-up.

• Junior defensive end Jacub Panasiuk had five tackles, including a forced fumble on a 7-yard sack in the second quarter.

• The Spartans held Heisman Trophy candidate Jonathan Taylor to a season-low 80 yards on 26 carries (3.1 avg.) and snapped his 10-game streak with at least 100 rushing yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Jake Hartbarger's 61-yard punt in the first quarter marked his third straight game with at least one punt of 60-plus yards . . . overall it was Hartbarger's fourth punt of 60-plus yards this season as part of 13 punts of 50-plus yards . . . for his career, Hartbarger now has nine punts of 60 or more yards as part of 51 punts of 50-plus yards.

• Senior linebacker Tyriq Thompson had MSU's longest offensive play of the day on a 20-yard run on a fake punt in the third quarter.

SPARTAN ROSTER FULL OF EXPERIENCE –
• On defense, the Spartans returned eight starters in 2019 from a unit that finished the 2018 season ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense (77.9 ypg), No. 8 in scoring defense (17.2 ppg) and No. 10 in total defense (303.2 ypg). Out of a possible 143 starting positions last season over the course of 13 games, the Spartans returned 105 of those starts (73 percent). Five of those eight returning starters started in all 13 games last season (LB Joe Bachie, S David Dowell, DT Mike Panasiuk, NT Raequan Williams, DE Kenny Willekes), while linebacker Tyriq Thompson started 12 games and defensive end Jacub Panasiuk started 11 games.

• The Spartan defense features seven seniors and a combined 257 career starts among the projected starters on the depth chart (Mike Panasiuk and Williams, 36 starts each; Bachie, 33 starts; Willekes, 32 starts; Dowell, 30 starts; Scott, 24 starts; Thompson, 19 starts; Jacub Panasiuk, 18 starts; Butler, 15 starts; Simmons and Henderson, seven starts each). Five players (Mike Panasiuk, Williams, Bachie, David Dowell, Willekes) have started 25 consecutive games together, and seven players (those previous five plus Thompson and Jacub Panasiuk) have started 17 straight games together.

LINEBACKER JOE BACHIE LEADS SPARTAN DEFENSE IN THE MIDDLE –
• Joe Bachie, who has started 33 consecutive games at middle linebacker, was named a first-team midseason All-American by Rivals.com and a second-team midseason All-American by The Associated Press, The Athletic and Athlon Sports. He also has been named a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and is featured on watch lists for the Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), Butkus Award (nation's best linebacker) and Nagurski Trophy (nation's most outstanding college defensive player).

• Bachie led the Spartans in tackles for the second year in a row in 2018 with 102 and currently owns the team lead with 65 through seven games, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten at 9.3 per game. He became the third Spartan middle linebacker under Mark Dantonio, joining Greg Jones and Max Bullough, to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors (coaches, ESPN.com, Phil Steele).

• Bachie also is tied for the team lead with four pass break-ups and ranks second with 8.5 tackles for loss (35 yards) and 3.5 sacks (29 yards).

• Bachie was voted a team captain for the second year in a row in 2019 and is one of just six Spartans in the Dantonio era to serve as a captain twice (Greg Jones, 2009-10; Kirk Cousins, 2009-11; Max Bullough, 2012-13; Shilique Calhoun, 2014-15; Brian Lewerke, 2018-19).

• Bachie registered a season-high three tackles for loss (19 yards) and a career-high two sacks at No. 4 Ohio State on Oct. 5, including an 18-yard sack on the third play from scrimmage.

• For the fourth time in his career, Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following his performance at Northwestern on Sept. 21. He recorded a career-high 14 tackles (13 solo, one assist) to lead the Spartan defense. Bachie had a 9-yard sack in the first quarter to set the tone for the Spartans, and finished with two tackles for loss (10 yards) overall. The native of Brook Park, Ohio, also picked off his fifth career pass and returned it 19 yards in the fourth quarter. In addition, Bachie had two pass break-ups and one quarterback hurry. Bachie compiled a Dantonio-era record 50 production points in the game (unofficial team stat).

• Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week last season against Maryland on Nov. 3, 2018. Bachie forced a career-high three fumbles, recovering one, and also had seven tackles, two tackles for loss (5 yards) and tied a career-high with two pass break-ups.

