Spartans Host Maryland on Senior Day

Game 12: Maryland (3-8, 1-7 B1G) at Michigan State (5-6, 3-5 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 30
Kickoff: 3:35 p.m. EST
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (75,005)
Surface: Natural Grass
TV/Web/Mobile: FS1/FOX Sports app/FOXSportsGo.com
Announcers: John Strong (play-by-play), Evan Moore (analyst)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Affiliate Listings
Satellite Radio: Ch. 108 (Sirius), Ch. 202 (XM), Ch. 965 (SiriusXM.com)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Sidearm Live Stats
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 8-2
Series in East Lansing: MSU leads, 5-1
Last Meeting: MSU 24, Maryland 3 (2018)
Current Series Streak: 2 by MSU (2017-)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 112-57 (13th year)
Overall Record: 130-74 (16th year)
Record vs. Maryland: 4-1

UMD Head Coach: Michael Locksley
UMD Record: 4-13 (first year)*
Overall Record: 6-39 (fifth year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-1
* served as interim coach at UMD for six games in 2015

FIRST-AND-10 –
• Michigan State hosts Maryland for Senior Day in Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3:35 p.m. The game will be televised on FS1 with John Strong and Evan Moore on the call. The Spartans (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) will look to keep their momentum going following a 27-0 shutout win at Rutgers last Saturday, while the Terrapins (3-8, 1-7 Big Ten) fell at home to Nebraska, 54-7.

• Michigan State is seeking to become bowl eligible for the 12th time in the past 13 years with a win on Saturday. MSU head coach Mark Dantonio already owns school records for the most bowl appearances (11) and bowl victories (five). The Spartans would become just the third Big Ten team to become bowl eligible 12 times since 2007 (Wisconsin, 13; Ohio State, 12).

• Saturday's game marks the 11th meeting between Michigan State and Maryland. The Spartans lead the overall series, 8-2, including a 5-1 record in East Lansing. The Spartans are 4-1 against the Terrapins since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014. After winning the first two Big Ten games against Maryland in 2014 (37-15) and 2015 (24-7), the Spartans fell to the Terrapins in College Park in 2016, 28-17. MSU topped Maryland in 2017 in Spartan Stadium, 17-7, and won 24-3 in College Park last season. In the first-ever matchup between the two schools, Michigan State shut out Maryland in College Park, 8-0, on Oct. 20, 1944.

• Michigan State will recognize 22 players in a pregame ceremony on Senior Day: LS Ryan Armour (Traverse City, Mich.), LB Joe Bachie (Brook Park, Ohio), CB Josh Butler (Mesquite, Texas), OT Cole Chewins (Clarkston, Mich.), S David Dowell (North Ridgeville, Ohio), LB Peter Fisk (Grand Rapids, Mich.), P Jake Hartbarger (Waterville, Ohio), OG Tyler Higby (Houston, Texas), WR Davis Lewandowski (Okemos, Mich.), QB Brian Lewerke (Phoenix, Ariz.), OL Tommy Liesveld (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), DT Mike Panasiuk (Roselle, Ill.), S Corey Pryor (Jackson, Mich.), LB Dante Razzano (Edwardsburg, Mich.), RB Noah Sargent (Fenton, Mich.), TE Matt Seybert (Traverse City, Mich.), WR Brandon Sowards (Wyandotte, Mich.), WR Darrell Stewart (Houston, Texas), LB Tyriq Thompson (Detroit, Mich.), OL Bryce Wilker (Belding, Mich.), DE Kenny Willekes (Rockford, Mich.) and DT Raequan Williams (Chicago, Ill.).

• The 2019 Senior Class has helped Michigan State to two bowl berths (2017 Holiday Bowl, 2018 Redbox Bowl) and a No. 15 national ranking in 2017 following a 10-3 season that culminated with a 42-17 win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl.

• 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, is one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy. The award is given annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. Willekes ranks first among all FBS players with 47.0 career tackles for loss and is tied for first, along with Ohio State's Chase Young, with 1.24 tackles for loss per game. Willekes is second on the team this season with 12.0 tackles for loss, including a team-best 7.5 sacks. He is also fourth on the team with 63 tackles, which ranks first among Big Ten defensive linemen. Willekes was named a first-team midseason All-American by Rivals.com. He is second in school history with 47 tackles for loss in his career; he needs one more TFL to tie Julian Peterson (48) for the most in school history.

