No. 8/7 Michigan State Hosts No. 6/6 Michigan in Top-10 Showdown Saturday in Spartan Stadium

Game 8: No. 8/7 Michigan State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 6/6 Michigan (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 30
Kickoff: 12:05 p.m. EDT
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (74,866)
Surface: Natural Grass
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Live Stats
Parking: Parking lots will be open at 7 a.m. | Parking Information

TV: FOX
Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), Jenny Taft (sideline)

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jason Strayhorn
Sidelines: Steve Courtney
Broadcast Host: Will Tieman
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/MSU Spartans app/Tune In radio
Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)
Affiliates: 30 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: Sirius (Ch. 136), XM (Ch. 195), SiriusXM app (Ch. 957)
Pre-game Show: Begins at 10:30 a.m.

All-Time Series: Michigan leads, 71-37-5
All-Time Series in East Lansing: Michigan leads, 21-14-2
Big Ten Games: Michigan leads, 38-28-2

COACHES:
MSU Head Coach: Mel Tucker
MSU Record: 9-5 (second year)
Overall Record: 14-12 (third year)
Record vs. UM: 1-0

Michigan Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
Michigan Record: 56-22 (seventh year)
Overall Record: 114-49 (14^th year)
Record vs. MSU: 3-3

FIRST-AND-10 –
• Michigan State will look for its 10th win in the last 14 meetings against Michigan as the No. 8/7 Spartans take on the No. 6/6 Wolverines Saturday, Oct. 30 at noon in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on FOX, with Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft on the call. MSU (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) is coming off a bye week, while the Wolverines (7-0, 4-0) beat Northwestern in Ann Arbor last Saturday, 33-7. The campus of Michigan State will be hosting both of the major national pregame shows on Saturday, as ESPN's College GameDay makes its ninth trip to East Lansing and the FOX Big Noon Kickoff Show will be making its first appearance at MSU.

• The Spartans are 7-0 for the first time since winning the Big Ten title and advancing to the College Football Playoff in 2015; it marks the eighth time overall MSU has started 7-0. MSU is also 4-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2017.

• Saturday's game marks the 114th meeting between Michigan State and Michigan. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 71-37-5, including a 21-14-2 record in East Lansing and a 19-14-1 mark in Spartan Stadium; however, since 1950, Michigan holds just a seven-game edge, 38-31-2. Since 1953, the winner of the Michigan State-Michigan game has been presented the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The four-foot wooden statue was donated by then-Governor G. Mennen Williams to mark Michigan State's acceptance into the Big Ten. Since 1953, Michigan leads the series 38-28-2. The trophy depicts the legendary giant lumberjack astride an axe with feet planted on a map of the state with flags representing the schools.

• For the first time since 2010, both schools will enter the annual matchup for the Paul Bunyan Trophy with undefeated records. The Spartans and Wolverines were both 5-0 heading into the 2010 contest that MSU won, 34-17, at Michigan Stadium. MSU and Michigan also were 5-0 in 1999 when the No. 11 Spartans beat the third-ranked Wolverines, 34-31, in East Lansing. Facing off in the eighth game of the season, 2021 marks the latest that both teams will be undefeated while playing against each other.

• Saturday marks the fifth time Michigan State and Michigan will meet when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 10 and the first since 1964. MSU is 3-1 in the four previous matchups (No. 2 MSU 9, No. 5 Michigan 0 in 1956; No. 2 MSU 35, No. 6 Michigan 6 in 1957; No. 5 MSU 28, No. 6 Michigan 0 in 1961; No. 7 Michigan 17, No. 9 MSU 10 in 1964). It also marks just the second matchup of AP Top 10 teams in Spartan Stadium since the "Game of the Century" on Nov. 19, 1966, when No. 2 MSU hosted No. 1 Notre Dame and played to a 10-10 tie; No. 5 MSU beat No. 7 Oregon, 31-28, in East Lansing on Sept. 12, 2015.

• Last season, Mel Tucker became just the second Spartan head coach, joining his mentor Nick Saban, to defeat Michigan in his first game against the Wolverines. MSU topped No. 13/14 Michigan in the second game of the 2020 season on Oct. 31 in Ann Arbor, 27-24.

• Saturday's game marks the 19th time Michigan State and Michigan have both been ranked in the AP Top 25 during their annual meeting, and the first since 2018. MSU is 10-7-1 against Michigan when both teams are ranked, including wins in four of the last five matchups.

• Michigan State has defeated Michigan 21 times when the Wolverines were ranked in the AP Top 25, including 11 wins in the top 10.

• Junior running back Kenneth Walker III, a transfer from Wake Forest, is having a dynamic start to the season. Walker leads the FBS in rushing (142.4 ypg; 997 yards) and is the only player in the nation to rank among the top 15 in rushing, all-purpose yards (seventh with 146.0 ypg), yards per carry (12th with 6.6 avg.) and total TDs (15th with 10). According to Pro Football Focus, Walker leads the country in rushing yards after contact (737) and rushing carries for 10-plus yards (27). Walker's 94-yard touchdown run in the third quarter at Rutgers was the longest offensive play from scrimmage in the 125-year history of Michigan State football. Walker was named a first-team midseason All-American by The Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, The Athletic and The Sporting News.

• Last week, redshirt sophomore quarterback Payton Thorne was added to the Manning Award Watch List. In his first season as the starting quarterback for the Spartans, Thorne has completed 61 percent of his passes (112-of-183) for 1,701 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions in seven games. He ranks among the Big Ten and FBS leaders in passing efficiency (second and 17th with 162.0 rating), passing TDs (second and 21st with 15), passing (fifth and 35th with 243.0 ypg) and total offense (fifth and 42nd with 256.7 ypg). Thorne also ranks third on the team in rushing with a net of 96 yards on 38 carries with two TDs, although he has gained a total of 180 yards on the ground. Thorne ranks tied for second in the FBS with five passes of 60-plus yards, all touchdowns (85 yards to Jayden Reed vs. Youngstown State; 75 yards to Reed vs. Youngstown State; 65 yards to Jalen Nailor vs. Rutgers; two 63-yarders to Nailor vs. Rutgers). Thorne also ranks sixth in the FBS with 734 yards of his passing coming on completions of 20-plus yards and tied for sixth with eight TDs of 20-plus yards.

MEL TUCKER NAMED TO DODD TROPHY COACH OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST –
• Spartan second-year head coach Mel Tucker was named to the midseason watch list for the Dodd Trophy, officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Peach Bowl, Inc. announced last week. The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's philosophy.