• 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 2017 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 third-team All-Big Ten choice by the coaches and media in 2017, Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2017. In the win at No. 7 Michigan, Bachie became just the second Big Ten linebacker and fifth in the FBS in the last five years 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. He also had 13 tackles in the victory against Indiana to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.

• In 39 career games, including 33 consecutive starts, Bachie has 279 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, five interceptions, 11 pass break-ups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He has recorded double-figures in tackles 12 times in his career.

KENNY WILLEKES LEADS ALL ACTIVE FBS PLAYERS IN TACKLES FOR LOSS –
• Midseason All-American and 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Kenny Willekes, who led the Big Ten in tackles for loss last season with 20.5, leads all active FBS players with 42.5 career tackles for loss and is second with 1.25 tackles for loss per game. Willekes is third on the team and tied for 12th in the Big Ten with 7.5 tackles for loss this season, and his four sacks are tied for 12th in the league. He is also third on the team with 46 tackles. Willekes was named a first-team midseason All-American by Rivals.com.

• Willekes was named the National Defensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and also the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his impressive performance in the season opener vs. Tulsa. Willekes scored his first career touchdown after teaming up on a sack with Raequan Williams and pouncing on the fumble in the end zone to give MSU a 22-0 lead with 4:49 left in the second quarter. Earlier in the second quarter, he recovered a fumble after a bad Tulsa snap to set up an MSU field goal. He also had a 1-yard tackle for loss in the second quarter and a 2-yard sack in the fourth quarter. Overall, Willekes led the Spartans with seven tackles, including 2.5 TFLs (6 yards) and 1.5 sacks (5 yards).

• After leading the Big Ten with 20.5 tackles for loss, Willekes was named the 2018 Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-American by The Athletic. Willekes became the second Spartan to win the award (Shilique Calhoun in 2013), which is named after MSU's Bubba Smith and Penn State's Courtney Brown and given to the Big Ten's most outstanding defensive lineman, and was the first Spartan defensive end to earn first-team All-America honors since Robaire Smith in 1998. Willekes was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team by the coaches, media, Associated Press, Athlon Sports, ESPN.com, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus, and earned second-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Phil Steele, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation.

• Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the nation. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken fibula in the Redbox Bowl against Oregon, but he fully recovered in time for the 2019 season. He was named a first-team preseason All-American by numerous media outlets (Athlon Sports, CBS Sports, Lindy's, Phil Steele, Sporting News and Street & Smith's) and is featured on watch lists for the Walter Camp Award (college player of the year), Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), Nagurski Trophy (nation's most outstanding college defensive player) and Hendricks Award (nation's best defensive end).

• A 6-4, 260-pound native of Rockford, Michigan, Willekes collected a league-best 20.5 tackles for loss in 2018, good for second most in a Spartan single season and eighth most in the FBS in 2018. He also led the Spartans with 8.5 sacks, which ranked tied for fifth in the Big Ten. He registered a career-high 78 tackles to rank first among all defensive lineman in the nation, including a career-high 13 against Ohio State on Nov. 3.

• According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes led all edge rushers in the FBS in 2018 with 23 quarterback hits and ranked sixth with 39 QB hurries. Willekes was also the highest-ranked Big Ten edge rusher with a 90.3 grade.

• At the Spartan Football Awards banquet on Nov. 25, 2018, Willekes was named the recipient of the Governor's Award (MVP), becoming the first Spartan defensive end to win the honor since its inception in 1931.

• A chemistry major, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. The native of Rockford, Michigan, is MSU's active leader in sacks (tied for seventh in school history with 19.5) and tackles for loss (sixth in school history with 42.5). His 42.5 tackles for loss ranks first among active FBS players and his 1.26 tackles for loss per game average ranks second.

• 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 has recorded two sacks in a game six times in his career (2017: Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland; 2018: Utah State, Maryland; 2019: Western Michigan).

MIKE PANASIUK & RAEQUAN WILLIAMS CONSISTENT IN THE MIDDLE OF SPARTAN D-LINE –
• Defensive tackles Mike Panasiuk and Raequan Williams have started alongside each other on the interior of the defensive line for 36 consecutive games, dating back to the Ohio State game on Nov. 19, 2016. The duo is a big reason why MSU ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2018 and ranked No. 2 in 2017.

