No. 18 MSU Welcomes Arizona State to Spartan Stadium on Saturday

Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications

No. 18 MSU Welcomes Arizona State to Spartan Stadium on Saturday

9/12/2019 3:40:00 PM | Football

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Game 3: Arizona State (2-0) at No. 18/19 Michigan State (2-0)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 14
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. EDT
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (75,005)
Surface: Natural Grass
TV/Web/Mobile: FOX/FOX Sports App
Announcers: Tim Brando (play-by-play), Spencer Tillman (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Affiliate Listings
Satellite Radio: Ch. 83 (Sirius), Ch. 83 (XM), Ch. 83 (SiriusXM.com)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Sidearm Live Stats
All-Time Series: ASU leads, 2-1
Series in East Lansing: MSU leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: ASU 16, MSU 13 (2018)
Current Series Streak: 2 by ASU (1986-)

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
MSU Record: 109-51 (13th year)
Overall Record: 127-68 (16th year)
Record vs. ASU: 0-1

Arizona State Head Coach: Herm Edwards
ASU Record: 9-6 (second year)
Overall Record: 9-6 (second year)
Record vs. MSU: 1-0

FIRST-AND-10 –
• Mark Dantonio will look to become Michigan State's all-time winningest coach as the No. 18/19 Spartans host Arizona State on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 4:05 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be broadcast nationally on FOX, with Tim Brando (play-by-play), Spencer Tillman (analyst) and Coley Harvey (sidelines) on the call.
With the 51-17 victory over Western Michigan last Saturday, Dantonio tied Duffy Daugherty for the most wins in Michigan State history with 109.

• Duffy Daugherty, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, collected a 109-69-5 record in East Lansing from 1954-72 (19 seasons). Daugherty won four National Championships (1955, 1957, 1965, 1966) and two Big Ten Championships (1965, 1966). 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.

• Michigan State is 2-0 for the ninth time under Dantonio in 13 seasons, opening the 2019 campaign with wins against Tulsa (28-7) and Western Michigan (51-17). The Spartans are looking to improve to 3-0 for the fifth time in the Dantonio era (2007, 2010, 2013, 2015). Arizona State also enters the contest at 2-0 after wins over Kent State and Sacramento State to start the 2019 season.

• Saturday's game marks the fourth meeting between Michigan State and Arizona State. The Sun Devils lead the overall series, 2-1, including a last-second 16-13 victory in Tempe last season on Sept. 8. The Spartans didn't trail in the game until Brandon Ruiz hit a 28-yard field goal as time expired. In the only previous matchup in East Lansing, MSU beat ASU, 12-3, on Sept. 14, 1985, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

• Michigan State's offensive performance in the victory over Western Michigan was one of the best in the Dantonio era. MSU scored 51 points, the most since a 55-16 win over Penn State on Nov. 28, 2015, that clinched the Big Ten East Division title. It also marked the 10th time MSU has scored more than 50 points since 2007. The Spartans had 582 yards of total offense, the most since a Dantonio-era record 662 total yards at Indiana in 2014 and the fourth-most in the Dantonio era (662 at Indiana, 2014; 602 vs. Western Michigan, 2009; 593 yards vs. UAB, 2007). MSU also totaled 31 first downs (Dantonio-era record: 33 vs. Indiana in 2015).

• Defensively, the Spartans continue to rank among the national leaders in rushing defense (No. 1 at -3.0 ypg), sacks (No. 6 at 4.5 pg), turnovers gained (No. 8 at 6), total defense (No. 13 at 216.0 ypg) and scoring defense (No. 18 at 12.0 ppg).

• Now in his 13th season as head coach of the Spartans, Mark Dantonio owns a 109-51 (.681) 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). Tied for the winningest coach in school history with 109 victories, along with Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty, Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.657, 65-34 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (65), home wins (65) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.681). Dantonio has 10 winning seasons in his 12 years in East Lansing, including a school-record 11 bowl bids.