STAT LEADERS–
Michigan State:
Rushing – Jr. Kenneth Walker III (152 carries for 997 yards, 6.6 avg., 9 TDs)
Passing – R-So. Payton Thorne (112-of-183, .612, 1,701 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs)
Receiving – R-Jr. Jayden Reed (27 catches for 562 yards, 20.8 avg., 5 TDs)
Tackles – Sr. S Xavier Henderson (60 tackles, 37 solo, 23 assists, 7 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FF)

Michigan:
Rushing – So. Blake Corum (115 carries for 726 yards, 6.3 avg., 10 TDs)
Passing – Jr. Cade McNamara (92-of-146, .630, 1,115 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT)
Receiving – So. Blake Corum (18 receptions for 125 yards, 6.9 avg., 1 TD)
Tackles – Gr. Josh Ross (44 tackles, 20 solo, 24 assists, 4.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 2 PBUs)

MSU/MICHIGAN SERIES NOTES –
• Saturday's game marks the 114th meeting between Michigan State and Michigan. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 71-37-5, including a 21-14-2 record in East Lansing and a 19-14-1 mark in Spartan Stadium; however, since 1950, Michigan holds just a seven-game edge, 38-31-2.

BATTLE FOR THE PAUL BUNYAN TROPHY –
• Since 1953, the winner of the Michigan State-Michigan game has been presented the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The four-foot wooden statue was donated by then-Governor G. Mennen Williams to mark Michigan State's acceptance into the Big Ten. Since 1953, Michigan leads the series 38-28-2. The trophy depicts the legendary giant lumberjack astride an axe with feet planted on a map of the state with flags representing the schools.

BATTLE FOR IN-STATE BRAGGING RIGHTS –
• Michigan State's 2021 roster features 41 players from the state of Michigan.

SPARTANS RANK SECOND IN ALL-TIME VICTORIES vs. MICHIGAN –
• Michigan State ranks second among opponents in all-time victories over Michigan. Only Ohio State (52) has posted more wins over the Wolverines than the Spartans (37).

LONG HISTORY OF BIG WINS OVER MICHIGAN –
• Michigan State has defeated Michigan 21 times when the Wolverines were ranked in the AP Top 25, including 11 wins in the top 10.

BATTLE OF RANKED TEAMS –
• Saturday's game marks the 19th time Michigan State and Michigan have both been ranked in the AP Top 25 during their annual meeting, and the first since 2018. MSU is 10-7-1 against Michigan when both teams are ranked, including wins in four of the last five matchups.

• Saturday marks the fifth time Michigan State and Michigan will meet when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 10 and the first since 1964. MSU is 3-1 in the four previous matchups (No. 2 MSU 9, No. 5 Michigan 0 in 1956; No. 2 MSU 35, No. 6 Michigan 6 in 1957; No. 5 MSU 28, No. 6 Michigan 0 in 1961; No. 7 Michigan 17, No. 9 MSU 10 in 1964).

GROUND GAME KEY FACTOR IN THIS SERIES –
• The team with the most productive ground attack has won 45 of the last 51 games in the MSU-UM series, with the only exceptions being in 2020, 2016, 2015, 2007, 2004 and 1995.

MEETING AS UNDEFEATED RIVALS –
• For the first time since 2010, both schools will enter the annual matchup for the Paul Bunyan Trophy with undefeated records. The Spartans and Wolverines were both 5-0 heading into the 2010 contest that MSU won, 34-17, at Michigan Stadium. MSU and Michigan also were 5-0 in 1999 when the No. 11 Spartans beat the third-ranked Wolverines, 34-31, in East Lansing.

• For the first half of the series history, most games between the two rivals were played within the first month of the season, and many times on the first or second game of the schedule. There were several matchups during those years where both Michigan State and Michigan were undefeated heading into the annual rivalry game. Facing off in the eighth game of the season, 2021 marks the latest that both teams will be undefeated while playing against each other.

SPARTANS FEATURED ON ESPN'S COLLEGE GAMEDAY –
• ESPN College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, celebrating its 35th season, makes its ninth appearance in East Lansing for Saturday's Michigan State-Michigan game (12 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX). The weekly Emmy Award-winning show (Saturday 9 a.m. to noon ET) is hosted by Rece Davis, along with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack. The remote set will be located on Ralph Young Field.

• With nine campus appearances by College GameDay, Michigan State is tied for 10th most among FBS programs. This marks College GameDay's first appearance in East Lansing since the Oregon game in 2015.

• The Spartans are 3-5 when GameDay visits East Lansing (1997: lost to Michigan, 23-7; 1999: defeated Michigan, 34-31; 2004: lost to Notre Dame, 31-24; 2005: lost to Penn State, 31-22; 2011: defeated Wisconsin, 37-31; 2012: lost to Ohio State, 17-16; 2014: lost to Ohio State, 49-37; 2015: defeated Oregon, 31-28).

• Overall, it marks the 15th time College GameDay will originate from the site of a Michigan State game. MSU has an 8-6 record in previous 14 appearances, including a four-game winning streak, all occurring during the 2015 season.

MICHIGAN STATE WELCOMES FOX "BIG NOON KICKOFF" SHOW –
• For the first time, Michigan State will host the FOX "Big Noon Kickoff" Show on Saturday at 10 a.m. outside of the STEM Teaching and Learning Facility off Shaw Lane. This marks just the second time both of the major national pregame shows (FOX "Big Noon Kickoff" and ESPN College GameDay) will be broadcasting live from the same campus (Nov. 23, 2019: No. 8 Penn State at No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus). The two pregame shows also broadcasted live prior to the Wisconsin-Notre Dame game in Chicago's Soldier Field earlier this season (Sept. 25).

LAST TIME OUT: MICHIGAN STATE 20, INDIANA 15
• Michigan State defeated Indiana, 20-15, on Oct. 16 at Memorial Stadium to reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon . . . MSU has won three of the last four meetings with Indiana . . . Michigan State leads the all-time series, 49-17-2, including a 23-10-1 record in Bloomington . . . since 1950, the winner of the Michigan State-Indiana game has been presented the Old Brass Spittoon; MSU is 49-14-1 in those games.

• Michigan State improved to 7-0 overall for the first time since 2015 . . . overall, it's the eighth time MSU has started 7-0 to start a season (1913, 1951, 1952, 1965, 1966, 2010, 2015).

OFFENSE
• Payton Thorne has at least one TD pass in each of the seven games this season after his 12-yard TD pass to senior tight end Tyler Hunt in the third quarter . . . Thorne has 15 TDs this season as part of 18 for his career . . . Thorne was 14-for-26 passing for 126 yards with one TD, adding his first career catch for 12-yards on an acrobatic, highlight-reel catch on the sideline during MSU's TD drive in third quarter, and also had 10 rushing yards on seven carries.

• Kenneth Walker III had 23 carries for 84 yards, marking his third straight game with 20-plus carries, as part of his fifth in the seven games this season . . . Walker has 152 carries for 997 yards in seven games.

