Spartans Jump to No. 11 in National Rankings

Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications

10/3/2021 2:05:00 PM | Football

EAST LANSING, Mich. – After its 48-31 win over Western Kentucky on Saturday night in Spartan Stadium to remain undefeated at 5-0 on the season, the Michigan State football team continued its rise in the national rankings by moving up to No. 11 in both The Associated Press Poll and the USA TODAY/AFCA Coaches Poll.

It marks the highest MSU has been ranked since the 2018 preseason poll (No. 11, AP).

Michigan State is off to its first 5-0 start since 2015. It's the 13th time overall in school history MSU has started 5-0 (1913, 1934, 1944, 1951, 1952, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1997, 1999, 2010, 2015, 2021). Mel Tucker is just the second coach in school history to begin his second season at MSU 5-0 (Charlie Bachman started 5-0 in 1934).

Michigan State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) returns to action Saturday, Oct. 9 to face Rutgers (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) in Piscataway, New Jersey, at noon. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.