• Michigan State is in the midst of its winningest decade in school history based on total wins, as the Spartans are 87-34 (.719) since the beginning of the 2010 season. The 87 wins this decade are third most in the Big Ten and tied for 12th most in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. During that span, MSU has won five bowl games (2012 Outback, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2017 Holiday), three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and three Big Ten Division titles (2011, 2013, 2015). MSU's .719 winning percentage this decade is third best in school history. MSU was the only school to finish in the top-six of the national polls from 2013-15 (No. 3 in 2013, No. 5 in 2014, No. 6 in 2015) and the 36 wins from 2013-15 marked the winningest three-year stretch in the history of the program. In addition, the Spartans have earned 11 bowl bids since 2007, including a school-record four consecutive bowl victories (2012 Outback against No. 18 Georgia, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings against TCU, 2014 Rose Bowl Game against No. 5 Stanford, 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic against No. 4 Baylor), which also tied a Big Ten record.

• Senior defensive end Kenny Willekes, a preseason first-team All-American and the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, ranks tied for third in the FBS with 3.5 sacks (14 yards) and 4.5 tackles for loss (15 yards). Willekes was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week against Tulsa. He 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). He followed that performance with two more sacks and five tackles overall against Western Michigan.

• Elijah Collins' 192 rushing yards against Western Michigan were the most by a freshman starting running back in school history and the second-most overall by a Spartan freshman running back in a single game (Javon Ringer had 194 yards at Illinois in 2005).

STAT LEADERS –
Michigan State:
Rushing – Elijah Collins (25 carries for 209 yards, 8.4 avg, 0 TDs)
Passing – Brian Lewerke (44-of-69, .638, 506 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving – Darrell Stewart (16 catches for 241 yards, 15.1 avg., 1 TD)
Tackles – Joe Bachie (13 tackles, 2 solos, 11 assists, 1.0 TFL, 1 PBU)

Arizona State:
Rushing – Eno Benjamin (46 carries for 171 yards, 3.7 avg, 0 TDs)
Passing – Jayden Daniels (32-of-51 for 588 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs)
Receiving – Brandon Aiyuk (8 catches for 238 yards, 29.8 avg, 1 TD)
Tackles – Merlin Robertson (12 tackles, 8 solo, 4 assists, 1 PBU, 1 FF)

A GLANCE AT ARIZONA STATE (2-0) –
• The Sun Devils tote a 2-0 ledger from the desert to Spartan Stadium for Saturday's match-up with the Spartans. Arizona State beat a scrappy Sacramento State team, 19-7, last Friday night. ASU was boosted by four field goals from Cristian Zendejas, getting a 72-yard pass, catch and run for a TD on a third-down conversion from freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels to junior running back Eno Benjamin with 4:42 to go, then an interception by redshirt-freshman safety Cam Phillips at the ASU 20 with 1:54 left to secure the win.

• The Sun Devils were 4-for-5 in the red zone against Sacramento State, kicking four field goals resulting in 12 of ASU's 19 points on the night. Through the first two games, Arizona State is 8-for-9 (88.9 percent) in the red zone with six field goals and two TDs, after going 4-for-4 in game one with two field goals and two touchdowns.

• ASU holds the longest active FBS streak for consecutive games scoring more than seven points, currently doing so in 136 straight games.

• The Sun Devils tallied 395 yards of total offense in the Sacramento State game, with 304 through the air and 91 on the ground. ASU's defense yielding 305 yards to Sac State, with 263 passing and 42 rushing.

• Daniels was 17-of-27 for 304 yards with one TD, getting sacked once, while rushing seven times for 25 yards.

• Benjamin registered 24 carries for 69 yards and four catches for 94 yards, highlighted by the 72-yard scoring scamper. The senior wide receiver duo of Brandon Aiyuk and Kyle Williams matched Benjamin with four receptions each, with Aiyuk totalling a game-high 98 yards, while Williams rang up 29 yards.

• Junior defensive back Chase Lucas led the Sun Devil defense with seven stops, while Phillips tallied six tackles to go with one forced fumble and the game-sealing interception. Fellow junior defensive back Evan Fields and sophomore linebacker Merlin Robertson also had six tackles apiece, and sophomore defensive lineman D.J. Davidson added five stops, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

• Zendejas' four field goals came of distances of 36, 26, 35 and 26 yards, adding one PAT.

• Through two games, ASU is outscoring the opposition, 49-14, an average of 24.5-7.0, ranking tied for fifth in FBS in scoring defense.