• Senior defensive tackle Raequan Williams is slated to start his 41st consecutive game on Saturday, which would tie Shilique Calhoun (2013-15) for the most starts in a row under MSU head coach Mark Dantonio. Williams is one of six players in the Mark Dantonio era to start 40 consecutive games or more (Dantonio-era record: DE Shilique Calhoun with 41 straight from 2013-15; LB Max Bullough, LB Denicos Allen, LB Eric Gordon and LB Greg Jones with 40 straight). Williams has 28 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 48 career games, including 6.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks this season.

• According to the Jeff Sagarin ratings, Michigan State has played the 11th-toughest schedule in the nation. MSU has played four teams currently in the AP Top 25 (No. 2 Ohio State, No. 10 Michigan, No. 12 Penn State, No. 13 Wisconsin) and eight opponents have a winning record (previous four teams plus Western Michigan, Arizona State, Indiana and Illinois).

• Junior Cody White, who has 24 catches for 342 yards in his last three games (7 for 128 vs. Illinois; 6 for 78 at Michigan; 11 for 136 at Rutgers), now leads the team with a career-high 54 receptions for 741 yards and five TDs. He tied an MSU single-game record with three TD catches at Rutgers to go along with a career-high 11 receptions for 136 yards. He ranks among the Big Ten leaders in receptions (fourth with 54), receptions per game (fourth with 4.9), receiving yards (741) and receiving yards per game (67.4 ypg).

• 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 112-57 (.663) 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 (.636, 68-39 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (68), home wins (66) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.663). Dantonio is 11th in Big Ten history in conference wins (68) and 12th in overall victories (112).

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-Fr. Elijah Collins (186 carries for 851 yards, 4.6 avg., 5 TDs)
Passing – Sr.-5 Brian Lewerke (204-of-358, .570, 2,417 yards, 16 TDs, 10 INTs)
Receiving – Jr. Cody White (54 catches for 741 yards, 13.7 avg., 5 TDs)
Tackles – Jr. Antjuan Simmons (75 tackles, 38 solos, 37 assists, 14.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 3 PBUs, 1 INT)

Maryland:
Rushing – Jr. Javon Leake (84 carries for 636 yards, 7.6 avg., 7 TDs)
Passing – Jr. Josh Jackson (83-of-168, .494, 1,100 yards, 11 TDs, 5 INTs)
Receiving – So. Dontay Demus (33 catches for 517 yards, 15.7 avg., 5 TDs)
Tackles – So. Ayinde Eley (79 tackles, 44 solos, 35 assists, 4.0 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBUs, 2 FR)

A QUICK GLANCE AT MARYLAND (3-8, 1-7 B1G)
• The Terrapins tote a 3-8 overall and 1-7 Big Ten ledger into Saturday's regular-season finale, having lost their last six games, including a 54-7 loss to Nebraska last time out on Nov. 23. Maryland began the month of November with a 38-7 loss to Michigan on Nov. 2 and a 73-14 defeat at the hands of Ohio State on Nov. 9, before a bye week preceded the Nebraska game.

• In the loss to the Nebraska, Maryland fell behind 17-0 in the first quarter and 34-0 at halftime. The visiting Cornhuskers tacked on 10 points in the third quarter and 10 more in the fourth before the Terps scored on a 58-yard run by junior running back Javon Leake late in the game.

• For the season, Maryland is ninth in the B1G in scoring offense (26.1 ppg) and 13th in scoring defense (36.1 ppg).

• The Terrapin offense is 11th in total offense (345.9 ypg), ranking fifth in rushing offense (169.9 ypg) and 12th in passing offense (176.0 ypg).

• Defensively, Maryland is 14th in total defense (450.9 ypg), ranking 12th in rushing defense (186.1 ypg) and 14th in passing defense (264.8 ypg).

Cody White at Rutgers

LAST TIME OUT: MSU 27, RUTGERS 0
OFFENSE
• Cody White had a career-high 11 receptions for 136 yards . . . he tied an MSU single-game record with three TD catches, which had been accomplished on nine previous occasions . . . Aaron Burbridge was the last Spartan to have three TD receptions in one game (vs. Air Force in 2015) . . . it marked White's second 100-yard game of the season and fifth of his career . . . White has 24 catches for 342 yards in his last three games . . . he leads MSU with 54 receptions for 741 yards this season, both of which are career highs.

