Michigan State Hosts Illinois Saturday in Spartan Stadium

Game 9: Illinois (5-4, 3-3 B1G) at Michigan State (4-4, 2-3 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 9
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: Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), Lisa Byington (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, 26-18-1
Series in East Lansing: MSU leads, 13-8-1
Last Meeting: Illinois 31, MSU 27 (2016)
Current Series Streak: 1 by Illinois (2016-)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 111-55 (13th year)
Overall Record: 129-72 (16th year)
Record vs. Illinois: 3-1

Illinois Head Coach: Lovie Smith
Illinois Record: 14-31 (fourth year)
Overall Record: 14-31 (fourth year)
Record vs. MSU: 1-0

FIRST-AND-10 –
• After two byes in three weeks, Michigan State hosts Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3:35 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1, with Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen and Lisa Byington on the call. The Spartans (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten) fell to No. 6 Penn State on Oct. 26 in East Lansing, 28-7, while Illinois (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) is riding a three-game winning streak after defeating Rutgers at home last weekend, 38-10. MSU is 7-6 after bye weeks under 13th-year head coach Mark Dantonio.

• Michigan State's strength of schedule is ranked No. 2 in the FBS, according to the Jeff Sagarin ratings. The Spartans played three consecutive AP Top 10 teams in October (Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State) and have played six teams overall with a winning record. It marked just the third time in school history MSU played three AP Top 10 teams in a row (1970, 1972).

• Saturday's game marks the 47th meeting between Michigan State and Illinois and the first in Spartan Stadium since 2010. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 26-18-2, including a 13-8-1 record in East Lansing.Michigan State has won 12 of the last 14 meetings in the series.

• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 3-1 against Illinois, but this marks only the second time the Fighting Illini have visited East Lansing in Dantonio's tenure. During MSU's Big Ten Championship season in 2010, the No. 13 Spartans topped the Illini, 26-6.

• A trademark of Mark Dantonio's Michigan State teams has been their ability to produce wins late in the season. Under Dantonio, Michigan State has compiled a 30-13 record (.698) in November. His teams have won 24 of the last 34 games in November (3-0 in 2010; 4-0 in 2011; 1-2 in 2012; 4-0 in 2013; 3-1 in 2014; 3-1 in 2015; 1-3 in 2016; 3-1 in 2017; 2-2 in 2018). During MSU's three Big Ten Championship seasons (2010, 2013, 2015) under Dantonio, MSU was 10-1 in November.

• Illinois natives Mike Panasiuk (Roselle) and Raequan Williams (Chicago) have started 37 games in a row alongside each other on the defensive line, dating back to the 2016 game against Ohio State on Nov. 19. This season, Panasiuk already has a career-high 7.5 tackles for loss, including two sacks, and 22 stops overall. In 46 career games, Panasiuk has 86 tackles, including 16.5 for losses with four sacks. Williams currently ranks tied for second on the Spartans in sacks (3.5) and sixth in tackles for loss (5.0). The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 26.5 career tackles for loss, including 10.0 career sacks, in 45 career games.

• Fifth-year senior wide receiver Darrell Stewart ranks second in the Big Ten in receiving yards (694), receiving yards per game (86.8 ypg) and receptions per game (5.9 pg), and third in catches (47). 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 made him a late add to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

• Junior Star (weakside) 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 fifth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (11.0 for 35 yards) and ranking second on the team in tackles (59). He also has 2.5 sacks (12 yards), three pass break-ups and one interception. He ranks second on the team in production points (unofficial team stat) with 168. Simmons played behind former three-year starting Star linebacker Andrew Dowell in 2017 and 2018. Simmons has 125 career tackles, including 13.0 for losses, in 34 games of action.

• 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 tied for second with 1.21 tackles for loss per game. Willekes is tied for third on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss this season and leads MSU with four sacks. He is also third on the team with 49 tackles. Willekes was named a first-team midseason All-American by Rivals.com.

• 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 111-55 (.669) 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 (.644, 67-37 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 (.669). Dantonio is 11th in Big Ten history in conference wins (67) and tied for 12th in overall victories (111).