• The Sun Devils are averaging 425.0 yards of total offense, with 294.0 ypg passing and 131.0 ypg rushing. Arizona State is eighth in passing yards per completion (18.38) and 18th in team passing efficiency (179.0), as well as one of 36 teams in the nation yet to throw an interception.

• ASU's defense is 21st in the FBS in total defense, yielding just 252.5 ypg of total offense, ranking 22nd in rushing defense (81.0 ypg) and 34th in passing yards allowed (171.5 ypg). The Sun Devil defense is also 20th in FBS in team passing efficiency defense (104.61) and 26th in the country in turnovers gained (4).

• Individually, Daniels is 32-of-51 (62.7 percent) on the season, with 588 yards (294.0 ypg), ranking 19th in FBS in passing yards and 20th in passing yards per game. He has thrown three TDs and has yet to throw an interception. Daniels adds 19 rushes for 38 yards (2.0 ypc/19.0 ypg) with one rushing score.

• Benjamin has 46 carries for 171 yards (3.7 ypc/85.5 ypg), and is still searching for his first rushing TD of the season. He adds seven catches for 126 yards (18.0 ypc/63.0 ypg) with two TDs, totalling 297 yards of all-purpose yards (148.5 ypg).

• Aiyuk leads the ASU receiving corps with eight catches for 238 yards (29.8 ypc/119.0 ypg) with one TD, ranking 14th in FBS in receiving yards per game.

• Robertson and Fields spearhead the Sun Devil defense with 12 tackles apiece, with Robertson adding a forced fumble and pass break-up, while Fields has one tackle for loss.

• Zendejas is a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals, with a long of 40, ranking tied for third in the nation in field goals per game (3.5). He also is 4-of-4 on PATs.

• The Sun Devils are also tied for first in the country in net punting at 52.8 ypp, as Turk tops the nation with a 55.3 ypp average.

THE LAST MEETING –
Sept. 8, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP): Brandon Ruiz hit a 28-yard field goal as time expired, Manny Wilkins threw for 380 yards and a touchdown, and Arizona State rallied to beat No. 15 Michigan State 16-13. Wilkins hit N'Keal Harry on a tying 27-yard pass early in the fourth quarter, then orchestrated the last drive to set up Ruiz's winning kick. The Sun Devils are 10-0 against Big Ten teams in Tempe.

Brian Lewerke, who played at nearby Pinnacle High School, threw for 314 yards and a touchdown for the Spartans. Michigan State had some success with its ball-control offense in the first half, twice driving inside Arizona State's 5-yard line. The Spartans came away with three points. They were set to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Sun Devils 14 on one drive, but had to settle for Matt Coghlin's 37-yard field goal after a false start. The next drive ended when Lewerke had a tipped pass intercepted by Arizona State's Dasmond Tautalatasi in the end zone.

Michigan State opened the second half with another good drive, reaching the Arizona State 7. It resulted in Coghlin's second field goal, from 28 yards. The Spartans finally found the end zone late in the third quarter when Lewerke threw under pressure to Cody White, who fought off a defender for a 31-yard touchdown to put Michigan State up 13-3.

Ruiz hit a pair of field goals to pull Arizona State to 13-6 and the Sun Devils needed two plays to cover 65 yards on the Wilkins-to-Harry touchdown.

Elijah Collins

POST-GAME NOTES FROM THE WESTERN MICHIGAN GAME –
• With the win over Western Michigan, Mark Dantonio tied Duffy Daugherty for the most wins in program history with 109 . . . Dantonio is 109-51 in his 13th season at the helm of the Spartans . . . Daugherty was 109-69-5 in 19 seasons from 1954-72.

• MSU is 14-2 all-time against Western Michigan . . . Dantonio is 6-0 against the Broncos.

• Michigan State is 16-7 in night games at Spartan Stadium, including a 13-4 record under Dantonio.

OFFENSE
• Elijah Collins' 192 rushing yards were the most by a freshman starting running back in school history and the second-most overall by a Spartan freshman running back in a single game (Javon Ringer had 194 yards at Illinois in 2005) . . . 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).

• Darrell Stewart had a career-high 185 yards receiving on 10 catches . . . 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) . . . 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) . . . he also threw a 17-yard pass to Brian Lewerke . . . Stewart had two kick returns for 41 yards to compile a career-high 226 all-purpose yards.