• Senior tight end Tyler Hunt connected with Thorne for a 15-yard pass in the third quarter, with Thorne making an acrobatic, highlight-reel catch on the sideline . . . it was Hunt's first career pass and was Thorne's first career reception . . . Thorne returned the favor later in the drive with a 12-yard TD toss to Hunt for the tight end's first career TD catch.

• Jayden Reed had four catches for 70 yards . . . Reed added two kick returns for 24 yards and two punt returns for 11 yards to finish with a game-high 105 all-purpose yards, marking his fourth game this season with at least 100 all-purpose yards.

DEFENSE
• The Spartans snared two interceptions (Cal Haladay, Darius Snow) in a game for the second time this year, and both occurrences have come on the road, joining the Miami game on Sept. 18.

• MSU added a fumble recovery by Chester Kimbrough to tally three takeaways in the game . . . it was the third game this season with multiple takeaways, joining four at Miami (9/18) and three vs. Nebraska (9/25).

• IU's 322 yards were the fewest allowed by the Spartan defense in a Big Ten game this season and second-lowest overall behind 304 vs. Youngstown State (9/11).

• The 30-yard interception return for a touchdown by redshirt freshman linebacker Cal Haladay was his first career interception . . . it was MSU's first interception return for a TD as well as first overall defensive TD since the 2019 Pinstripe Bowl (12/27/19) vs. Wake Forest by Mike Panasiuk, with a 14-yard return for a TD . . . Haladay's oskie gives him two takeaways this season to go with his fumble recovery vs. Western Kentucky (10/2).

• Sophomore safety Darius Snow snared his first career interception with the third-quarter pick . . . it was also Snow's first takeaway of his Spartan career.

• Junior linebacker Quavaris Crouch posted a collegiate career high with a game-high 13 tackles . . . the 13 stops bettered his MSU career high of eight tackles vs. Western Kentucky (10/2) and his collegiate career-best of 11 tackles, done twice during his time at Tennessee, last doing so vs. Texas A&M (12/19/20) . . . Crouch added one pass break-up, his second PBU of the season.

• Junior cornerback Chester Kimbrough registered his first collegiate career sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery with his sack-fumble in the fourth quarter . . . Kimbrough added a career-high two pass break-ups, his first two of the season.

• Senior safety Xavier Henderson added eight tackles, his second straight game with seven or more stops, as part of his sixth game in the seven contests this season doing so . . . Henderson added 1.0 tackle for loss, as he has had at least 1.0 TFL in the last four consecutive games as part of at least one in six of the seven games, now with 7.0 for the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Fifth-year senior punter Bryce Baringer's 66-yard punt in the second quarter was his fifth punt of 60-plus yards this season and a yard shy of his season-high 67-yarder vs. Nebraska . . . Baringer added a 54-yard punt in the fourth quarter and now has 14 punts of 50-plus yards this season and 28 for his career.

• Sixth-year senior placekicker Matt Coghlin's 51-yard field goal in the third quarter tied his career-long, coming against Michigan (10/31/20) . . . Coghlin added a 49-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to go 2-for-2 on field goals for the day, his third multi-FG outing in the last four games and his 22nd career game with two or more field goals . . . the two field goals extended his MSU career record with his 74th career upright split, as well as No. 1 for active FBS players . . . the 74 field goals now gives Coghlin sole possession of No. 2 on the Big Ten career field goals list (record: 78 by Penn State's Kevin Kelly, 2005-08).

OFFENSIVE NOTES

TEAM
• The Spartans are third in the Big Ten and 29th in the FBS in scoring offense (34.3 ppg) and third in the conference and 26th overall in total offense (451.7 ypg).

• MSU's resurgent rushing attack ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 32nd in the FBS, averaging 200.4 yards per game. Last season, MSU averaged 91.4 ypg on the ground. The Spartans accumulated 326 rushing yards at Northwestern – the first time MSU put up more than 300 rushing yards in a game since 2014 (330 yards at Indiana) – and had 272 yards on the ground against Youngstown State and 193 at Miami. MSU is averaging 5.4 yards per carry, which is ranked 21st in the FBS.

• Michigan State has scored seven touchdowns of 60-plus yards this season:
   • 75-yard rush by Kenneth Walker vs. Northwestern (first quarter)
   • 75-yard pass from Payton Thorne to Jayden Reed vs. Youngstown State (first quarter)
   • 85-yard pass from Thorne to Reed vs. Youngstown State (second quarter)
   • 63-yard pass from Thorne to Jalen Nailor vs. Rutgers (first quarter)
   • 63-yard pass from Thorne to Nailor vs. Rutgers (second quarter)
   • 65-yard pass from Thorne to Nailor vs. Rutgers (second quarter)
   • 94-yard rush by Walker vs. Rutgers (third quarter)

• Michigan State is tied for first in the FBS in 80-plus yard plays (2), 70-plus yard plays (4) and 60-plus yard plays (7). MSU is also tied for fifth with nine plays of 50-plus yards.

• Michigan State scored a touchdown on its first play from scrimmage in the first two games of the season. Against Northwestern, junior transfer running back Kenneth Walker III raced 75 yards to the end zone on his first carry as a Spartan, while Payton Thorne found Jayden Reed on a 75-yard touchdown pass against Youngstown State. Dating back to 1944 when school single-game play-by-play records are available, Walker's 75-yard TD marked the first time Michigan State has scored on its first play from scrimmage to start a season. Before the season opener, the last time MSU scored on its first play from scrimmage was on Sept. 25, 2010, against Northern Colorado, as Edwin Baker had a 5-yard run following an interception on UNC's first possession that gave MSU first-and-goal from the 5.

• Four Michigan State Spartans have earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season:
   • RB Kenneth Walker III, Offensive Player of the Week vs. Northwestern
   • QB Payton Thorne, Co-Offensive Player of the Week vs. Miami
   • WR/PR/KR Jayden Reed, Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Nebraska
   • WR Jalen Nailor, Co-Offensive Player of the Week vs. Rutgers

• Michigan State achieved a rare statistical feat in Week 6 at Rutgers. For only the fifth time in FBS history, a trio of players from the same team in the same game had 300 yards passing (Payton Thorne with 339 yards), 200 yards rushing (Kenneth Walker III with 233 yards) and 200 yards receiving (Jalen Nailor with 221 yards).

QUARTERBACKS
• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Payton Thorne, who started in the 2020 season finale at Penn State, was named the team's starting quarterback in Week 1 against Northwestern after competing with sixth-year graduate transfer Anthony Russo (Temple) during spring practice and preseason camp. Thorne owns a 7-1 record as a starting quarterback at MSU (7-0 in 2021).