• Elijah Collins carried the ball a career-high 31 times for 109 yards . . . he is the first Spartan freshman to record three 100-yard rushing games (192 vs Western Michigan, 170 vs. Illinois) since Javon Ringer in 2005 . . . Collins became the first Spartan since Jeremy Langford in 2014 to record at least 30 carries in a single game (Langford: 35 vs. Michigan in 2014).

• Brian Lewerke was 21-of-30 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns with one interception . . . Lewerke has now thrown 1,171 pass attempts in his career, the most in school history . . . with his three TD passes, he now has 46 in his career, tying Bill Burke for fourth most in MSU history . . . it marked Lewerke's 19th game of passing for more than 200 yards, fourth most in school history.

• Jalen Nailor, in his first game back since week one against Tulsa due to an injury, caught a career-high five passes for 27 yards.

• MSU collected 395 yards of total offense (239 passing, 156 rushing).

• The Spartans owned a 37:51 to 22:09 advantage in time of possession.

• MSU started four true freshmen, including three on the offensive line (LT Devontae Dobbs, LG J.D. Duplain, C Nick Samac) . . . it marks the first time in the Dantonio era that three true freshmen started on the offensive line.

DEFENSE
• Michigan State recorded its fifth shutout of the Mark Dantonio era (2008 and 2011 vs. Florida Atlantic; 2013 vs. Purdue; 2016 and 2019 vs. Rutgers) . . . it also marked MSU's first road shutout in 20 years (34-0 at Northwestern on Nov. 13, 1999).

• The Spartans held Rutgers to seven first downs, the fewest by a Spartan opponent this season (previous: eight by Tulsa on Aug. 30) . . . MSU did not allow a first down in the first half.

• MSU limited Rutgers to 140 yards of total offense, the second fewest by a Spartan opponent this season (80 by Tulsa on Aug. 30).

• Kenny Willekes had two tackles for loss, giving him 47 for his career and moving him into second place all-time in school history (record: 48 by Julian Peterson) . . . Willekes assisted on two sacks, giving him a total of one overall for the day . . . Willekes' 23 career sacks rank fifth in school history.

• Josiah Scott had three pass break-ups and also forced and recovered a fumble that led to MSU's final touchdown of the day.

• Xavier Henderson recorded his second interception of the season and returned it 32 yards in the second quarter . . . he also led MSU with nine tackles, tying a career high he set last week at Michigan.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin made two of his three field-goal attempts, connecting on 46 yards in the first quarter and 36 yards in the third quarter . . . his 33-yarder hit off the left upright in the second quarter.

SPARTAN ROSTER FULL OF EXPERIENCE –
• The Spartan defense features six seniors and a combined 266 career starts among the projected starters on this week's depth chart (DT Raequan Williams, 40 starts; DT Mike Panasiuk, 39 starts; DE Kenny Willekes, 36 starts; S David Dowell, 34 starts; CB Josiah Scott, 28 starts; LB Tyriq Thompson, 23 starts; DE Jacub Panasiuk, 22 starts; CB Josh Butler, 16 starts; LB Antjuan Simmons and S Xavier Henderson, 11 starts each; LB Noah Harvey and CB Shakur Brown, three starts). Three players (Williams, David Dowell, Willekes) have started 29 consecutive games together, and five players (those previous three plus Thompson and Jacub Panasiuk) have started 21 straight games together. Mike Panasiuk had his starting streak of 37 consecutive games snapped vs. Illinois on Nov. 9 after being limited in practice earlier in the week due to sickness; Panasiuk did play in the game against the Fighting Illini and had one tackle and one pass break-up.

KENNY WILLEKES NAMED FINALIST FOR BURLSWORTH TROPHY –
• 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, is one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy. The award is given annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.

• Willekes joins Ashtyn Davis, a safety and kick returner from California, and Rodrigo Blankenship, a kicker from Georgia, as the finalists for the award. The three finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on Dec. 9 at 12:45 p.m. at a luncheon in Springdale, Arkansas, hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club.

• The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Burlsworth walked on to the Arkansas Razorback team in 1994, worked his way to being a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft, but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.