• Brian Lewerke completed 23-of-32 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns . . . it marked Lewerke's sixth game of more than 300 yards passing and the first since he had 329 yards vs. Northwestern last season.

• Michigan State's 51 points were the most since the Spartans scored 55 against Penn State on Nov. 28, 2015, in Spartan Stadium.

• The Spartans had 582 yards of total offense, the most since a Dantonio-era record 662 total yards at Indiana in 2014 and the fourth-most in the Dantonio era (662 at Indiana, 2014; 602 vs. Western Michigan, 2009; 593 yards vs. UAB, 2007) . . . MSU had 365 yards of total offense in the first half.

• The Spartans totaled 31 first downs (Dantonio-era record: 33 vs. Indiana in 2015).

• MSU had nine-plays of 20-plus yards from scrimmage (six passes, three rushes).

DEFENSE
• MSU held Western Michigan to 67 rushing yards on 27 carries . . . MSU has allowed -6 yards of rushing through two games this season.

• Xavier Henderson recorded his first interception on a pick in the end zone in the second quarter.

• Kenny Willekes recorded five tackles, including two sacks (9 yards) . . . Willekes now has 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks this season.

• Tyriq Thompson recorded his second career interception and first of the season.

• The Spartans had seven pass break-ups, six tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions . . . the Spartans have forced six turnovers through two games this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals (38 yards, 23 yards, 20 yards) and is now 7-for-7 on field goals this season.

• True freshman Evan Morris averaged 60.4 yards per kickoff (nine kickoffs for 544 yards) with four touchbacks in his collegiate debut.

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 109-51 (.681) 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).

• Tied for the winningest coach in school history with 109 victories, along with Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty, Dantonio also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.657, 65-34 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (65), home wins (65) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.681). 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).

• 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 13th in Big Ten history with 109 wins.

• Overall, Dantonio owns a 127-68 (.651) record in his 15-plus seasons as a head coach (18-17 in three seasons at Cincinnati; 109-51 in 12-plus seasons at MSU). Dantonio's 127 career wins rank 10th among active FBS coaches and second most in the Big Ten (Kirk Ferentz; 166).

• Dantonio won his 71st game at MSU on Oct. 25, 2014, against Michigan to move into second place all-time in victories in school history (record: Duffy Daugherty, 109). Dantonio won his 100th career game as a head coach on Oct. 17, 2015, at Michigan Stadium as the Spartans rallied to defeat the Wolverines, 27-23, on a 38-yard fumble return as time expired. His career record stands at 127-68 (.651) in 15-plus seasons.

• Dantonio's .657 winning percentage (65-34) in Big Ten games ranks first in MSU history (minimum 10 Big Ten games). He ranks second in school history in conference wins (Duffy Daugherty, 72), which also ranks 12th 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 160 games coached at Michigan State (Duffy Daugherty: 183; Dantonio: 160; George Perles: 139; Charlie Bachman: 114).

STOPPING THE RUN –
• After leading the FBS in rushing defense last season, the Spartans are right back at No. 1 through the first two games in 2019, allowing a total of -6 yards rushing (-3.0 ypg).

• Michigan State posted a dominant defensive performance in the victory over Tulsa. 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).

• 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).

• In 160 games under Dantonio, Michigan State has held its opponent under 100 yards rushing 82 times (.513). MSU is 70-12 (.854) in those games, including a 60-7 (.896) record since 2010.

MSU KEEPING OPPONENTS OFF THE SCOREBOARD –
• Michigan State has held opponents under 30 points for 14 consecutive games, tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS (Mississippi State and Washington, 16; Notre Dame, 15). The last team to score more than 30 points against MSU was Utah State with 31 in the 2018 season opener; the Aggies ranked second in the FBS in 2018 in scoring offense with 47.5 ppg.

• For the third time under Dantonio, Michigan State led the Big Ten in scoring defense in 2018, allowing just 17.2 points per game, which tied for eighth fewest in the FBS. The Spartans also ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in scoring defense in 2012 (16.3 ppg) and 2013 (13.2 ppg). MSU also ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in conference games in scoring defense (16.6 ppg) in 2018.

• MSU held its opponents to 21 or fewer points 10 times in 2018, and although Ohio State scored 26 points on Nov. 10, the defense allowed just 17 points (two TDs and one field goal).