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-Fr. Elijah Collins (115 carries for 545 yards, 4.7 avg., 3 TDs)
Passing – Sr.-5 Brian Lewerke (147-of-262, .561, 1,761 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs)
Receiving – Sr.-5 Darrell Stewart (47 catches for 694 yards, 14.8 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles – Sr. Joe Bachie (71 tackles, 36 solos, 35 assists, 8.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 4 PBUs, 1 INT)

Illinois:
Rushing – Sr.-5 Reggie Corbin (109 carries for 577 yards, 5.3 avg., 5 TDs)
Passing – Jr. Brandon Peters (92-of-165, .558, 1,117 yards, 13 TDs, 4 INTs)
Receiving – Jr. Josh Imatorbhebhe (25 catches for 420 yards, 16.8 avg., 7 TDs)
Tackles – Sr. Dele Harding (106 tackles, 43 solos, 63 assists, 6.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, 1 PBU)

A GLANCE AT ILLINOIS (5-4, 3-3 B1G) –
• The Fighting Illini bring a three-game win streak into Saturday's game with the Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Illinois opened the season with back-to-back wins, then lost four in a row, before winning the last three games, including upsetting No. 6 Wisconsin, 24-23, on Oct. 19 at home. The Illini then won, 24-6, at Purdue on Oct. 26, before a 38-10 home win over Rutgers last Saturday, pulling away from a 10-10 halftime tie with 28 second-half points, including 21 points in the third quarter.

• Illinois is on its first three-game win streak since 2011 when the Illini opened the season 6-0, as well as its first three-game Big Ten winning streak in the same season since 2007.

• In the win over Rutgers, the Illini defense outscored the Scarlet Knights' offense, 12-10, with a 36-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the third quarter and a 54-yard interception return for a TD in the fourth quarter. The two defensive TDs give Illinois five defensive scores this season, which is tied for the most in the nation with Missouri. Illinois also leads the nation in takeaways with 22 (15 fumbles, seven interceptions).

• The Illini defense also has at least one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in every game this season, registering a total of three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in the win over Rutgers.

• For the season, along with leading the nation in takeaways (22), Illinois also leads the country in fumbles recovered (15) and shares the nation-best of five defensive TDs. Illinois is also second in the B1G and fourth in the FBS in turnover margin (1.33). UI is second in the league and sixth in the nation in total tackles for loss (8.4 pg) with 76 total TFL.

• The Illini defense is ninth in the B1G and 48th in the FBS in scoring defense (24.8 ppg), as well as 10th in the conference and 67th in the country in total defense (396.6 ypg). Illinois is ninth in the league in passing defense (209.1 ypg) and 13th in rushing defense (187.4 ypg).

• Offensively, Illinois is seventh in the B1G in scoring offense (30.0 ppg), while ranking eighth in rushing offense (163.0 ypg) and 12th in passing offense (162.8 ypg).

• On special teams, the Illini are third in the B1G and 24th in FBS in net punting (41.3).

• Individually, senior linebacker Dele Harding leads the Illinois defense with 106 total tackles, which leads the Big Ten and ranks tied for third in the FBS, as well as leading the league and ranking tied for fourth in the nation in tackles per game (11.78). Harding is also tied for 13th in the conference and tied for 82nd in the country with 8.5 tackles for loss, ranking tied for 15th in the league with 0.94 TFL/game.

• With three interceptions this season, Harding is tied for second in the B1G and tied for 20th in the FBS, along with second in the league and eighth in the nation in interception return yards (94).

• Junior defensive lineman Oluwole Betiku tops UI and ranks fourth in the B1G and tied for 23rd in the FBS with 11.5 TFLs, ranking second in the league and eigth in the nation with 1.64 TFL/game.

• Senior safety Stanley Green is tops in not just the conference but the country with four fumble recoveries, while junior linebacker Jake Hansen is tied for second in both the league and nation with three fumble recoveries. Hansen is also fifth in the B1G with 72 total stops, ranking seventh in the league with 8.0 tackles per game.

• Offensively, Brandon Peters is sixth in the B1G in pass efficiency (133.9), with 92-of-165 passing for 1,117 yards with 13 TDs and four INTs. Peters ranks eighth in the league in passing yards per completion (12.1), while ranking 12th in passing yards per game (139.6 ypg).

• Junior Josh Imatorbhebhe leads the Illini receiving corps with 25 catches for 420 yards, and ranks third in the B1G and 24th in FBS with seven TDs. He also ranks 10th in the league in yards per reception (16.8) and 18th in receiving yards per game (46.7).