• Willekes ranks first among all FBS players with 47.0 career tackles for loss and is tied for first, along with Ohio State's Chase Young, with 1.24 tackles for loss per game. Willekes is second on the team this season with 12.0 tackles for loss, including a team-best 7.5 sacks. He is also fourth on the team with 63 tackles, which ranks first among Big Ten defensive linemen. Willekes was named a first-team midseason All-American by Rivals.com.

• Willekes is second in school history with 47 tackles for loss in his career; he needs one more TFL to tie Julian Peterson (48) for the most in school history.

• 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 (sixth in school history with 23.0) and tackles for loss (second in school history with 47.0). His 47.0 tackles for loss ranks first among active FBS players and his 1.24 tackles for loss per game average ranks tied for first, along with Ohio State's Chase Young. He has 214 tackles overall in 38 career games, including 36 starts.

• 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 39 games during their careers. The duo had their streak of 37 straight starts snapped against Illinois on Nov. 9 as Panasiuk missed the opening series; the streak dated back to the Ohio State game on Nov. 19, 2016. Williams and Panasiuk are a big reason why MSU ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2018 and ranked No. 2 in 2017.

• Williams is slated to start his 41st consecutive game on Saturday, which would tie Shilique Calhoun (2013-15) for the most starts in a row under MSU head coach Mark Dantonio. Williams is one of six players in the Mark Dantonio era to start 40 consecutive games or more (Dantonio-era record: DE Shilique Calhoun with 41 straight from 2013-15; LB Max Bullough, LB Denicos Allen, LB Eric Gordon and LB Greg Jones with 40 straight). Williams has 28 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 48 career games, including 6.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks this season.

• Williams, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by The Associated Press in 2018, recorded career bests in tackles (53), tackles for loss (10.5) and pass break-ups (5) as a junior. The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 28 career tackles for loss, including 11.0 career sacks, in 48 career games (40 consecutive starts).

• Panasiuk, a stalwart on the Spartan defensive line with 39 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 49 career games, Panasiuk has 92 tackles, including 16.5 for losses with four sacks. This season, Panasiuk has recorded career highs in tackles (28), tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (2.0). He posted a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss, including a sack and forced fumble, at No. 4 Ohio State on Oct. 5.

ANTJUAN SIMMONS MAKING THE MOST OUT OF HIS STARTING OPPORTUNITY –
• Junior linebacker Antjuan Simmons has burst onto the scene in his first year as a starter for the Spartans, leading the team and ranking tied for sixth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (14.0 for 53 yards). He also leads the team with 75 tackles overall (38 solo, 37 assists) and is tied for fourth on the team with 3.5 sacks (24 yards) to go along with three pass break-ups and one interception.

• Simmons started the first eight games at Star (weakside) linebacker, then started twice at middle linebacker before returning to the Star position at Rutgers. He leads the team in production points (unofficial team stat) with 220.

• Simmons played behind former three-year starting Star linebacker Andrew Dowell in 2017 and 2018. Simmons has 141 career tackles, including 16.0 for losses, in 37 games of action.

BRIAN LEWERKE IN HIS THIRD SEASON AS SPARTAN STARTING QB –
• 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 has started 36 career games at quarterback (20-16 record) for the Spartans.

• Lewerke is ranked among the Big Ten leaders in pass attempts (first with 358), pass completions (second with 204), total offense (fourth with 246.2 ypg), passing (fifth with 219.7 ypg), total passing yards (fifth with 2,417) and TD passes (sixth with 16). He was 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 204-of-358 passes (.570) for 2,417 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

• Against Illinois on Nov. 9, Lewerke became the first Spartan quarterback to eclipse 7,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in his career. Lewerke currently ranks fourth at MSU with 7,631 yards passing and third among QBs with 1,183 yards rushing.

• Lewerke is one of three Spartan QBs in school history to throw for 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, joining Kirk Cousins and Connor Cook. Lewerke threw for a career-best 2,793 yards as a sophomore in 2017, 2,040 yards as a junior in 2018, and is at 2,417 yards as a senior in 2019.

• Lewerke also ranks among the school leaders in pass attempts (first with 1,171), total offense (third with 8,814 yards), pass completions (fourth with 665), passing yards (fourth with 7,631), passing TDs (tied for fourth with 46) and passing yards per game (fifth with 195.7 ypg).