• On Oct. 22, Thorne was added to the Manning Award Watch List. In his first season as the starting quarterback for the Spartans, Thorne has completed 61 percent of his passes (112-of-183) for 1,701 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions in seven games. He ranks among the Big Ten and FBS leaders in passing efficiency (second and 17th with 162.0 rating), passing TDs (second and 21st with 15), passing (fifth and 35th with 243.0 ypg) and total offense (fifth and 42nd with 256.7 ypg). Thorne also ranks third on the team in rushing with a net of 96 yards on 38 carries with two TDs, although he has gained a total of 180 yards on the ground.

• Thorne ranks tied for second in the FBS with five passes of 60-plus yards, all touchdowns (85 yards to Jayden Reed vs. Youngstown State; 75 yards to Reed vs. Youngstown State; 65 yards to Jalen Nailor vs. Rutgers; two 63-yarders to Nailor vs. Rutgers). Thorne also ranks sixth in the FBS with 734 yards of his passing coming on completions of 20-plus yards and tied for sixth with eight TDs of 20-plus yards.

• Thorne threw for a career-high 339 yards in the victory over Rutgers on Oct. 9, including touchdown passes of 65, 63 and 63 yards to Nailor.

• Thorne threw for 327 yards in the victory over Western Kentucky while completing 20-of-30 throws. He also had a 12-yard rushing touchdown.

• The product of Naperville, Illinois, was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week by the conference office on Sept. 20 and was also recognized as the Manning Award National Quarterback of the Week for his performance at No. 24 Miami in Week 3. Thorne became just the second Spartan quarterback in school history, joining Connor Cook, to throw for four touchdowns in back-to-back games during MSU's 38-17 victory over the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Thorne threw for a career-high four TDs in the Week 2 win over Youngstown State, and matched that effort against Miami by completing 18-of-31 passes for 261 yards and four more touchdowns. Cook threw for four TDs in consecutive games against Indiana and Nebraska in 2015.

• At Miami, Thorne first found Kenneth Walker III on a 7-yard screen pass for a score in the second quarter, then connected with Jalen Nailor on an 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Thorne's third TD pass of the game came on a third-and-7 play early in the fourth as he hit Jayden Reed in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. Although Thorne ended up with a net of 4 rushing yards, he scrambled for a 22-yard gain on a third-and-6 play and also converted on fourth-and-1 with a quarterback sneak to propel a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to make it 31-17 in favor of MSU. Thorne finished the eight-play, 75-yard drive by finding Nailor in the end zone for a 39-yard pass, one play after getting the first down on the QB sneak.

• In the 42-14 win over Youngstown State in Week 2, Thorne completed 15-of-21 passes for 280 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. It marked the first time a Spartan quarterback threw for four TDs in a game since Brian Lewerke vs. Northwestern in 2017. Thorne also had 19 yards rushing on three carries (6.3 avg.), including a 10-yard TD run.

• In his second career start, Thorne threw for 185 yards on 15-of-25 passing with one TD at Northwestern in Week 1 to earn his first win as the Spartans' starting QB. Thorne also rushed for 28 yards on five carries.

RUNNING BACKS
• Junior running back Kenneth Walker III, a transfer from Wake Forest, is having a dynamic start to the season. Walker leads the FBS in rushing (142.4 ypg; 997 yards) and is the only player in the nation to rank among the top 15 in rushing, all-purpose yards (seventh with 146.0 ypg), yards per carry (12th with 6.6 avg.) and total TDs (15th with 10).

• According to Pro Football Focus, Walker leads the country in rushing yards after contact (737) and rushing carries for 10-plus yards (27).

• Walker was named a first-team midseason All-American by The Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, The Athletic and The Sporting News.

• Walker's 94-yard touchdown run in the third quarter at Rutgers was the longest rush in the 125-year history of Michigan State football, bettering a 90-yard by Lynn Chandnois vs. Arizona in 1949. It was also the longest offensive play from scrimmage in school history, topping the 93-yard pass from Tony Banks to Nigea Carter vs. Indiana in 1994. Walker's 94-yard TD run is also tied for the third-longest rush in the FBS in 2021.

• Walker has four 100-yard rushing games this season, including two 200-yard games (264 vs. Northwestern on Sept. 3; 172 at Miami on Sept. 18; 126 vs. Western Kentucky on Sept. 25; 233 at Rutgers on Oct. 9). Walker is the only player in the Big Ten and one of two in the FBS with two 200-yard rushing games this season (Tyler Badie, Missouri).

• With 997 rushing yards on 152 carries, Walker is looking to become the first Spartan to record 1,000 rushing yards in a single season since Jeremy Langford in 2014 (1,522). Javon Ringer is the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 yards in a season in terms of attempts, reaching the milestone in just 154 carries in 2007.

• Walker had a record-setting debut as a Spartan, rushing for a career-high 264 yards – the seventh-highest total in school history – while scoring a career-high four touchdowns to lead the Spartans past Northwestern on Sept. 3. It marked the most rushing yards by a Spartan in a debut wearing the Green and White and the third most by a player in the FBS this season. Walker became just the second Spartan to record more than 250 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the same game (Eric Allen, school-record 350 yards and four TDs vs. Purdue on Oct. 30, 1971).

• After seeing limited action in Week 2 vs. Youngstown State (seven carries for 57 yards, 1 TD, 8.1 avg.), Walker was back at it in the victory at Miami on Sept. 18, compiling 172 yards on the ground on 27 carries (6.4 avg.) while also catching three passes for 17 yards, including his first career TD reception on a 7-yard screen pass in the second quarter.

• Walker had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season with 126 yards on 24 carries in the victory over Western Kentucky in Week 5. He scored three touchdowns in the first half (5, 5 and 3 yards).

• Led by a school-record 94-yard touchdown run at Rutgers, Walker finished with a career-high 29 carries for 233 yards against the Scarlet Knights. It marked the ninth 100-yard rushing game in Walker's collegiate career (two at Wake Forest in 2019; three at Wake Forest in 2020; four at Michigan State in 2021).

• Walker also set a school record at Wake Forest for the longest touchdown run with a 96-yarder vs. Rice as a true freshman in 2019.

• Walker is averaging 156.7 rushing yards per game against FBS opponents this season (264 vs. Northwestern; 172 vs. Miami; 61 vs. Nebraska; 126 vs. Western Kentucky; 233 vs. Rutgers; 84 vs. Indiana).

• Sophomore Jordon Simmons, who led the team in rushing as a true freshman with 219 yards on 56 carries (3.9 avg.) in five games, ranks second on the team with 183 rushing yards on 37 carries (30.5 ypg; 4.9 avg.). Simmons recorded his first 100-yard rushing game with 121 yards on 16 carries in the win over Youngstown State in Week 2.

• Redshirt junior Elijah Collins, who led the team with 988 rushing yards as a redshirt freshman in 2019, had three carries for 32 yards and one catch for a 20-yard TD against Youngstown State in Week 2 before leaving the game with an injury. He has not seen game action the past five games.