• Junior wide receiver Ricky Smalling is close behind with 24 receptions for 225 yards, in two fewer games, ranking 20th in the league in receptions per game (3.4). Smalling averages 32.1 ypg and had one TD catch.

• Senior running back Reggie Corbin spearheads the rushing attack with 109 carries for 577 yards. He ranks fifth in the B1G in rushing yards per game (5.3), sixth in rushing yards per game (72.1) and 13th in rushing TDs (5).

• Junior placekicker James McCort is a perfect 34-of-34 on PATs and 8-of-12 on FGs, ranking 12th in the B1G in scoring with 6.4 ppg. He is third in the B1G with 1.3 FG/game, as well as one of seven placekickers with a perfect 100 PAT percentage, ranking tied for fifth with the 34 made PATs and also tied for fifth with 3.8 PAT/game.

• Junior punter Blake Hayes has the most punts in the conference with 55, while ranking second in the B1G and 16th in the FBS in punting (45.0 ypp). He boomed a 70-yarder against Michigan on Oct. 12, that is the longest in the B1G and tied for the 19th-longest in FBS this season, one of B1G-best 17 punts of 50+ yards. Hayes is also tied for tops in the league with 24 punts inside the 20, with just one touchback.

MSU/ILLINOIS SERIES NOTES –
• Saturday's game marks the 47th meeting between Michigan State and Illinois and the first in Spartan Stadium since 2010. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 26-18-2, including a 13-8-1 record in East Lansing.

• Michigan State has won 12 of the last 14 meetings in the series.

• MSU head coach Mark Dantonio is 3-1 against Illinois, but this marks only the second time the Fighting Illini have visited East Lansing in Dantonio's tenure. During MSU's Big Ten Championship season in 2010, the No. 13 Spartans topped the Illini, 26-6.

THE LAST MEETING –
Nov. 5, 2016, in Champaign, Ill. (AP): Michigan State held the ball on the Illinois 15 with 19 seconds left, but the Spartans were unable to move the chains on fourth down, and fell to Illinois, 31-27.

Michigan State out-gained Illinois 490-304 overall and 315 to 140 in passing yardage. And eight times Michigan State moved the ball to the Illinois 36-yard line or further, but turned those possessions into just two touchdowns and four field goals.

Jeff George Jr. started the season as the third-string quarterback for the Illini. With injuries to No. 1 quarterback Wes Lunt and backup Chayce Crouch, though, the son of longtime NFL quarterback Jeff George started his third straight game was 13-of-29 passing for 140 yards and two TDs. Kendrick Foster added 146 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns for Illinois.

Michigan State had a shot late, but on fourth down with 19 seconds left in the game, Illinois linebacker Hardy Nickerson and defensive end Carroll Phillips stuffed quarterback Damion Terry's draw for a 1-yard loss.

Terry came into the game in the fourth quarter when Tyler O'Connor left with an injury and finished 6-of-12 for 50 yards and a touchdown.

THE LAST MEETING IN EAST LANSING –
Oct. 9, 2010, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP): Kirk Cousins threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to B.J. Cunningham in the third quarter, helping No. 13 Michigan State to its best start in more than four decades with a 26-6 win over Illinois. The Spartans outscored the Illini, 23-0, in the second half and started the season 7-0 for the first time since 1966.

The Spartans had trouble running the ball the first two quarters against Illinois, but Cousins came out sharp in the third and they took control of the game. Cousins' touchdown pass over the middle made it 13-6, and the defense kept Illinois at bay. Cousins finished 13 of 24 for 201 yards.

SPARTANS FROM THE LAND OF LINCOLN –
• Michigan State's 2019 roster features 12 players from the state of Illinois: C Matt Allen (Hinsdale/Hinsdale Central), OL Kevin Jarvis (Chicago/Maine South), DT Naquan Jones (Evanston/Evanston Township), DT Dashaun Mallory (Bolingbrook/Bolingbrook), WR Cade McDonald (Naperville/Naperville Central), DE Jacub Panasiuk (Roselle/Lake Park West), DT Mike Panasiuk (Roselle/Lake Park West), WR Jayden Reed (Naperville/Naperville Central), FB Max Rosenthal (Winnetka/New Trier Township Winnetka), QB Payton Thorne (Naperville/Naperville Central), DT Raequan Williams (Chicago/DePaul College Prep) and RB Anthony Williams (Chicago/Bolingbrook).