• Michigan State allowed just 12 touchdowns in the red zone, tied for second fewest in the FBS. Spartan opponents only visited the red zone 30 times all season, tied for third fewest in the FBS, and in giving up 12 TDs, the 40 percent TD mark was third lowest in the nation.

GETTING IT DONE ON THIRD DOWN –
• Michigan State ranked first in the Big Ten and eighth in the FBS in third-down defense (.302) in 2018. In the 2019 season opener against Tulsa, the Spartans forced nine three-and-outs. The Spartans currently rank tied for 20th in the FBS in third-down defense (.259).

SPARTANS FORCE SIX TURNOVERS IN FIRST TWO GAMES –
• Although Michigan State ranked in the FBS Top 10 in several defensive categories in 2018, this season the Spartans are emphasizing turnovers after finishing 28th in the FBS with 23 turnovers caused last season. After two games, MSU ranks tied for sixth in the FBS with six turnovers caused (three fumbles, three interceptions).

• In the first game against Tulsa, the Spartans forced three turnovers, including two fumble recoveries by Kenny Willekes, one which resulted in a touchdown, and an interception by Antjuan Simmons. In addition, the Spartans caused six Tulsa fumbles overall. MSU forced three more turnovers against Western Michigan, with two interceptions (Xavier Henderson, Tyriq Thompson) and a fumble recovery (Davion Williams).

LINEBACKER JOE BACHIE LEADS SPARTAN DEFENSE IN THE MIDDLE –
• Joe Bachie, who has started 28 consecutive games at middle linebacker, has been named a first-team preseason All-American by The Associated Press and is featured on watch lists for the Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), Butkus Award (nation's best linebacker), Nagurski Trophy (nation's most outstanding college defensive player) and Lott IMPACT Trophy. Bachie led the Spartans in tackles for the second year in a row in 2018 with 102 and currently owns the team lead with 13 through two games. He became the third Spartan middle linebacker under Mark Dantonio, joining Greg Jones and Max Bullough, to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors (coaches, ESPN.com, Phil Steele).

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

• Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in his career after helping lead MSU past Maryland on Nov. 3, 2018. Bachie was all over the field in the 24-3 victory over the Terrapins. The Brook Park, Ohio, native forced a career-high three fumbles, recovering one, and also had seven tackles, two tackles for loss (5 yards) and tied a career-high with two pass break-ups.

• Bachie, who started all 13 games at middle linebacker as a sophomore for the Spartans in 2017 and led the team in tackles (100; 7.7 avg.), was named the recipient of the 2017 Governor's Award, which is given annually to the program's most valuable player as voted on by the team. He was the first Spartan sophomore to win the Governor's Award since quarterback Drew Stanton in 2004.
• A third-team All-Big Ten choice by the coaches and media in 2017, Bachie was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2017. In the win at No. 7 Michigan, Bachie became just the second Big Ten linebacker and fifth in the FBS in the last five years (since 2012) to record double-digit tackles (10) and at least one interception, one forced fumble, one sack and one pass break-up in the same game.

• In 34 career games, including 28 consecutive starts, Bachie has 227 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, eight pass break-ups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He has recorded double-digits in tackles nine times in his career.

KENNY WILLEKES NAMED NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK VS. TULSA –
• Senior defensive end Kenny Willekes, a preseason first-team All-American and the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, ranks tied for third in the FBS with 3.5 sacks (14 yards) and 4.5 tackles for loss (15 yards).

• 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. 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.

• Willekes was credited with a tackle for loss in 10 of MSU's 13 games in 2018, including a career-high 3.5 against Ohio State and Nebraska in back-to-back games. He opened the season with six tackles, two sacks (19 yards) and a forced fumble in the win over Utah State, and also posted multiple TFLs against Indiana (2.0), Michigan (2.0) and Maryland (2.5).

• 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 (eighth in school history with 19.0) and tackles for loss (sixth in school history with 39.5). He ranks first among the active career leaders in the FBS in tackles for loss at 1.36 per game.

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

• Willekes 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 31 consecutive games, dating back to the Ohio State game on Nov. 19, 2016. The duo is a big reason why MSU ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing defense in 2018 and ranked No. 2 in 2017.

• Williams, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by The Associated Press, recorded career bests in tackles (53), tackles for loss (10.5) and pass break-ups (5) in 2018. The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 22 career tackles for loss, including 7.0 career sacks, in 39 career games.

