Land Grant Trophy on the Line as Spartans Host Penn State on Senior Day

Saturday, November 15

East Lansing, Mich.

3:30 PM

Michigan State University

Penn State

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Land Grant Trophy on the Line as Spartans Host Penn State on Senior Day

11/11/2025 9:36:00 AM | Football

MSU Game Notes Penn State Game Notes MSU Game Day Information Parking Information

Game 10: Michigan State (3-6, 0-6 B1G) vs. Penn State (3-6, 0-6 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 15
Kickoff: 3:40 p.m.
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (74,866)
Surface: Natural Grass
Game Notes: MSU | Penn State

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: CBS
Streaming/Mobile: Paramount+
Announcers: Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst), Jenny Dell (sidelines)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Live Stats

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jehuu Caulcrick
Sidelines: Tre Mosley
Broadcast Hosts: Will Tieman, Dalton Shetler
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/watch, 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: 21 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: SiriusXM Ch. 113/197 | SiriusXM App
Pregame Show: Begins at 2 p.m.

►GAME DAY INFORMATION
• Game Day Central - msuspartans.com/gameday (Timeline, Parking, Tailgating, Spartan Stadium information)

• Parking: Parking lots will open at 7 a.m. on Saturday. | Parking Map

• Game Day Updates: Fans can sign up to receive game day updates from MSU Police and Public Safety this season by texting SPARTANFB25 to 888777. Updates will include safety information, potential game delays, traffic suggestions, etc.

Additional Links:
• Construction/Traffic Information
• Purchase Tickets
• The Munn Tailgate Information

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: PSU leads, 19-18-1
Series in East Lansing: MSU leads, 11-6
Series in Big Ten Games: PSU leads, 18-10
Last Meeting: PSU 42, MSU 0 (2023 in Detroit)
Current Series Streak: 2 by PSU

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
MSU Record: 8-13 (second year)
Overall Record: 42-48 (eighth year)
Record vs. Penn State: 0-0

Penn State Interim Head Coach: Terry M. Smith
Penn State Record: 0-3 (first year)
Overall Record: 0-3 (first year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-0

►SPARTANS, NITTANY LIONS FACE OFF FOR LAND GRANT TROPHY ON SATURDAY IN EAST LANSING
• Michigan State hosts Penn State in the battle for the Land Grant Trophy on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 3:40 p.m. in Spartan Stadium in the home finale for the Spartans. The game will be televised on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ with Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst) and Jenny Dell (sidelines) on the call. Michigan State will recognize its seniors in a pregame ceremony.

• The Spartans are coming off their second bye week and enter the contest at 3-6 (0-6 Big Ten) following a 23-20 overtime loss at Minnesota on Nov. 1. Penn State lost to No. 2 Indiana in State College last Saturday, 27-24, and stands at 3-6 (0-6 Big Ten).

• Saturday's game marks the 39th meeting between Michigan State and Penn State. The Spartans have won six of the last 11 meetings against the Nittany Lions but PSU holds a slim one-game lead in the overall series, 19-18-1. This marks the first game in East Lansing between the two teams since MSU's 30-27 win in the 2021 regular-season finale that was played in constant snowfall. Penn State won the last matchup at Ford Field in Detroit in the 2023 regular-season finale.

• Since the renewal of the series in 1993, the winner of the Michigan State-Penn State game has been presented the Land Grant Trophy. The trophy honors the two universities' unique places in history as the two pioneer land-grant schools in the nation. Each institution was founded in 1855: Michigan State on Feb. 12 and Penn State on Feb. 22. The schools were the prototypes after which the land-grant system was patterned. Since 1993, Penn State leads the series, 18-10, but the Spartans have won six of the last 11.

►NICK MARSH SURPASSES 1,000 CAREER RECEIVING YARDS
• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh leads the Spartans with 46 receptions for 554 yards (61.6 ypg; 12.0 avg.), including a team-best five touchdown catches. The Detroit, Michigan, native ranks among the Big Ten leaders in TD catches (tied for eighth with five), receptions (ninth with 46; 5.1 pg) and receiving yards (12th with 554 yards; 61.6 pg). During the Indiana game on Oct. 18, Marsh surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for his career; he has a total of 87 catches for 1,203 yards in 20 collegiate games.

►RED ZONE EFFICIENCY
• Michigan State has scored on 30 of its 33 trips to the red zone this season, good for a .909 percentage, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten and tied for 25th in the FBS. The Spartans have scored 22 touchdowns in the red zone, including 14 rushing TDs, along with eight field goals. MSU's TD percentage in the red zone (.667) ranks eighth in the Big Ten and 42nd in the FBS.