LAST TIME OUT: NOTES FROM PENN STATE GAME
OFFENSE
• In his collegiate debut, true freshman wide receiver Tre Mosley had four catches for 37 yards.

• Junior tight end Matt Dotson tied his career high with four receptions for 37 yards.

• Redshirt freshman Elijah Collins led the Spartans in rushing for the fifth game this season with 53 yards on 17 carries.

DEFENSE
• Senior linebacker Tyriq Thompson led the Spartans with a career-high 11 tackles.

• Junior linebacker Antjuan Simmons had two tackles for loss, including a 6-yard sack, and now leads the team with 11 tackles for loss this season . . . Simmons had nine stops overall.

• Sophomore safety Xavier Henderson tied his career high with eight tackles for the second game in a row.

• Senior safety David Dowell recorded his first interception of the season and the eighth of his career . . . he also had five tackles and one pass break-up.

• Senior defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk had five tackles, including a 7-yard sack.

SPARTANS HAVE PLAYED ONE OF THE TOUGHEST SCHEDULES IN THE FBS –
• 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. The Jeff Sagarin Ratings have MSU playing the second-toughest schedule to date. MSU has played three opponents currently ranked in the AP Top 25 (No. 3 Ohio State, No. 5 Penn State, No. 16 Wisconsin). In addition, MSU has played six games against teams with winning record (previous three teams listed plus Western Michigan, Arizona State and Indiana).

• 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).

SPARTAN ROSTER FULL OF EXPERIENCE –
• The Spartan defense features six seniors and a combined 234 career starts among the projected starters on this week's depth chart (Mike Panasiuk and Raequan Williams, 37 starts each; Kenny Willekes, 33 starts; David Dowell, 31 starts; Josiah Scott, 25 starts; Tyriq Thompson, 20 starts; Jacub Panasiuk, 19 starts; Josh Butler, 16 starts; Antjuan Simmons and Xavier Henderson, eight starts each). Four players (Mike Panasiuk, Williams, David Dowell, Willekes) have started 26 consecutive games together, and six players (those previous four plus Thompson and Jacub Panasiuk) have started 18 straight games together.

A HISTORY OF STOPPING THE RUN –
• Michigan State ranked first in the FBS in rushing defense in 2018, allowing just 77.9 yards per game, the fifth-lowest in school history and the lowest since 1999 (76.2 ypg). MSU's 77.9 ypg average was the lowest by a non-Alabama team since 2009 (Texas, 72.4 ypg). The Spartans held their opponents to under 100 yards rushing eight times. MSU also ranked first in the Big Ten in conference games in rushing defense (93.8 ypg). MSU only gave up 30 rushes of 10-plus yards in 2018, tied for second fewest in the FBS.

• Stopping the run has been the main theme for MSU on defense in the Dantonio era, and it led to ranking No. 1 in the NCAA FBS in rushing defense in 2014 (88.5 ypg) and 2018 (77.9 ypg). In addition, MSU has led the Big Ten in rushing defense six times (2011-14, 2017-18) under Dantonio. Since the Big Ten began awarding stat champions in all games in 1985, Michigan State (2011-14) became only the second team in conference history to lead the league in rushing defense four years in a row (Michigan, 1990-93). The Spartans have been ranked in the Top 25 in rushing defense eight times in the last 10 seasons, including a run of five straight years in the top 11 (2011-15). MSU has led the Big Ten in rushing defense the past two seasons and ranked No. 1 in the FBS in 2018 (77.9 ypg) and No. 2 in 2017 (95.3 ypg).

• MSU is currently ranked 25th in rushing defense through the first eight games in 2019, allowing 117.1 rushing yards per game.

• Michigan State posted a dominant defensive performance in the victory over Tulsa on Aug. 30. The Spartans held the Golden Hurricane to -73 yards rushing, a school-record low for a Spartan opponent (previous: -63 yards by Pittsburgh in 1950). That mark also tied a Big Ten single-game record (Iowa held Purdue to -73 yards rushing in 1989) and it's the fewest rushing yards by any FBS team since 2000, when Mississippi State held Florida to -78 yards rushing. MSU also limited Tulsa to 80 yards of total offense, the lowest output by a Spartan opponent since 2011 (Florida Atlantic, 48).