• Redshirt junior Harold Joiner, a transfer from Auburn, has eight carries for 38 yards (4.8 avg.).

WIDE RECEIVERS
• Michigan State features a receiving duo in redshirt junior Jayden Reed and redshirt junior Jalen Nailor that both rank among the Big Ten leaders in several categories. Both Reed and Nailor share the team lead with 27 receptions, while Reed has 562 receiving yards to Nailor's 512.

• Reed was named a first-team midseason All-American by CBS Sports as an all-purpose player and by The Sporting News as a returner. He was a second-team midseason All-American by The Athletic as an all-purpose player.

• Reed ranks among the Big Ten and FBS leaders in punt returns (first and first with 23.3 avg.), all-purpose yards (second in Big Ten and seventh in FBS, 146.0 ypg), yards per catch (first and ninth, 20.8 avg.), total touchdowns (sixth and 40th with 8), TD catches (fifth and 39th with 5) and receiving yards (third and 32nd with 80.3 ypg). He also is tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky).

• Reed was recognized on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the third time of the season after collecting a career-high 285 all-purpose yards (127 receiving, 88 punt return, 63 kick return, 7 rushing), the seventh-most single-game total in school history, in the win over Western Kentucky on Oct. 2. Reed scored the first time he touched the ball against the Hilltoppers with an 88-yard punt return, marking his second consecutive punt return for a touchdown (62 yards vs. Nebraska in fourth quarter). He also had his second 100-yard receiving effort of the season with four catches for 127 yards vs. WKU, including a 46-yard TD in the first quarter.

• Reed was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 27; he was also recognized on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the second time this season (Week 2 vs. Youngstown State). With MSU trailing 20-13 to Nebraska late in the fourth quarter, Reed returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown to tie the game with 3:47 remaining, setting the stage for an overtime win over the Huskers. It marked MSU's first punt return for a touchdown since Nov. 26, 2011 (Keshawn Martin 57 yards at Northwestern). Reed finished the game with 192 all-purpose yards (69 kick return, 62 punt return, 59 receiving, 2 rushing). His 41-yard kick return in the second quarter set up an MSU field goal. He also hauled in four passes for 59 yards, including a 35-yard TD catch from Thorne in the second quarter.

• Reed caught four passes for a career-high 181 yards against Youngstown State in Week 2; two of those catches came for 160 yards in the first half alone (75 yard TD on first play of the game; 85 yard TD in second quarter). Reed has seven 100-yard receiving games in his career (four at Western Michigan in 2018; one at MSU in 2020; two at MSU in 2021). He also tallied 264 all-purpose yards (181 receiving, 32 kick return, 48 punt return) against YSU. Reed's 181-yard receiving effort vs. YSU is the highest in the Big Ten in 2021.

• Redshirt junior Jalen Nailor has 27 catches for 512 yards and six TDs. He ranks tied for second in the Big Ten and 18th in the nation with his six TD grabs, and he also is fourth in the Big Ten and 22nd nationally in yards per catch (18.9 avg.).

• Nailor was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week against Rutgers after tying a school record with three touchdown receptions to go along with five catches overall for 221 yards, the fourth-highest receiving total in school history, in MSU's 31-13 win over the Scarlet Knights. He caught TD passes of 63, 63 and 65 yards, all in the first half. According to the Big Ten Network, Nailor's 44.2 yards per reception was the highest by a Big Ten player since 2000 (minimum five receptions), surpassing Charles Rogers' 41.2 yards per reception vs. Wisconsin in 2001. Nailor had four catches for a school-record 208 yards in the first half alone. His 221 total receiving yards were the most ever by an opposing receiver in SHI Stadium history, bettering Larry Fitzgerald's (Pittsburgh) 207 yards in 2003.

• Nailor had a career-high eight receptions for 128 yards vs. Western Kentucky in Week 5.

• Nailor had two TD catches at No. 24 Miami, including a 39-yard grab in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

• Nailor topped the 1,000 career yards mark in the Western Kentucky game, becoming the 46th player in MSU history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards. He has 72 catches for 1,249 yards in 25 collegiate games.

• Redshirt sophomore Tre Mosley ranks third on the team with 21 catches for 321 yards; he had a career-long 51-yard reception at Miami and a season-best six receptions for 70 yards vs. Nebraska.

TIGHT ENDS
• Redshirt senior Connor Heyward converted from running back to tight end during preseason camp, and has started the first seven games at his new position. Heyward has 16 catches for 145 yards and has been a key blocker for the Spartans in their seven victories.

• Former walk-on punter Tyler Hunt made the position switch to tight end in 2020 and has five catches for 48 yards in seven games this season, including a starting assignment vs. Youngstown State and a touchdown at Indiana.

OFFENSIVE LINE
• Michigan State's offensive line had 152 career starts returning in 2021, which ranked third most in the FBS. MSU has nine players of multiple games of starting experience.

• Michigan State has used the same starting lineup in all seven games, but regularly rotates nine offensive linemen in its rotation.

• Redshirt senior Kevin Jarvis leads the way with 34 career starts. He has started at left tackle (three games in 2019) and right tackle (seven games in 2020) during the past two seasons, but has started the first seven games of 2021 at right guard, where he started 17 games in 2017-18.

• Jarrett Horst, a transfer from Arkansas State, has started the first seven games at left tackle. A member of the Outland Trophy Watch List, Horst started 20 games in 2019-20 at left tackle at Arkansas State.

• Junior J.D. Duplain has 17 career starts at left guard, including all seven games in 2021.

• Sixth-year graduate Matt Allen, who only played in one game in 2020 due to a foot injury, has started the first seven games at center. He has started 24 overall games at center throughout his career.

• Sixth-year graduate AJ Arcuri started all seven games at left tackle in 2020, but made the move to right tackle this season with the addition of Horst, and has started at his new position all seven games in 2021. Arcuri, a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, was named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy.

• Center Nick Samac, left guard Blake Bueter, right guard Matt Carrick and left tackle Luke Campbell also see regular time in the playing rotation and all have multiple games of starting experience.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

TEAM
• Michigan State ranks first in the Big Ten and tied for fifth in the FBS in sacks with 3.71 per game.

• The Spartans are allowing just 4.85 yards per play, which ranks fourth in the conference and 20th in the FBS.

DEFENSIVE LINE
• Michigan State returns both starting defensive ends in 2021 in sixth-year graduate Drew Beesley and fifth-year graduate Jacub Panasiuk.

• A second-team midseason All-American by The Athletic, Panasiuk has 37 career starts to his credit, most of any active Spartan, including all seven games this season. He has recorded 5.5 sacks the past four games (two each vs. Nebraska and Western Kentucky; half sack vs. Rutgers; one sack vs. Indiana) and ranks sixth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss with 8.5 TFLs for 49 yards. His team-best 5.5 sacks are second in the league. Overall, he has 23 tackles, six QB hurries, one pass break-up, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

• He was named the Pro Football Focus National Defensive Player of the Week after collecting a career-high two sacks vs. Nebraska; he had seven stops overall against the Huskers.