• Lewerke had a season-high 378 total yards of offense against Indiana (300 passing, 78 rushing) on Sept. 28, 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 19 times (fourth 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 2018, 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'S CAREER YEAR SLOWED IN SECOND HALF DUE TO INJURY –
• Fifth-year senior wide receiver Darrell Stewart was having a career year and ranked near the top of the Big Ten leaders in receptions and receiving yards before suffering an injury in the Penn State game on Oct. 26. Stewart has missed the last three games, but his 694 receiving yards and four TD catches are still career highs. He still ranks second on the team in catches (47), receiving yards (694) and TD receptions (4).

• Stewart has three 100-yard receiving games in 2019 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 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 tied for fourth in the school record book with 148 career receptions and ranks 24th with 1,637 receiving yards. He also has seven TDs in 42 career games, including 20 starting assignments.

ELIJAH COLLINS EMERGING AS ONE OF THE TOP FRESHMAN TAILBACKS IN THE FBS –
• Redshirt freshman Elijah Collins is averaging a team-best 77.4 yards rushing per game (186 carries for 851 yards; 4.6 avg.), which ranks fourth in the Big Ten. His 77.4 ypg also ranks first in the conference and seventh 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 recorded his second career 100-yard rushing game with 170 yards on a career-high 28 carries against Illinois on Nov. 9. The 170 rushing yards were the second most by a Spartan against Illinois (Javon Ringer with 194 in 2005). Collins also scored two TDs for the first time in his career.

• Collins carried the ball a career-high 31 times for 109 yards in the victory at Rutgers on Nov. 23, becoming the first Spartan since Jeremy Langford in 2014 (35 vs. Michigan) to carry the ball 30 times in a game.

• The Detroit, Michigan native is the first Spartan freshman to record three 100-yard rushing games (192 vs Western Michigan, 170 vs. Illinois, 109 vs. Rutgers) since Javon Ringer in 2005.

• Collins' 851 rushing yards are the most by a Spartan freshman since Sedrick Irvin had 1,067 as a true freshman in 1996.

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

CODY WHITE STEPPING UP IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON –
• Junior Cody White has had a big second half of the season to emerge as the team's leading receiver. White, who has 24 catches for 342 yards in his last three games (7 for 128 vs. Illinois; 6 for 78 at Michigan; 11 for 136 at Rutgers), now leads the team with a career-high 54 receptions for 741 yards and five TDs.

• White tied an MSU single-game record with three TD catches at Rutgers to go along with a career-high 11 receptions for 136 yards. He ranks among the Big Ten leaders in receptions (fourth with 54), receptions per game (fourth with 4.9), receiving yards (741) and receiving yards per game (67.4 ypg).
• White has five career 100-yard receiving games (11 catches for 136 yards and three TDs at Rutgers in 2019; seven for 128 vs. Illinois in 2019; nine 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 33 career games, including 24 starts, White has 131 catches 1,786 yards and 11 touchdowns. He ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in receptions (tied for 13th with 131), receiving yards (16th with 1,786) and TD catches (tied for 19th with 11).

SPARTANS HAVE USED SIX DIFFERENT STARTING O-LINE COMBINATIONS IN 11 GAMES –
• Due to a rash of injuries, Michigan State has used six different starting offensive line combinations in 11 games, including each of the last four games.

• The Spartans have started 11 different offensive linemen this season (C Matt Allen, LT AJ Arcuri, LG Blake Bueter, OG Luke Campbell, RG Matt Carrick, LT Devontae Dobbs, LG J.D. Duplain, LT Kevin Jarvis, LT Tyler Higby, RT Jordan Reid, C Nick Samac), including three true freshmen (Dobbs, Duplain, Samac) and four left tackles (Jarvis, Higby, Arcuri, Dobbs).

• Junior right tackle Jordan Reid is the only Spartan offensive lineman to start all 11 games. He has started 24 consecutive games at right tackle for MSU.

• For the first time under Mark Dantonio, three true freshmen started on the offensive line in a game, as center Nick Samac, left guard J.D. Duplain and left tackle Devontae Dobbs started at Rutgers on Nov. 23. The Spartans also started wide receiver Julian Barnett against the Scarlet Knights. Michigan State and Stanford are the only teams in the FBS this season to start three true freshmen on the offensive line in the same game.