►ALESSIO MILIVOJEVIC THROWS FOR 311 YARDS IN FIRST CAREER START AT MINNESOTA
• Making his first career start at quarterback, redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic threw for 311 yards while completing 20-of-28 passes against Minnesota on Nov. 1. Milivojevic's 311 passing yards ranked third most by a freshman/redshirt freshman quarterback at MSU and were fourth most by a Spartan making his first career start at QB.

Top Single-Game Passing Performances in First Career Start at QB - Michigan State
1. R-Fr. Payton Thorne at Penn State, Dec. 12, 2020: 22-of-39 for 325 yards
2. So. Ed Smith vs. NC State, Sept. 25, 1976: 18-of-29 for 324 yards
3. R-Fr. Rocky Lombardi vs. Purdue, Oct. 27, 2018: 26-of-46 for 318 yards
4. R-Fr. Alessio Milivojevic vs. Minnesota, Nov. 1, 2025: 20-of-28 for 311 yards
5. R-Fr. Damon Dowdell vs. Purdue, Nov. 17, 2001: 24-of-45 for 304 yards

Top Single-Game Passing Performances by Freshman/Redshirt Freshman QB - Michigan State
1. Payton Thorne at Penn State, Dec. 12, 2020: 22-of-39 for 325 yards
2. Rocky Lombardi vs. Purdue, Oct. 27, 2018: 26-of-46 for 318 yards
3. Alessio Milivojevic vs. Minnesota, Nov. 1, 2025: 20-of-28 for 311 yards
4. Damon Dowdell vs. Purdue, Nov. 17, 2001: 24-of-45 for 304 yards

►OMARI KELLY PROVING TO BE A PRODUCTIVE ALL-AROUND THREAT FOR MSU
• Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly, who is in his first season at MSU after transferring from Middle Tennessee State, leads the team in all-purpose yards (678; 75.3 ypg) and ranks second in receptions (38) and receiving yards (529; 58.8 ypg). Kelly ranks 14th in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (58.8) and tied for 13th in receptions per game (4.2), while also ranking third in the Big Ten in punt returns (16.0 avg.).

►MATT GULBIN ANCHORING THE OFFENSIVE LINE
• Graduate senior center Matt Gulbin, a Wake Forest transfer who joined the program in 2025, has taken every snap on offense this season for the Spartans (609). He is graded the second-best center in the FBS by Pro Football Focus (84.3). Gulbin is currently on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the nation's best center.

►JORDAN HALL LEADS TEAM, RANKS AMONG BIG TEN LEADERS IN TACKLES
• Junior co-captain linebacker Jordan Hall leads the team and ranks tied for ninth in the Big Ten with 70 tackles (7.8 pg). He recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including nine solo stops, in the win over Boston College on Sept. 6 to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. Hall had his first career interception to go along with eight tackles at Nebraska on Oct. 4.

►ALEX VANSUMEREN A VETERAN PRESENCE ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE
• Redshirt junior defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren has started 21 straight games on the defensive line for the Spartans (all 12 games in 2024; all eight games in 2025).

• VanSumeren has already recorded a career-high 39 tackles, which ranks most among the Spartan defensive line and third most on the team.

►PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN RYAN ECKLEY A WEAPON ON SPECIAL TEAMS
• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley, a Ray Guy Award candidate and preseason All-American, led the Big Ten in punting in 2024 with his 47.9-yard average and was a second-team all-conference selection.

• Eckley has shown why he is one of the best punters in the nation in the first nine games of the season. He currently leads the FBS in punting with his 49.7-yard average, and also ranks No. 1 among all active FBS punters with his career average of 47.9 yards per punt. He also ranks first in the Big Ten in 50-yard plus punts (16) and fifth with 12 punts inside the 20. Eckley has dropped seven punts inside the opponents' 10-yard line, including three at the 1 and one at the 2.

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – So. Makhi Frazier (108 carries for 493 yards, 4.6 avg., 2 TDs, 61.6 ypg)
Passing – Jr. Aidan Chiles (128-of-203, .631, 1,392 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs, 154.7 ypg)
Receiving – So. Nick Marsh (46 receptions for 554 yards, 12.0 avg., 5 TDs, 61.6 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. LB Jordan Hall (70 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 2.0 sacks for 8 yards, 3 FF, 1 INT)

Penn State:
Rushing – Sr. Kaytron Allen (138 carries for 736 yards, 5.3 avg., 10 TDs, 81.8 ypg)
Passing – R-Fr. Ethan Grunkemeyer (64-of-98, .653, 562 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs, 80.3 ypg)*
*Drew Allar started first six games of the season but is out for the year with an injury
Receiving – R-Sr. Trebor Pena (32 receptions for 331 yards, 10.3 avg., 1 TD, 36.8 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. LB Amare Campbell (67 tackles, 7.5 TFLs for 31 yards, 2.0 sacks for 16 yards)

►SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 39th meeting between Michigan State and Penn State. The Spartans have won six of the last 11 meetings against the Nittany Lions but PSU holds a slim one-game lead in the overall series, 19-18-1.