• Panasiuk ranks among the school's all-time leaders in sacks (13th with 14.5) and tackles for loss (16th with 29.5).

• Beesley left the Nebraska game in the second quarter due to an injury. He has 11 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, in three games of action in 2021.

• Sophomore Jeff Pietrowski, who earned his first career start in Week 2 vs. Youngstown State, has 20 tackles, including 3.5 sacks (14 yards) and 4.0 TFLs (17 yards). He has also recovered a fumble and forced a fumble this season.
• Michigan State has four players with starting experience on the defensive line, including redshirt junior Jacob Slade, redshirt junior Dashaun Mallory, redshirt sophomore Jalen Hunt and redshirt freshman Simeon Barrow. Slade has 22 tackles, including two for losses and one sack; he had a career game against Nebraska with eight tackles. Barrow has started all seven games and leads all Spartan defensive lineman with 23 tackles (2.5 TFLs).

LINEBACKERS
• Quavaris Crouch, a junior transfer from Tennessee, started 10 games for the Volunteers last season and has started the first seven games of 2021 for the Spartans. Crouch ranks third on the team with 52 tackles, including two sacks (10 yards), three QB hurries, one pass break-up, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

• Redshirt freshman Cal Haladay earned his first career start in Week 1 and has kept his starting role ever since. Haladay is fourth on the team with 48 tackles.

SECONDARY
• Senior Xavier Henderson has started a team-best 27 consecutive games at safety for the Spartans. He leads the team and ranks sixth in the Big Ten in tackles with 60 (8.6 avg). Henderson recorded a career-high 17 tackles vs. Nebraska, the most by a Spartan since Montae Nicholson in 2016.

• Sophomore Angelo Grose, who started four games as a true freshman at nickelback in 2020, made the move to safety in spring practice and has started the first seven games at his new position this year. Grose recorded his first career interception in the win at Miami and ranks second on the team with 53 tackles after collecting a career-high 16 vs. WKU. He also leads the team with six pass break-ups, tied for third in the Big Ten.

• At nickelback, redshirt junior Michael Dowell (32 tackles, 3 PBUs) started the first four games; sophomore Darius Snow (33 tackles, 2.5 TFLs) has started the past three games.

• Senior transfer Ronald Williams (Alabama) has started six of the first seven games for the Spartans. He has 23 tackles, including two TFLs, four PBUs, one sack and one interception (vs. Miami).

• Junior transfer Chester Kimbrough (Florida) has started the last six games at corner for the Spartans. Kimbrough recorded his first career interception in overtime in the win over Nebraska. He has 23 tackles on the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

KICKER
• Sixth-year graduate Matt Coghlin has been the team's starting placekicker for the past five seasons, dating back to 2017. Coghlin became the school's all-time leader in field goals with his 72nd career field goal in the win over Rutgers in Week 6, surpassing Brett Swenson (2006-09).

• Coghlin is also closing in on becoming MSU's all-time leading scorer. Swenson holds that record with 377 career points; Coghlin is currently second in school history with 365 points.

• Coghlin picked up All-Big Ten honors for the fourth time in his career in 2020 (2018, first team, media; 2017 and 2019-20, honorable mention) in addition to earning Academic All-Big Ten honors for the fourth year in a row.

• For the fourth time in his career, Coghlin was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking two field goals in Michigan State's 20-15 win at Indiana on Oct. 16. Coghlin's 51-yard field goal in the third quarter tied his career long and put MSU on top, 10-9. He added a 49-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to go 2-for-2 on field goals for the day, extending MSU's lead to 20-15. It marked Coghlin's third game with multiple field goals in the last four contests and his 22nd career game with two or more field goals. The two field goals also extended his MSU career record with his 74th career upright split, as well as No. 1 for active FBS players. The 74 field goals now gives Coghlin sole possession of No. 2 on the Big Ten career field goals list (record: 78 by Penn State's Kevin Kelly, 2005-08).

• Coghlin was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time in his career after going 3-of-4 on field goals in the win over No. 8 Northwestern on Nov. 28, 2020, including the game-winner from 48 yards out with 3:35 left in the game that put MSU on top, 23-20, in the eventual 29-20 victory.

• Coghlin connected on 3-of-4 field goals against Nebraska in Week 4, including the fifth game-winning field goal of his career with a 21-yarder in overtime. His four previous game-winners include a 34-yarder as time expired to beat No. 7 Penn State in 2017; a 21-yarder with five seconds left to defeat Indiana in 2019; a 33-yarder to beat Maryland in 2019; and a 48-yarder with 3:35 remaining to beat No. 8 Northwestern in 2020.

PUNTER
• Redshirt senior Bryce Baringer ranks first in the Big Ten and third in the FBS in punting (49.2 avg.). He's also second with 14 punts of 50-plus yards, including four punts of 60-plus yards. Baringer is seventh in the league with 11 punts inside the 20. He was added to the Ray Guy Award Watch List on Oct. 22.

• Baringer averaged 58.8 yards per punt (six punts for 353 yards) vs. Nebraska in Week 4, the second-highest single-game punting average in Big Ten history (minimum four punts). Baringer had a career-long of 67 yards, a new season-long for the second week in a row after a 65-yarder at Miami, and part of a career-best five punts over 50-yard for the night, including three of 60-plus yards. Only former Spartan All-American punter Mike Sadler had a higher single-game punting average in the history of the Big Ten (minimum four punts; 59.2 avg. vs. Indiana on Oct. 12, 2013; four punts for 237 yards). Prior to the game on Sept. 25, Michigan State and Nebraska honored the memories of Sadler and 2015 Big Ten Punter of the Year Sam Foltz as Mike's mother, Karen, and sister, Katie, along with Sam's parents Jill and Gerald Foltz, participated in the coin toss. Mike Sadler and Sam Foltz were both tragically killed in a car accident on July 23, 2016, while working a kicking camp near Waukesha, Wisconsin. It marked the first time Nebraska had played in East Lansing since the tragic accident.

• Baringer was a walk-on who joined the team in September 2018 and punted in four games. He was not on the 2019 roster, but rejoined the team as a walk-on in 2020 and earned the starting position in all seven games. Baringer earned a scholarship prior to the 2021 season.

RETURNS
• Redshirt junior Jayden Reed leads the team in kick returns (eight for 208 yards, 26.0 avg.) and punt returns (nine for 210 yards; 23.3 avg.). He was named a first-team midseason All-American as a returner by The Sporting News and also earned midseason All-America honors by CBS Sports (first team) and The Athletic (second team) as an all-purpose player. Reed is No. 7 in the FBS in all-purpose yards (146.0 ypg) and ninth in combined kick returns (418).