JAKE HARTBARGER NAMED TO RAY GUY AWARD WATCH LIST –
• Sixth-year senior Jake Hartbarger is averaging a 42.9 yards per punt, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten. He has 15 punts of 50-plus yards and has placed 30 percent of his punts (17-of-57) 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 fourth in MSU history in punts (243) and punting yards (10,280) and sixth in punting average (42.3). He has punted in 52 career games.
• 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 (.754, 49-of-65).

• Coghlin also ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in PAT percentage (first at 100 percent; 90-of-90), field goals made (seventh with 40), PATs (10th with 90) and points scored (11th with 243).

• Coghlin ranks among the 2019 Big Ten leaders in field goals (second with 16), kick scoring (third at 7.5 ppg) and scoring (fifth with 7.5 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 (46-of-61, .754).

• 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.

YOUTH MOVEMENT –
• Michigan State has played 15 true freshmen this season, the most ever in one season under Mark Dantonio (previous: 13 in 2017). Five of those 15 players have played more than four games. Beginning in the 2018 season, true freshmen can play in up to four games and still preserve their redshirt season.

• Here's a look at the true freshmen who have seen game action thus far in 2019: WR Julian Barnett (11 games), TE Adam Berghorst (2 games)*, OT Devontae Dobbs (4 games)*, OG J.D. Duplain (8 games), DE Michael Fletcher (1 game)*, S Tate Hallock (4 games)*, LB Marcel Lewis (1 game)*, WR Cade McDonald (1 game)*, K Evan Morris (2 games)*, WR Tre Mosley (4 games)*, LS Jude Pedrozo (11 games), OL Nick Samac (5 games), LB Charles Willekes (1 game)*, RB Anthony Williams (10 games), RB Brandon Wright (4 games)*

* Redshirt year still preserved heading into Maryland game

• For the first time under Mark Dantonio, three true freshmen started on the offensive line in a game, as center Nick Samac, left guard J.D. Duplain and left tackle Devontae Dobbs started at Rutgers on Nov. 23. The Spartans also started wide receiver Julian Barnett against the Scarlet Knights. Michigan State and Stanford are the only teams in the FBS this season to start three true freshmen on the offensive line in the same game.

• Michigan State has started five true freshmen on offense, tied for the most in the FBS, along with Stanford and Arizona State: C Nick Samac (3 games), LG J.D. Duplain (3 games), WR Julian Barnett (2 games), WR Tre Mosley (1 game) and LT Devontae Dobbs (1 game).

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 112-57 (.663) 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 112 victories, Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.636, 68-39 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (68), home wins (66) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.663). 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 12th in Big Ten history with 112 wins.

• Overall, Dantonio owns a 130-74 (.637) record in his 15-plus seasons as a head coach (18-17 in three seasons at Cincinnati; 112-57 in 12-plus seasons at MSU). Dantonio's 130 career wins rank 12th among active FBS coaches and second most in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz; 172).

• 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 130-74 (.637) in 15-plus seasons.

• Dantonio's .636 winning percentage (68-39) 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 169 games coached at Michigan State (Duffy Daugherty: 183; Dantonio: 169; George Perles: 139; Charlie Bachman: 114).

MSU HALL OF FAMER HENRY BULLOUGH PASSES AWAY –
• Former Spartan player and assistant coach Henry Bullough, a member of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 24. He was 85 (1934-2019). A three-year letterwinner from 1952-54 and a 12-year assistant coach (1959-69, 1994), Bullough was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. His impressive career included winning a National Championship as both a Spartan player (1952) and coach (1965-1966), and a Super Bowl ring as an assistant coach with the Colts during the 1970 season.

"Michigan State has lost a great Spartan and the game of football has lost a coaching legend," said MSU head football coach Mark Dantonio. "I met Hank the first day I came to Michigan State as an assistant coach in 1995, when he was leaving as the defensive coordinator under Coach Perles. He made an immediate impact on me.

"I had the honor of coaching three of his grandsons in Max, Riley and Byron over a period of nine seasons (from 2010-18), and his son Chuck is currently on our staff.