• Panasiuk, a stalwart on the Spartan defensive line with 31 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 a career-high 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. He tied a career high with two tackles for loss in the season opener against Tulsa.

• In 40 career games, Panasiuk has 68 tackles, including 11.0 for losses with two sacks.

BRIAN LEWERKE IN HIS THIRD SEASON AS 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 44-of-69 passing (.638) for 506 yards and four touchdowns against one interception in the first two games of the season. He completed 23-of-32 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns in the victory against Western Michigan, marking his sixth career game of more than 300 yards passing and the first since he had 329 yards vs. Northwestern last season.

• In 30 career games (17-10 record in 27 games as the starter), Lewerke has completed 57 percent of his passes (505-for-882) for 5,720 yards, 34 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He has 927 career rushing yards on 243 carries (30.9 ypg; 3.8 avg.). He is currently ranked among the school's all-time leaders in total offense (fifth with 6,647 yards), passing yards per game (fifth at 190.7 ypg), pass attempts (fifth with 882), completions (fifth with 505), passing yards (seventh with 5,720) and passing touchdowns (ninth with 34).

• Lewerke is one of just six Spartans to collect more than 6,000 yards of total offense in his career; he curently ranks fifth in MSU history with 6,647 total yards.

• In his first full year as the starter in 2017, Brian Lewerke became the first quarterback in school history to throw for more than 2,500 yards and rush for more than 500 yards in the same season. Lewerke finished 2017 with the second-most yards of total offense in an MSU season with 3,352 (Drew Stanton with 3,415 in 2005). He also finished the 2017 campaign ranked among MSU's single-season leaders in passing completions (third with 246), passing attempts (fourth with 417), passing yards (seventh with 2,793) and touchdown passes (tied for eighth with 20). He rushed for 559 yards on 124 carries with five TDs. In 10 games in 2019, Lewerke rushed 90 times, gaining 351 yards and losing 167 for a net total of 184.

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

• Lewerke was named the 2017 Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP after finishing with 286 yards of total offense against Washington State. He was 13-of-21 passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns, and set a Spartan bowl record for most rushing yards by a quarterback (14 carries for 73 yards). Lewerke was 9-of-10 passing for 162 yards and two TDs in the second quarter alone. Lewerke's three touchdown passes tied a Spartan bowl record (accomplished three previous times).

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

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

• Lewerke played in four games and started twice (Northwestern, Maryland) as a redshirt freshman in 2016 before suffering a season-ending injury (broken tibia) in the fourth quarter of the Michigan game on Oct. 29. He bounced back quickly from the injury and fully participated in all of spring practice in 2017. In 2016, Lewerke became the first Spartan freshman quarterback to start a game (Northwestern) since 2004 (Stephen Reaves vs. Central Michigan).

ELIJAH COLLINS FLASHES IN FIRST CAREER START –
• In his first career start at tailback on Sept. 7 against Western Michigan, redshirt freshman Elijah 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.

MR. VERSATILE: CONNOR HEYWARD NAMED 2018 FINALIST FOR PAUL HORNUNG AWARD –
• Running back Connor Heyward was named one of five finalists for the 2018 Paul Hornung Award, which is given to the most versatile player in college football. In 2018, Heyward led the Spartans in rushing (118 carries for 529 yards), rushing touchdowns (5), kick returns (13 for 287 yards) and all-purpose yards (1,065). He also ranked third on the team in scoring (30 points; five TDs) and receptions (32 for 249 yards). His 32 receptions were the most by a Spartan running back since Le'Veon Bell (32 in 2012).

• Heyward received Michigan State's Downtown Coaches Club Award for the most outstanding player on offense. He was also named honorable mention All-Big Ten as a kick returner by the media.

• In the win over Maryland on Nov. 3, Heyward ran for a career-high 157 yards on 15 carries and tied his career high with two rushing touchdowns. He scored on an 18-yard TD in the first quarter and on an 80-yard TD in the fourth quarter that put MSU on top 24-3; Heyward's 80-yard TD run was the longest of the season for MSU and the first Spartan rushing TD of at least 80 yards since 2014 (Delton Williams 80 yards vs. Eastern Michigan). Heyward also had a career-high 208 all-purpose yards (157 rushing, 49 kick return, 2 receiving), including a season-long 49-yard kickoff return to open the second half. Heyward's 157 rushing yards were the most ever by a Spartan against Maryland (previous: LJ Scott with 147 yards in 2017).