• Williams, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by The Associated Press, recorded career bests in tackles (53), tackles for loss (10.5) and pass break-ups (5) in 2018. The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 26.5 career tackles for loss, including 10.0 career sacks, in 44 career games. Williams currently ranks tied for second on the Spartans in sacks (3.5) and sixth in tackles for loss (5.0).

• Panasiuk, a stalwart on the Spartan defensive line with 36 straight starts at defensive tackle, was named honorable mention All-Big Ten for the second year in a row in 2018. Panasiuk's numbers are hard to measure in terms of impact, but the Roselle, Illinois, native is a big reason why MSU ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2018, allowing just 77.9 yards per game. Panasiuk had 6.0 tackles for loss and two pass break-ups, and led the Spartan defensive tackles unit in production points. He recorded an interception and blocked a field goal in the fourth quarter in the victory over Purdue.

• In 45 career games, Panasiuk has 81 tackles, including 15.5 for losses with three sacks. This season, Panasiuk already has a career-high 6.5 tackles for loss and 17 stops overall. He posted a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss, including a sack and forced fumble, at No. 4 Ohio State on Oct. 5.

SIMMONS MAKING THE MOST OUT OF HIS STARTING OPPORTUNITY –
• Junior Star (weakside) linebacker Antjuan Simmons has burst onto the scene in his first year as a starter for the Spartans, leading the team in tackles for loss (9.0 for 29 yards) and ranking second in tackles (50). He also has 1.5 sacks (6 yards), three pass break-ups and one interception. He ranks second on the team in production points (unofficial team stat) with 154.

• Simmons played behind former three-year starting Star linebacker Andrew Dowell in 2017 and 2018. Simmons has 116 career tackles, including 11.0 for losses, in 33 games of action.

BRIAN LEWERKE NAMED FINALIST FOR JOHNNY UNITAS GOLDEN ARM AWARD –
• Quarterback Brian Lewerke is in his third season as the starting quarterback for the Spartans. He is just the second Spartan quarterback under Mark Dantonio to be named a captain twice (Kirk Cousins, three times, 2009-11). After a record-setting sophomore season in 2017, Lewerke's junior year was hampered by a shoulder injury he suffered in the win at No. 8 Penn State on Oct. 13, but he is back and healthy for his senior season.

• Lewerke is ranked among the Big Ten leaders in pass completions (second with 131), pass attempts (second with 228), passing (fourth with 228.0 ypg), total passing yards (fourth with 1,596) and total offense (fifth with 249.0 ypg). He has been named one of 20 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top senior college quarterback. The Phoenix, Arizona, native has completed 131-of-228 passes (.575) for 1,596 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.

• In the win over Indiana on Sept. 28, Lewerke became just the second Spartan quarterback to eclipse 6,000 yards passing (6,539) and 1,000 yards rushing (1,035) in his career, joining Drew Stanton (6,524 passing yards and 1,512 rushing yards from 2003-06). Lewerke also ranks among the school leaders in pass attempts (fourth with 1,041), passing yards (fourth with 6,810 yards), pass completions (fourth with 592), passing yards per game (fifth with 194.6 ypg), total offense (fifth with 7,849 yards) and passing TDs (eighth with 41).

• Lewerke ranks third in MSU history among quarterbacks with 1,039 rushing yards.

• Lewerke finished with 378 total yards of offense against Indiana (300 passing, 78 rushing), the ninth-highest single-game total in school history and fourth highest of his career (475 vs. Northwestern in 2017; 425 vs. Penn State in 2017; 396 vs. Notre Dame in 2017).

• Lewerke has thrown for more than 300 yards passing seven times in his career and more than 200 yards passing 17 times (fifth in MSU history).

• 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. In 10 games in 2019, Lewerke rushed 90 times, gaining 351 yards and losing 167 for a net total of 184.

• 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 2017 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).

• 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.

• 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 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).