"Hank was a tremendous defensive coach and widely respected across the country. He would actively come up to the offices and talk with our defensive coaches, and shared many ideas and philosophies over the years with our staff.

"Hank lived and breathed green and white. He was extremely active in the Michigan State Football Players Association and led the organization for a number of years. He was also instrumental in helping create the George Webster Scholarship Program, which is a huge benefit for our program.

"The Spartan football family sends our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Bullough family."

• A three-year starter, Bullough helped MSU to a combined record of 21-7 (.750) from 1952-54, including the 1952 National Championship and 1953 Big Ten title. As a sophomore for Clarence "Biggie" Munn in 1952, Bullough played both on the offense and defensive lines, as the Spartans finished second nationally in total offense, averaging nearly 429 yards per game including 272 yards on the ground, and No. 1 in rushing defense, allowing just 84 yards per game. The 6-foot, 200-pound Bullough was named honorable mention All-Big Ten as both a junior and senior while starting at guard.

• The Canton, Ohio, native was selected in the fifth round of the 1955 National Football League Draft by the Green Bay Packers, where he played two seasons (1955 and '58).

• He spent 12 years as an assistant coach at Michigan State, including 11 seasons under Duffy Daugherty (1959-69) and one year under George Perles (1994). Bullough served as defensive coordinator for MSU's back-to-back National Championship and Big Ten Championship teams in 1965 and 1966. Two of his pupils, defensive end Charles "Bubba" Smith (No. 1 overall) and linebacker George Webster (No. 5), were among the top five selections in the first round of the 1967 NFL Draft.

• The Spartans set school single-season records in 1965 for rushing defense (47.3 ypg), scoring defense (5.6 ppg) and total defense (173.2 ypg), marks that still stand today, and ranked No. 1 in the NCAA in scoring defense and rushing defense. The Spartans led the Big Ten in conference games in both 1965 and 1966 in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense.

• Bullough spent more than 20 seasons in the NFL, including stints in Baltimore (1970-73), New England (1973-79), Cincinnati (1980-83), Buffalo (1985-86), Green Bay (1988-92) and Detroit (1993), and became known as the "Doctor of Defense." He won a Super Bowl ring as linebackers coach under Don McCafferty with the Baltimore Colts in 1970. While serving as defensive coordinator in New England in 1974, Bullough is credited with introducing the 3-4 defense to the NFL. He closed out the 1978 campaign as co-head coach of the New England Patriots. In 1983 as defensive coordinator with the Bengals, Cincinnati led the NFL in total defense (270.4 ypg.) while ranking second in rushing defense (93.7 ypg.) and third in passing defense (176.8 ypg.). He also was on the Bengals coaching staff for Super Bowl XVI against San Francisco. Bullough later served as head coach of the Buffalo Bills for 21 games (1985-86).

• In 2004, he was named president of the MSU Football Players Association and later became executive director of the organization.

• Born Jan. 24, 1934, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Bullough attended high school in Canton, Ohio. At Timken Vocational High in Canton, he earned honorable mention all-state accolades in football.
• Bullough earned his bachelor's degree in education from Michigan State in 1955. He played a season with the Green Bay Packers in 1955 before serving in the Army, and was discharged in time to rejoin Green Bay for the 1958 season.

• Bullough's legacy extends to his impressive family tree, as his sons Shane (1983-86) and Chuck (1988-91), and grandsons Max (2010-13), Riley (2013-16) and Byron (2015-18) all lettered as linebackers for the Spartans. Shane was a captain and first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior in 1986, and Chuck set the MSU single-season tackles record with 175 as a senior in 1991 while earning first-team all-league honors. Max was a two-time captain and two-time first-team All-Big Ten middle linebacker (2012-13), Riley picked up third-team all-conference accolades twice (2015-16) and was a captain as a senior, and Byron was a four-year letterwinner who served on the team's Eagles Leadership Council. Chuck is in his second year on Mark Dantonio's staff as the defensive ends coach the Spartans.

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 90-40 (.692) since the beginning of the 2010 season. The 90 wins this decade are third most in the Big Ten and tied for 13th most in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. In addition, Michigan State is the fifth Big Ten program to win 90 games in a decade (Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin) and the 90 wins are the eighth-most ever by any Big Ten team in a decade.

• 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 .692 winning percentage this decade is fourth 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 90 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 68 conference wins. The Spartans are 55-28 (.663) in regular-season Big Ten play since 2010.