• This marks the first game in East Lansing between the two teams since MSU's 30-27 win in the 2021 regular-season finale that was played in constant snowfall. In his final game as a Spartan, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 138 yards and one touchdown on 30 carries to help lead MSU to its 10th win of the regular season.

• Penn State won the last matchup at Ford Field in Detroit in the 2023 regular-season finale.

• Since the renewal of the series in 1993, the winner of the Michigan State-Penn State game has been presented the Land Grant Trophy. The trophy honors the two universities' unique places in history as the two pioneer land-grant schools in the nation. Each institution was founded in 1855: Michigan State on Feb. 12 and Penn State on Feb. 22. The schools were the prototypes after which the land-grant system was patterned. Since 1993, Penn State leads the series, 18-10, but the Spartans have won six of the last 11.

►QUICK GLANCE AT PENN STATE (3-6, 0-6 BIG TEN)
• Penn State totes a 3-6 overall record and an 0-6 B1G ledger to East Lansing for Saturday's matchup with the Spartans in the battle for the Land Grant Trophy.

• The Nittany Lions are coming off a heartbreaking loss to No. 2 Indiana, as PSU took a 24-20 lead with 6:27 left, only to see the Hoosiers drove the field and score a TD with 36 seconds left on an acrobatic catch by IU's Omar Cooper Jr. in the back of the end zone and the PAT put Indiana ahead, 27-24. Penn State drove to midfield, but was unable to get any further before time expired.

• PSU redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer was 22-of-31 passing for 219 yards against Indiana with one TD and one INT. Redshirt senior wide receiver Trebor Peña had six catches for 99 yards and redshirt senior tight end Khalil Dinkins had four catches for 40 yards. Senior running back Nicholas Singleton scored three TDs on the day with two rushing TDs as part of 10 carries for 71 yards, and one TD catch as part of three receptions for 22 yards.

• Junior cornerback AJ Harris and junior linebacker Amare Campbell led the PSU defense against the Hoosiers with eight tackles apiece, with Campbell adding 1.5 tackles for loss.

• Penn State is eighth in the B1G and 52nd in the FBS in scoring offense (30.7), while ranking 11th in the conference and 51st in the country in scoring defense (22.3).

• PSU's offense is 15th in the league and 108th in the nation in total offense (335.7 ypg), including 10th in the B1G and 78th in the FBS in rushing offense (151.0 ypg), and 14th in the conference and 107th in the country in passing offense (184.7 ypg).

• The Nittany Lions' defense is 10th in the B1G and 36th in the FBS in total defense (325.8 ypg), in addition to 13th in the league and 82nd in the nation in rushing defense (153.7 ypg), while ranking fifth in the conference and 15th in the country in passing yards allowed (172.1 ypg).

• Individually, Grunkemeyer is 18th in the B1G in passing yards/game (80.3). He is 64-of-98 passing for 562 yards with two TDs and four INTs, starting the last three games in place of senior QB Drew Allar, who suffered a season-ending injury vs. Northwestern on Oct. 11.

• Senior running back Kaytron Allen is fourth in the B1G and 36th in the FBS in rushing yards/game (81.8). Allen is also fifth in the conference and 17th in the country in rushing TDs (10), as well as sixth in the league and 51st in the country in rushing yards/carry (5.3). Allen has 138 total carries for 736 yards.

• Peña is 23rd in the B1G in receptions/game (3.56), with 32 total catches for 331 yards (10.3 ypc/36.8 ypg) with one TD. Senior wide receiver Devonte Ross leads PSU and is tied for 24th in the league in receiving TDs with three, with 23 catches for 281 yards (12.2 ypc/31.2 ypg).

• Campbell spearheads the Nittany Lion defense with 67 total tackles (41 solo, 26 assists). He is also tied for 16th in the league in tackles for loss (7.5), adding 2.0 sacks and three QB hurries.

• Redshirt senior safety Zakee Wheatley adds 61 tackles, and is one of six Nittany Lion defenders with one INT apiece. Classmate and linebacker Dominic DeLuca adds 43 total stops, including 4.5 tackles for loss. Senior defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton is second on the team with 6.5 TFL and also tops PSU with seven QB hurries.