DARRELL STEWART: MR. CONSISTENCY –
• Fifth-year senior wide receiver Darrell Stewart leads the Big Ten in receptions (46), receiving yards (683), receiving yards per game (97.6 ypg) and receptions per game (6.6 pg). He also ranks among the FBS leaders in total receiving yards (ninth with 683), receiving yards per game (10th with 97.6 ypg), receptions per game (12th with 6.6 pg) and total receptions (14th with 46). Stewart's 683 receiving yards and four touchdowns catches are already a career high.

• Stewart has three 100-yard receiving games and put together back-to-back 100-yard receiving games (career-high 185 yards vs. Western Michigan on Sept. 7 and 121 vs. Arizona State on Sept. 14) for the first time at MSU since Aaron Burbridge had four straight 100-yard games in 2015. Stewart's impressive performance to start the season has made him a late add to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

• Stewart leads MSU with 14 catches of 20-plus yards; although he led MSU in receptions in 2018 with 48, he had just two catches of 20-plus yards last season.

• Stewart had a career-high 185 yards receiving on 10 catches against Western Michigan on Sept. 7; the 185 receiving yards are tied for the 12th-most by a Spartan in a single game (Plaxico Burress, 13 catches for 185 yards vs. Florida on Jan. 1, 2000). In addition, Stewart's 10 catches were the second most in his career (11 at Northwestern in 2017); he had eight catches for 152 yards and one TD in the first half alone. Stewart had four catches of 20-plus yards (42 yards for TD; 33 yards, 22 yards, 21 yards) and also threw a 17-yard pass to Brian Lewerke. Stewart also had two kick returns for 41 yards to compile a career-high 226 all-purpose yards.

• Stewart led Michigan State in 2018 with 48 receptions and ranked third on the team with 413 receiving yards. Stewart missed two games (Central Michigan, Penn State) with an ankle injury.
• The Houston, Texas, native is fifth in the school record book with 147 career receptions and leads all active Spartans with 1,626 receiving yards (23rd in MSU history) and seven TDs in 41 career games, including 19 starting assignments.

• Stewart has MSU's longest active streak with at least one reception in 31 consecutive games, including 13 straight games with at least three receptions.

ELIJAH COLLINS EMERGING AS ONE OF THE TOP FRESHMAN TAILBACKS IN THE FBS –
• Redshirt freshman Elijah Collins is averaging a team-best 70.3 yards rushing per game (98 carries for 492 yards; 5.0 avg.), which ranks eighth in the Big Ten. His 70.3 ypg also ranks second in the conference and eighth in the country for freshman running backs. A native of Detroit, Collins has three rushing touchdowns.

• In his first career start at tailback on Sept. 7 against Western Michigan, Collins recorded 192 rushing yards on 17 carries, the second most by a Spartan freshman in a single game (Javon Ringer had 194 yards at Illinois in 2005). In addition, Collins' 192 rushing yards were the most by a freshman starting running back in school history. Collins had three rushes of 20-plus yards (career-long 58-yarder in third quarter; 29-yarder on second play from scrimmage; 24-yarder in second quarter).

• Collins redshirted in 2018 and played a total of six offensive snaps in three games.

CODY WHITE RANKS SECOND ON TEAM IN RECEIVING –
• Junior Cody White ranks second on the team with 27 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns in the first seven games.

• White has three career 100-yard receiving games (nine catches for 113 yards and one TD at Arizona State in 2018; eight for 115 vs. Ohio State in 2018; nine for 165 at Northwestern in 2017).

• White was having a sensational start to his second season in the Green and White with 20 catches for 300 yards in the first four games of the 2018 season, but unfortunately White suffered a broken left hand in the second quarter of the Central Michigan game on Sept. 29 while diving for a catch in the end zone. White was forced to sit out four games but returned to action on Nov. 3 at Maryland; although he missed four games, he still led the Spartans in receiving yards (555; 61.7 ypg) and ranked second in receptions (42).

• A BTN All-Freshman Team selection in 2017, White 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 29 career games, including 21 starts, White has 104 catches for 1,378 yards and eight touchdowns. He is one of 31 players in MSU history with at least 100 career receptions.