• A native of Duluth, Georgia, Heyward ranks second among active Spartans with 1,621 all-purpose yards in his career (723 kick return, 595 rushing, 297 receiving, 6 punt return).

CODY WHITE LEADS TEAM IN RECEIVING YARDS DESPITE MISSING FOUR GAMES IN 2018 –
• Junior Cody White ranks second on the team with seven catches for 81 yards and one touchdown in the first two games.

• 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, where he caught two passes for 24 yards. Although he missed four games, he still led the Spartans in receiving yards (555; 61.7 ypg) and ranked second in receptions (42).
• White had two 100-yard receiving games in 2018 (nine catches for 113 yards and one TD at Arizona State; eight for 115 vs. Ohio State).

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

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

• In just 24 career games, including 16 starts, White has 84 catches for 1,126 yards and seven touchdowns.

DARRELL STEWART: MR. CONSISTENCY –
• Fifth-year senior Darrell Stewart ranks second in the Big Ten in catches (16; 8.0 pg) and receiving yards (241; 120.5 ypg) after registering a career night vs. Western Michigan on Sept. 7. Stewart had a career-high 185 yards receiving on 10 catches against the Broncos; 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 17th in the school record books with 117 career receptions and leads all active Spartans with 1,184 receiving yards and four TDs in 36 career games, including 14 starting assignments.

• Stewart has MSU's longest active streak with at least one reception in 26 consecutive games.

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 highest field-goal percentage of any kicker in MSU history through his two-plus seasons (.833, 40-of-48).

• Coghlin also ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in PAT percentage (first at 100 percent; 71-of-71), field goals made (10th with 40), PATs (11th with 71) and points scored (17th with 197).

• Through two games, Coghlin ranks among the Big Ten leaders in kick scoring (first at 14.5 ppg), field goals (first with seven) and field-goal percentage (tied for first at 1.000).

• 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 has made seven straight to open the season.

• 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.

• 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 first in MSU history in field-goal percentage (33-of-41, .805).

• 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.

JAKE HARTBARGER RETURNS FOR HIS SIXTH SEASON –
• Michigan State punter Jake 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 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.

• 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 (42.3), ninth in punting yards (8,112) and 10th in punts (192).

• 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.

• 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.

TURNOVER MARGIN THE KEY INGREDIENT FOR SPARTAN SUCCESS –
• Although Michigan State ranked in the FBS Top 10 in several defensive categories in 2018, this season the Spartans are emphasizing turnovers after finishing 28th in the FBS with 23 turnovers caused last season. After two games, MSU ranks second in the Big Ten and tied for sixth in the FBS with six turnovers caused (three fumbles, three interceptions). MSU is also first in the Big Ten and eighth in the FBS in turnover margin (+2.00).

• Michigan State's record-setting three-year stretch in which it won 36 games from 2013-15 was fueled by creating turnovers and limiting mistakes. The Spartans ranked in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Top 10 and led the Big Ten in turnover margin for three consecutive seasons from 2013-15 (No. 10 in 2013 at +0.93; No. 2 in 2014 at +1.46; No. 4 in 2015 at +1.00).

• Michigan State has forced at least one turnover in 130 of 160 games under head coach Mark Dantonio (81 percent of the games since 2007).

• Michigan State is 71-16 (.816) when forcing at least two turnovers in a game under head coach Mark Dantonio.

SPARTANS TOUGH ON HOME TURF –
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has produced a 65-21 record (.756) 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 32-4 (.889) 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).

• 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.

SPARTANS SUCCESSFUL IN NONCONFERENCE GAMES –
• Mark Dantonio is 41-16 (.719) against nonconference opponents, including a 32-4 (.889) mark in Spartan Stadium. Dantonio is 31-1 (.969) against teams in the Group of Five conferences.

RUNNING GAME KEY FOR SPARTANS UNDER DANTONIO –
• Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 90-21 (.811) when outrushing its opponent, including a 74-14 record (.841) since 2010. Conversely, MSU is 19-30 (.388) 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 73-9 (.890). 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 (1-0).