• Redshirt sophomore placekicker Ryan Barker ranks third in the B1G in field goal percentage (.923), making 12-of-13, with a long of 49-yards, and he is also 31-of-31 on PATs. Barker is also tied for 12th in the B1G in scoring (7.4 ppg), with 67 total points.

• Redshirt senior punter Gabe Nwosu is fourth in the B1G with a 46.0 ypp average, with 26 punts and a long of 67-yards, one of eight punts of 50+ yards.

• PSU interim head coach Terry Smith is 0-3 in his three games at the helm of the Nittany Lions, taking over on Oct. 12.

LAST TIME OUT: MINNESOTA 23, MSU 20 (OT)

►GAME RECAP
Michigan State took a 17-10 lead with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but Minnesota came back to defeat the Spartans in overtime, 23-20, on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Making his first career start, redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic completed 20-of-28 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown. Redshirt senior Elijah Tau-Tolliver led the Spartans on the ground with a season-high 127 yards on 11 carries, including an 85-yard run in the fourth quarter that set up MSU's then go-ahead touchdown. Senior Omari Kelly had a game-high eight receptions for 94 yards, and graduate senior Rodney Bullard Jr. had a season-high four catches for 102 yards, including 71-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

MSU outgained Minnesota 467-301 and held a significant advantage in time of possession (34:34-25:26). The Spartans also had more rushing yards (156-104) and passing yards (311-197).

►SCORING SUMMARY
• After MSU's defense forced a three-and-out on Minnesota's opening possession, Milivojevic took the field for his first career start. He led the Spartans 51 yards down the field on 11 plays on his first series, but Martin Connington missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt as MSU came up empty on the scoreboard.

The Gophers scored the game's first points on their third series to take a 7-0 lead with 2:24 left in the opening quarter. Fame Ijeboi's 49-yard run to the Spartan 14-yard line set up his 1-yard scoring TD four plays later.

The Spartans drove to Minnesota territory once again on their third series, but were stopped on fourth-and-2 from the 37-yard line. The Gophers increased their lead to 10-0 after Brady Denaburg connected on a 30-yard field goal at the 9:10 mark in the second quarter. Right before halftime, however, Denaburg missed a 33-yard field-goal attempt to keep the score 10-0 at the break.

After a scoreless first half, the Spartans struck first in the second half on their first series as Milivojevic found Bullard for a 16-yard pass completion on third-and-6, and then Bullard proceeded to elude a tackle and race 55 yards after the catch to the end zone for a 71-yard touchdown. The Spartans tied it at 10 on Connington's 34-yard field goal at the 14:16 mark in the fourth quarter.

After a Gopher punt, Michigan State again drove the ball down the field, setting up first-and-goal after a 48-yard pass from Milivojevic to Nick Marsh. The Spartans couldn't convert the scoring opportunity, however, and missed a 23-yard field goal to keep the game knotted at 10.

Pinned deep in their own territory at the Minnesota 12-yard line with 2:59 left in the fourth, the Spartans ripped off a quick three-play, 88-yard touchdown drive, keyed by Tau-Tolliver's 85-yard run on the first play of the series. The 85-yard rush tied for the ninth-longest in MSU history. Tullis capped the drive with a 1-yard score with 1:52 left as the Spartans took a 17-10 lead.

Minnesota responded right back with its first points of the second half, going 65 yards on nine plays to score the game-tying touchdown on a 2-yard run by quarterback Drake Lindsey with just 29 seconds remaining.

In overtime, the Spartans had the ball first and Connington kicked a 36-yard field goal as MSU took a 20-17 advantage. On third-and-goal on Minnesota's possession, Lindsey raced 3 yards toward the corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

Elijah Tau-Tolliver action at Minnesota

►OFFENSIVE NOTES
• MSU started its sixth different quintet of offensive linemen out of the nine games this season . . . redshirt freshman Rakeem Johnson started at right guard to register his first starting assignment of the season and second of his career.

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic also made the first start of his college career by opening the game at signal-caller . . . Milivojevic was playing in his seventh career game . . . with starting Milivojevic under center, it stopped junior quarterback Aidan Chiles' consecutive games started streak at 20 in a row, as Chiles had started all 20 previous games of his Spartan career since transferring to MSU prior to the 2024 season.