MSU'S SCHEDULE AMONG THE TOUGHEST IN THE NATION –
• According to the Cody Kellner Points Index Strength of Schedule Ratings (www.kellnerratings.com), Michigan State has played the most difficult schedule in the FBS.

• According to the Jeff Sagarin ratings, Michigan State has played the 11th-toughest schedule in the nation. MSU has played four teams currently in the AP Top 25 (No. 2 Ohio State, No. 10 Michigan, No. 12 Penn State, No. 13 Wisconsin) and eight opponents have a winning record (previous four teams plus Western Michigan, Arizona State, Indiana and Illinois).

• MSU was the first team in the FBS this season to play three straight games against AP Top 10 opponents (No. 4 Ohio State on Oct. 5; No. 8 Wisconsin on Oct. 12; No. 6 Penn State on Oct. 26). It marked just the third time in school history MSU played three games in row against AP Top 10 teams (1970, 1972).

SCORING TRENDS UNDER DANTONIO –
• Since 2010, Michigan State is 54-6 (.900) 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; 2019 to Illinois). Overall, MSU is 66-13 (.835) when scoring 30-plus points under Dantonio.

• MSU has allowed 20 or fewer points under Dantonio 83 times (49 percent); MSU's record in those games is 73-10 (.880).

• MSU has allowed 17 or fewer points under Dantonio 78 times (46 percent); MSU's record in those games is 69-9 (.885).

• MSU has only given up 30 or more points under Dantonio 42 times (25 percent; record: 11-31).

SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF –
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has produced a 66-24 record (.733) 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.

RUNNING GAME KEY FOR SPARTANS UNDER DANTONIO –
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 92-23 (.800) when outrushing its opponent, including a 76-16 record (.826) since 2010. Conversely, MSU is 20-34 (.370) under Dantonio when being outgained on the ground by its opponent. The Spartans are 41-7 (.854) in games when gaining 200 or more rushing yards under Dantonio.

• Under Dantonio, when Michigan State runs at least 40 times in a game, the Spartans are 75-10 (.882). Here's the breakdown by year: 2007 (6-2), 2008 (7-0), 2009 (4-0), 2010 (4-0), 2011 (3-0), 2012 (6-1), 2013 (7-0), 2014 (11-0), 2015 (7-0), 2016 (3-5), 2017 (9-0), 2018 (5-1) and 2019 (3-1).

DOMINIQUE LONG NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT –
• Michigan State junior safety Dominique Long has been named to the 2019 Academic All-District Football Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Long owns a 3.71 grade-point average as a mechanical engineering major. Long now advances to the Academic All-America ballot. The Academic All-America Team will be announced in December.

• An Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2018, Long is on track to earn his third letter for the Spartans this fall. Through 11 games, he leads the team with 10 special teams tackles (eight punt return, two kick return). He has a career-high 14 tackles overall and one pass break-up. In the season opener against Tulsa, Long blocked his first career punt.

Game 12: Maryland (3-8, 1-7 B1G) at Michigan State (5-6, 3-5 B1G)

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Players Mentioned

Matt Allen

AJ Arcuri

Ryan Armour

Joe Bachie

Julian Barnett

Adam Berghorst

Shakur Brown

Blake Bueter

Josh Butler

Luke Campbell

Matt Carrick

Cole Chewins

Matt Coghlin

Elijah Collins

Devontae Dobbs

Andrew Dowell

David Dowell

J.D. Duplain

Peter Fisk

Michael Fletcher

Tate Hallock

Jake Hartbarger

Noah Harvey

Xavier Henderson

Tyler Higby

Kevin Jarvis

Davis Lewandowski

Brian Lewerke

Marcel Lewis

Tommy Liesveld

Dominique Long

Cade McDonald

Evan Morris

Tre Mosley

Jalen Nailor

Jacub Panasiuk

Mike Panasiuk

Jude Pedrozo

Corey Pryor

Dante Razzano

Jordan Reid

Nick Samac

Noah Sargent

Josiah Scott

Matt Seybert

Antjuan Simmons

Brandon Sowards

Tyriq Thompson

Cody White

Bryce Wilker

Charles Willekes

Kenny Willekes

Raequan Williams

Brandon Wright

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