• MSU has held four of its eight opponents in 2019 below 100 yards rushing (-73 by Tulsa; 67 by Western Michigan; 76 by Arizona State; 70 by Indiana). In 166 games under Dantonio, Michigan State has held its opponent under 100 yards rushing 84 times (.506). MSU is 71-13 (.845) in those games, including a 61-8 (.884) record since 2010.

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 tied for second with 1.21 tackles for loss per game. Willekes is tied for third on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss this season and leads MSU with four sacks. He is also third on the team with 49 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 1.21 tackles for loss per game average ranks tied for second. He has 200 tackles overall in 35 career games, including 33 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 37 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 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 26.5 career tackles for loss, including 10.0 career sacks, in 45 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 37 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 46 career games, Panasiuk has 86 tackles, including 16.5 for losses with four sacks. This season, Panasiuk already has a career-high 7.5 tackles for loss, including two sacks, and 22 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 and ranking tied for fifth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (11.0 for 35 yards) and ranking second on the team in tackles (59). He also has 2.5 sacks (12 yards), three pass break-ups and one interception. He ranks second on the team in production points (unofficial team stat) with 168.

• Simmons played behind former three-year starting Star linebacker Andrew Dowell in 2017 and 2018. Simmons has 125 career tackles, including 13.0 for losses, in 34 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 is ranked among the Big Ten leaders in pass attempts (tied for first with 262), pass completions (second with 147), passing (tied for fourth with 220.1 ypg), total passing yards (tied for fourth with 1,761) and total offense (fifth with 241.3 ypg). 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 147-of-262 passes (.561) for 1,761 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.

• In the win over Indiana on Sept. 28, Lewerke became just the second Spartan quarterback to eclipse 6,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in his career, joining Drew Stanton (6,524 passing yards and 1,512 rushing yards from 2003-06). Lewerke needs just 25 more passing yards to become the first Spartan quarterback to throw for 7,000 career passing yards and rush for 1,000 yards. Lewerke also ranks among the school leaders in pass attempts (fourth with 1,075), passing yards (fourth with 6,975 yards), pass completions (fourth with 608), passing yards per game (fifth with 193.8 ypg), total offense (tied for fourth with 8,036 yards) and passing TDs (eighth with 41).

• Lewerke ranks third in MSU history among quarterbacks with 1,061 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 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: MR. CONSISTENCY –
• Fifth-year senior wide receiver Darrell Stewart ranks second in the Big Ten in receiving yards (694), receiving yards per game (86.8 ypg) and receptions per game (5.9 pg), and third in catches (47). Stewart's 694 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 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 leads all active Spartans with 1,637 receiving yards (23rd in MSU history) and seven TDs in 42 career games, including 20 starting assignments.

• Stewart has MSU's longest active streak with at least one reception in 32 consecutive games.

ELIJAH COLLINS EMERGING AS ONE OF THE TOP FRESHMAN TAILBACKS IN THE FBS –
• Redshirt freshman Elijah Collins is averaging a team-best 68.1 yards rushing per game (115 carries for 545 yards; 4.7 avg.), which ranks seventh in the Big Ten. His 68.1 ypg also ranks second in the conference and 11th 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 30 catches for 399 yards and two touchdowns in the first eight 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 30 career games, including 22 starts, White has 107 catches for 1,444 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 44.0 yards per punt, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten. He has 15 punts of 50-plus yards and has placed 33 percent of his punts (14-of-43) 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 (42.5), punting yards (9,724) and punts (229).

• 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.

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 111-55 (.669) 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 (.644, 67-37 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 (.669). 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 129-72 (.642) record in his 15-plus seasons as a head coach (18-17 in three seasons at Cincinnati; 111-55 in 12-plus seasons at MSU). Dantonio's 129 career wins rank 12th among active FBS coaches and second most in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz; 170).

• 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 129-72 (.642) in 15-plus seasons.

• Dantonio's .644 winning percentage (67-37) 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.

SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF –
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has produced a 66-23 record (.742) 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 91-22 (.805) when outrushing its opponent, including a 75-15 record (.833) since 2010. Conversely, MSU is 20-33 (.377) under Dantonio when being outgained on the ground by its opponent. The Spartans are 41-6 (.872) 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 74-9 (.892). 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 (2-0).