• Milivojevic was 20-of-28 passing for 311 yards, all career-highs, while tying his career-best with one TD . . . with a completion to Omari Kelly in the second quarter, Milivojevic completed his ninth pass of the game to top his previous career-high of eight completions vs. UCLA (10/11/25) . . . his 28 passing attempts and the 311 yards topped his previous highs of 18 attempts and 100 yards, also in the UCLA game.

• Milivojevic's 311 yards were the fifth-best passing outing by a Spartan QB vs. Minnesota, and the most since Brian Hoyer's 330 passing yards against the Gophers in 2006, which is the top single-game performance vs. Minnesota . . . Milivojevic is the eighth MSU QB with 300-plus yards vs. Minnesota.

• Milivojevic connected with graduate wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. for a 71-yard TD pass, catch and run on MSU's opening possession of the second half . . . Bullard caught it at the MSU 45 and out-ran the Minnesota defense to the end zone for the TD as well as for Milivojevic's longest pass of his Spartan career.

• Senior running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver registered a season-high 127 yards rushing, highlighted by an 85-yard scamper in the fourth quarter . . . he also had a season-high 11 carries, bettering his previous season-highs of eight carries in the season-opener vs. Western Michigan (8/29/25) and his top yardage output of the season of 37 yards vs. Youngstown State (9/13/25).

• Tau-Tolliver's 85-yard run tied the ninth-longest rushing play on MSU's single-game longest plays list, tying Sherman Lewis' 85-yard scamper vs. Notre Dame in 1963 . . . the 85-yard run by Tau-Tolliver is the longest non-TD rushing play in school history, as the other nine longest plays went for scores.

• Along with tying the ninth-longest rushing play in MSU history, Tau-Tolliver's 85-yard run was the longest by a Spartan since Kenneth Walker III's school-record 94-yard rush for a TD vs. Rutgers in 2021.

• The 85-yard run was his career-long rush, bettering his collegiate career longest rush of 70 yards vs. Weber State (10/19/24) and overall, it was Tau-Tolliver's eighth career 100-yard outing of his collegiate career, as he had seven during his time at Sacramento State (2021-24) . . . the 11 carries marked Tau-Tolliver's 12th career outing double-digit rushing attempts, as he had one in all 11 games played last year at Sac State . . . Tau-Tolliver's 127 yards was his third-highest rushing total of his career, behind 141 yards vs. Weber State (10/19/24) and 127 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (9/21/24).

• Sophomore running back Brandon Tullis scored a rushing TD for the second straight game with a 1-yard scoring plunge in the fourth quarter . . . it was Tullis' fourth rushing TD of the season and his career.

• Graduate wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. caught his first TD pass as a Spartan in scoring his second total TD this season, adding a TD run in the Youngstown State game (9/13/25) . . . it was also Bullard's second catch of the season, adding to a 17-yard catch in the same aforementioned YSU game . . . overall, it was Bullard's 20th career receiving TD, as he had 19 during his career at Valdosta State (2022-24) and his 22nd all-purpose TD, with 20 receiving, one rushing and one kick return score.

• Bullard finished with a season-high 102 yards receiving on four catches after entering the game with just the one catch for 17 yards this season . . . the 102-yard outing was Bullard's first 100-yard game since a career-high 158 yards vs. Virginia Union (12/7/24) during his time at Valdosta State (2022-24) . . . it was Bullard's sixth career 100-yard outing, after five at VSU with one in 2023 and four in 2024 . . . the 71-yard pass play was Bullard's third-longest reception of his collegiate career behind two 75+ yard catches while at Valdosta State, an 84-yard catch vs. Delta State (11/9/24) and a 75-yard catch vs. Erskine (9/21/24).

• The 103-yard outing by Bullard is MSU's second 100-yard receiving game by a Spartan this season, joining Omari Kelly's 133 yards at USC (9/20/25).

• Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly snared a season-high eight receptions, topping his previous top mark of the season with seven catches in Spartan debut vs. Western Michigan (8/29/25) . . . Kelly's 94 yards receiving marked his second-best outing of the season, behind his Spartan high 133 yards vs. USC (9/20/25).

►DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Junior linebacker Jordan Hall logged a career-high two forced fumbles and now has three this season . . . Hall also logged a team-high tying 10 tackles, marking his second double-digit tackle outing of the season behind his career-high 15 stops vs. Boston College (9/6/25) and his third career game with 10-plus tackles, along with 12 vs. Penn State in the 2023 season finale.

• Senior defensive back Nikai Martinez recorded a career-high 10 tackles for his first career outing in double-digits.

• Graduate defensive back Malcolm Bell tallied a season-high two pass break-ups; he now has a team-leading five on the season . . . Bell added seven tackles to tie a season-high.