• Reed is tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns, which already ties a school single-season record; he returned back-to-back punts for scores with a game-tying 62-yarder in the fourth quarter vs. Nebraska and an 88-yarder on his first attempt vs. Western Kentucky, tying the fourth-longest punt return in MSU history.

• Reed returned back-to-back punts for a TD (fourth quarter vs. Nebraska, 62 yards; first quarter vs. Western Kentucky, 88 yards) to become just the third player in school history to return two punts for a touchdown in the same season (Bill Simpson, 1972; James Ellis, 1951); both Simpson and Ellis also returned their punts for touchdowns in back-to-back games (Simpson: 48 yards vs. Illinois on Sept. 16, 1972; 74 yards vs. Georgia Tech on Sept. 23, 1972; Ellis: 57 yards vs. Penn State on Oct. 20, 1951; 55 yards vs. Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 1951). Ellis also returned his on back-to-back attempts, although there were other punts downed and returned by other players (Leroy Bolden) between his TD returns, where Reed returned his on back-to-back punts.

• Reed's 62-yard punt return for a TD vs. Nebraska in Week 4 was the first punt return for a score by a Spartan since Nov. 26, 2011, when Keshawn Martin returned a punt 57 yards for a TD at Northwestern.

• Reed is tied for first among active FBS players with three punt returns for touchdowns in his career. He also had a 93-yard punt return for a TD as a freshman at Western Michigan in 2018 against Delaware State. Reed was a Freshman All-American at WMU in 2018 after collecting 1,119 all-purpose yards (797 receiving, 215 punt return, 116 kick return, -7 rushing).

2021 SPARTAN COACHING STAFF –
• A new era of Spartan football began in 2020 as Mel Tucker started his head coaching tenure in East Lansing. Tucker, a 25-year coaching veteran with championship experience, was named Michigan State University's 25th head football coach on Feb. 12 following Mark Dantonio's retirement on Feb. 4.

• Tucker's resume, which began as a graduate assistant at Michigan State under Nick Saban, has an impressive track record of success. The journey that led him back to East Lansing included a head coaching position at Colorado (2019), five seasons as a defensive coach in the Southeastern Conference (2000; 2015-18), 10 seasons in the NFL (2005-14), and four seasons at Ohio State (2001-04). He was a defensive coordinator in the NFL for seven seasons and 11 seasons overall in his coaching career.

• In 156 games as a full-time coach in the FBS, Tucker's teams have collected a 115-41 (.737) record, including 10 postseason bowl games (2000 Peach, 2002 Outback, 2003 Fiesta/BCS National Championship, 2004 Fiesta, 2004 Alamo, 2015 Cotton/CFP Semifinal, 2016 CFP/National Championship, 2016 Liberty, 2018 Rose/CFP Semifinal, 2018 CFP/National Championship), three conference championships, three national championship games and two national championships (2002 with Ohio State, 2015 with Alabama).

• Tucker coached 160 games in the National Football League (64 with Cleveland, 64 with Jacksonville, 32 with Chicago).

• Five of MSU head coach Mel Tucker's 14 wins as a head coach have come against AP Top 25 opponents (2021: No. 24 Miami; 2020: No. 11 Northwestern and No. 13 Michigan; 2019: No. 25 Nebraska and No. 24 Arizona State at Colorado). Tucker is 5-4 overall against AP Top 25 opponents (2-2 at Colorado; 3-2 at MSU). He became the first Spartan head coach to defeat a ranked team (AP No. 11 Northwestern) in his first home win.

• Tucker was named to the midseason watch list for the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year on Oct. 21. The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's philosophy.

• Nine of Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker's 10 assistant coaches from 2020 are back on the sidelines this fall for the Spartans. Tucker promoted Travares Tillman to an on-field role as cornerbacks coach in January after Tillman was a senior defensive assistant at MSU in 2020.

• In addition, Harlon Barnett, who is in his 13th season overall on the Spartan defensive staff and second with Tucker, will transition from cornerbacks to secondary coach. Barnett has coached four All-Americans, nine first-team All-Big Ten selections and 10 NFL Draft picks during his time at MSU (2007-17; 2020-).

• Chris Kapilovic, who is in his second season as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Michigan State, was promoted to assistant head coach in January. Kapilovic, 52, joined Tucker's staff in East Lansing in February 2020 after spending the 2019 season as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator in Colorado. Kapilovic has nearly 30 years of coaching experience, including roles as an offensive coordinator and/or run game coordinator at Southern Mississippi (2008-11), North Carolina (2012-18) and Colorado (2019). He has coached multiple NFL players, first-round draft picks and record-setting offenses during his career.

• Jay Johnson is the program's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Johnson, 51, is a veteran coach and administrator of 26 seasons, including 11 as an offensive coordinator at five FBS schools (Michigan State, Colorado, Minnesota, Louisiana, Southern Mississippi) in addition to coaching quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends as a position coach.
• A 25-year coaching veteran with stints at all levels of collegiate football and the NFL, Scottie Hazelton is in his second season as the Secchia Family Defensive Coordinator. Last season, Hazelton installed a new 4-2-5 defensive scheme for the Spartans. Hazelton arrived in East Lansing after spending one season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Kansas State in 2019.

• Ted Gilmore coaches the tight ends for the Spartans. Gilmore, who has coached 26 years, has experience at the FBS and NFL ranks and has developed numerous NFL players, draft picks and All-Americans during his ccareer. He was named the 2011 FootballScoop Wide Receivers Coach of the Year after mentoring consensus All-American Robert Woods and 2011 Freshman All-American Marqise Lee at USC. Gilmore, 54, previously spent five seasons (2015-19) as the wide receivers coach at Wisconsin.

• Former Spartan great Courtney Hawkins is in his second season as the wide receivers coach, while William Peagler enters his second year coaching the running backs.

• With more than three decades of coaching experience, Ross Els is in his second season as the program's linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. Els, 54, has previous experience in the Big Ten, serving as the defensive coordinator at Purdue in 2016 and four seasons at Nebraska under Coach Bo Pelini from 2011-14.

• Ron Burton, who enters his 29th year of coaching, is in his ninth season on the defensive staff at Michigan State and coaches the defensive line. Burton is the only coach to win the FootballScoop National Defensive Line Coach of the Year Award twice, an honor he won for the second time in 2018 after MSU finished with the top-ranked rushing defense in the country. Burton also won the award during his first season in East Lansing in 2013 when the Spartans claimed the Big Ten Championship, won the Rose Bowl, and finished No. 2 in the FBS in total defense and rushing defense.