JAKE HARTBARGER NAMED TO RAY GUY AWARD WATCH LIST –
• Sixth-year senior Jake Hartbarger is averaging a Big Ten-best 46.5 yards per punt, which is also ninth best in the FBS (MSU school record: 47.9 yards per punt by Brandon Fields in 2004). He has a Big Ten-best 15 punts of 50-plus yards and has placed 36 percent of his punts (13-of-36) inside the 20. Hartbarger was added to the Ray Guy Award Watch List on Sept. 30.

• Hartbarger was granted a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA for the 2019 season. Hartbarger injured his right leg in the second game of the 2018 season at Arizona State on Sept. 8 and was forced to miss the remainder of the year. A three-year starter, Hartbarger entered the 2018 season as a candidate for the Ray Guy Award. Hartbarger's injury led to MSU starting four punters in 2018, the most of any team in the FBS, and a total of five Spartans punted.

• Hartbarger got off to a great start in his return, averaging 47.4 yards per punt (237 yards on five punts) including two inside the 20, against Tulsa in the 2019 season opener. He only punted once against WMU.

• A native of Waterville, Ohio, Hartbarger averaged 42.0 yards per punt and placed a career-high 28 punts inside the 20 to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades as a junior in 2017. He is ranked sixth in MSU history in punting average (42.8), sixth in punting yards (9,507) and seventh in punts (222).

• Hartbarger, who has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors four times, graduated with a bachelor's degree in hospitality business in December 2018. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in marketing research.

PLACEKICKER MATT COGHLIN NAMED FIRST-TEAM ALL-BIG TEN IN 2018 –
• A 2018 Lou Groza Award semifinalist and first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media, junior Matt Coghlin is back for the Spartans in 2019 and is featured on the Lou Groza Award Watch List. Coghlin has the fourth-highest field-goal percentage of any kicker in MSU history through his two-plus seasons (.759, 44-of-58).

• Coghlin also ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in PAT percentage (first at 100 percent; 81-of-81), field goals made (ninth with 44), PATs (10th with 81) and points scored (13th with 219).

• Through seven games, Coghlin ranks among the Big Ten leaders in field goals (second with 11), kick scoring (third at 8.5 ppg) and scoring (fourth with 8.5 ppg).

• In the 2019 season opener against Tulsa, Coghlin tied a career high with four field goals (38 yards, 47 yards, 44 yards, 40 yards) and was named one of the Lou Groza Three Stars of the Week; he also kicked four field goals against Rutgers in 2017. He made three more against Western Michigan (38, 23, 20) and connected on seven straight to open the season.

• Coghlin kicked the game-winning field goal vs. Indiana on Sept. 28, a 21-yarder, with five seconds remaining. Although he missed his first field goal (43 yards) of the game, Coghlin connected on a 44-yarder with 3:33 left that extended MSU's lead to 31-24.

• In 2018, Coghlin ranked among the Big Ten leaders in field goals made (tied for second with 18), field-goal percentage (tied for fourth at .818) and scoring (ninth at 6.5 ppg). He made 18 of his 22 field-goal attempts in 2018 (5-of-5 from 20-29 yards; 9-of-10 from 30-39 yards; 4-of-5 from 40-49 yards; 0-2 from 50-plus yards).

• Coghlin was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week against Indiana in 2018 after he scored on a 6-yard TD run on a fake field goal in the third quarter and made all five of his point-after attempts. He became the first Spartan to score an offensive touchdown and then kick the PAT on his own TD since Sam Williams in 1958 against Wisconsin.

• Coghlin set a new school record with 18 consecutive field goals, stretching from the 2017-18 season, before a kick was blocked in the Purdue game on Oct. 27, 2018. That streak was also tied for the fourth longest in Big Ten history.

• In 2018, Coghlin became the sixth Spartan placekicker to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors, and the third under Dantonio (Brett Swenson in 2009; Dan Conroy in 2012). The Cincinnati, Ohio, native currently ranks fourth in MSU history in field-goal percentage (44-of-58, .759).

• 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 in 2017.

MARK DANTONIO ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COACHES IN BIG TEN HISTORY –
• Now in his 13th season as head coach of the Spartans, Mark Dantonio owns a 111-54 (.673) record. Dantonio has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (five) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with 11 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 winningest coach in school history with 111 victories, Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.650, 67-36 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (67), home wins (66) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.673). Dantonio has 10 winning seasons in his 12 years in East Lansing, including a school-record 11 bowl bids (Daugherty owns school record with 11 winning seasons from 1954-72).