A QUICK GLANCE AT NO. 6/6 MICHIGAN (7-0, 4-0 BIG TEN) –
• The Wolverines tote a 7-0 overall record and 4-0 Big Ten ledger into the showdown with the Spartans on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. After a bye week on Oct. 16, Michigan pulled away from Northwestern for a 33-7 win last week in Ann Arbor. UM opened the season with three straight home nonconference wins over Western Michigan (47-14 on Sept. 4), Washington (31-10 on Sept. 11) and Northern Illinois (63-10 on Sept. 18), before opening Big Ten action with a home win over Rutgers (20-13 on Sept. 25). Michigan's first road game of the season sent them to Wisconsin, where UM won 38-17 on Oct. 2, followed by a 32-29 win at Nebraska on Oct. 9, entering the bye week.

• UM head coach Jim Harbaugh has a 56-22 record in his seventh season leading the Wolverines, and has a 114-49 overall collegiate head coach record in his 13th season.

• Last time out, Michigan and Northwestern played to a scoreless first quarter, before Michigan scored on a 1-yard TD run by sophomore running back Blake Corum and a 20-yard field goal by senior placekicker Jake Moody to go up 10-0. On the first offensive play after the Wolverines' field goal, Northwestern scored on a 75-yard rush to close to 10-7, and that remained the score into halftime. Corum scored his second rushing TD of the day with a 5-yard rush early in the third quarter, and senior running back Hassan Haskins added a 13-yard rush and a 44-yard Moody field goal opened a 27-7 lead after three quarters. Haskins added a 4-yard TD early in the fourth stanza for the final scoring at 33-7.

• UM ended with 457 yards of total offense (294 rushing and 163 passing), while yielding 233 to Northwestern (133 passing, 100 rushing).

• Corum collected 119 yards rushing on 19 carries with the two TDs, while Haskins added 110 yards on 23 rushes, with the two TDs.

• Junior quarterback Cade McNamara was 20-for-27 passing for 129 yards, while freshman quarterback J.J. McCarthy was 3-for-5 passing for 34 yards. McCarthy also had two rushes for 36 yards, while McNamara had two carries for -6 yards, getting sacked once.

• Michigan is second in the Big Ten and 15th in the FBS in scoring offense at 37.7 points per game, while the Wolverine defense leads the conference and ranks second in FBS at 14.3 ppg allowed per game. UM is fourth in the league in total offense (442.2 ypg), topping the conference and ranking fifth in the country in rushing offense (253.3 ypg) and ranking 11th in the league in passing offense (189.6 ypg). The Wolverines are second in the Big Ten in total defense (298.0 ypg), ranking fourth in both rushing defense (115.6 ypg) and passing defense (182.4 ypg).

• Corum leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth in FBS in all-purpose yards (1,120 yards, 160.0 ypg), along with ranking fourth in the league in rushing (104.1 ypg) and second in kick returns (26.6 ypr). He has 116 total carries for 729 yards (6.3 ypc) with 10 TDs, adding a team-leading 18 receptions for 125 yards (6.9 ypc) with one TD. Corum also has 10 kick returns for 266 yards with a long of 79-yards.

• Haskins has 124 carries for 602 yards (86.0 ypg/4.9 ypc) with 10 TDs, adding three catches for 6 yards.

• McNamara is 92-of-146 passing for 1,115 yards (159.3 ypg) with five TDs and one INT. McCarthy is 12-for-19 for 212 yards and two TDs.

• Junior wide receiver Cornelius Johnson leads the UM receiving corps with 282 yards on 14 catches (47.0 ypg/20.1 ypc) with three TDs.

• Graduate linebacker Josh Ross spearheads the Wolverine defense with 44 tackles, with 4.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, adding two pass break-ups. Hill adds 35 stops with 3.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, along with a team-leading two interceptions and sharing the team lead with four pass break-ups.

• Senior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson has team-bests of 6.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.

• Moody is 14-of-16 on field goals with a long of 52-yards, adding 28-of-28 on PATs. He also has 52 kickoffs for a 60.7 ypk average with 39 touchbacks.

• Robbins has 22 punts for a 45.5 ypp average with a long of 59-yards, one of six of 50+ yards, with 10 inside the 20.

MICHIGAN STATE ONE OF THE WINNINGEST FBS PROGRAMS IN HISTORY –
• Michigan State is one of 31 programs in the FBS to win more than 700 games. The Spartans currently rank No. 26 all-time with 717 victories (all-time record: 717-470-44, .600). Michigan State is celebrating its 125th season in 2021.

SPARTANS BOAST 18 GRADUATES ON 2021 ROSTER –
• Michigan State has 18 graduates on its 2021 roster:

Matt Allen – Food Industry Management (December 2020)
AJ Arcuri – Packaging (December 2020)
Drew Beesley – Economics (December 2020)
Luke Campbell – Kinesiology (December 2020)
Jack Camper – Agribusiness (Summer 2021)
Matt Carrick – Advertising (Summer 2021)
Matt Coghlin – Finance (December 2020)
Emmanuel Flowers – Communication (December 2020)
C.J. Hayes – Communication (December 2020)
Connor Heyward – Communication (Summer 2021)
Tyler Hunt – Agribusiness (May 2021)
Kevin Jarvis – Criminal Justice (December 2020)
Drew Jordan – Evolutionary Anthropology (December 2020 from Duke)
Jacub Panasiuk – Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science - Human Capital and Society (May 2021)
Spencer Rowland – Biology (December 2020 from Wheaton College)
Anthony Russo – Advertising (May 2020 from Temple)
Cody Waddell – University Studies (Spring 2021 from Texas Tech)
Powers Warren – Kinesiology/Sport Administration (May 2021 from Mississippi State)

No. 8/7 Michigan State Hosts No. 6/6 Michigan in Top-10 Showdown Saturday in Spartan Stadium

Game 8: No. 8/7 Michigan State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 6/6 Michigan (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)

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Players Mentioned

Matt Allen

AJ Arcuri

Bryce Baringer

Simeon Barrow Jr.

Drew Beesley

Blake Bueter

Luke Campbell

Jack Camper

Matt Carrick

Matt Coghlin

Elijah Collins

Quavaris Crouch

Michael Dowell

J.D. Duplain

Emmanuel Flowers

Angelo Grose

Cal Haladay

C.J. Hayes

Xavier Henderson

Connor Heyward

Jarrett Horst

Jalen Hunt

Tyler Hunt

Kevin Jarvis

Harold Joiner III

Drew Jordan

Chester Kimbrough

Dashaun Mallory

Tre Mosley

Jalen Nailor

Jacub Panasiuk

Jeff Pietrowski Jr.

Jayden Reed

Spencer Rowland

Anthony Russo

Nick Samac

Jordon Simmons

Jacob Slade

Darius Snow

Payton Thorne

Cody Waddell

Kenneth Walker III

Powers Warren

Ronald Williams II

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