• With the triumph over Northwestern on Sept. 21, Dantonio became Michigan State's all-time winningest coach, passing Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty, who collected a 109-69-5 record in East Lansing from 1954-72 (19 seasons). Daugherty won four National Championships (1955, 1957, 1965, 1966), two Big Ten Championships (1965, 1966) and the 1956 Rose Bowl. A two-time National Coach of the Year (1955, 1965), Daugherty coached 29 different players to first-team All-America honors and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

• 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 tied for 12th in Big Ten history with 111 wins.

• Overall, Dantonio owns a 129-71 (.645) record in his 15-plus seasons as a head coach (18-17 in three seasons at Cincinnati; 111-54 in 12-plus seasons at MSU). Dantonio's 129 career wins rank 10th among active FBS coaches and second most in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz; 169).

• 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. 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 129-71 (.645) in 15-plus seasons.

• Dantonio's .650 winning percentage (67-36) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games). He ranks second in school history in conference wins (record: Duffy Daugherty, 72), which also ranks 11th in Big Ten history.

• 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 (Urban Meyer of Ohio State with seven; Jim Tressel 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 11 bowl appearances, including a school-record streak of nine straight bowl games from 2007-15. He is 5-6 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 13 bowl berths in 15 seasons as a head coach (11 at MSU, two at Cincinnati).

• 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 165 games coached at Michigan State (Duffy Daugherty: 183; Dantonio: 165; George Perles: 139; Charlie Bachman: 114).

DECADE OF SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE –
• Michigan State is in the midst of its winningest decade in school history based on total wins, as the Spartans are 89-37 (.706) since the beginning of the 2010 season. The 89 wins this decade are third most in the Big Ten and tied for 12th most in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. 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 .706 winning percentage this decade is third best in school history. 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 11 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.

• MSU's highest winning percentage by decade is currently the 1950s (.766, 70-21-1 record), but the 89 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 six Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015) and three overall this decade, also claiming a championship in 2010. Dantonio is second in school history and 11th in Big Ten history with 67 conference wins. The Spartans are 54-25 (.684) in regular-season Big Ten play since 2010.

PLAYING THEIR BEST UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT –
• The Spartans have consistently produced wins against highly ranked teams under Mark Dantonio. MSU is 10-9 in its last 19 games against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 10, including a 9-9 record since 2013.

• Michigan State has won 14 of its last 26 games played against AP Top 25 opponents. Dantonio ranks second in school history in wins over AP Top 10 teams (10) and AP Top 25 teams (21).
• Under Dantonio, the Spartans are 21-30 in 51 games played against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25; however, MSU is 20-21 against ranked teams since 2010 and 14-13 since 2013. The 21 wins over AP Top 25 teams rank second among head coaches in MSU history (Duffy Daugherty with 25 from 1954-72). Dantonio is 10-13 against AP Top 10 teams at MSU (10-9 since 2011).

SCORING TRENDS UNDER DANTONIO –
• Since 2010, Michigan State is 54-5 (.915) when scoring 30-plus points in a game (only losses: 2011 Big Ten Championship Game to Wisconsin; 2014 to eventual National Champion Ohio State; 2015 at Nebraska; 2016 vs. Northwestern; 2017 at Northwestern). Overall, MSU is 66-12 when scoring 30-plus points under Dantonio.

• MSU has allowed 20 or fewer points under Dantonio 82 times (50 percent); MSU's record in those games is 72-10 (.878).

• MSU has allowed 17 or fewer points under Dantonio 77 times (47 percent); MSU's record in those games is 68-9 (.883).

• MSU has only given up 30 or more points under Dantonio 40 times (24 percent; record: 11-29).

SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF –
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has produced a 66-22 record (.750) 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 ranks second and tied for third, respectively, in Spartan Stadium history.

• Mark Dantonio is 32-5 (.865) 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; 2019 to Arizona State).

• Dantonio is 13-0 in home openers at MSU and the Spartans' 21-game winning streak in home openers is tied for the fifth-long longest in the nation.