Spartans Head to Iowa to Face Hawkeyes Saturday in Kinnick Stadium

Game 11: Michigan State (3-7, 0-7 B1G) at Iowa (6-4, 4-3 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
Kickoff: 3:35 p.m. ET/2:35 p.m. CT
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Stadium: Kinnick Stadium (69,250)
Surface: FieldTurf
Game Notes: MSU | Iowa

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: FS1
Streaming/Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Connor Onion (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)
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. 392 | SiriusXM App
Pregame Show: Begins at 2 p.m. ET

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: Iowa leads, 25-23-1^
Series in Iowa City: Iowa leads, 15-10-1
Last Meeting: MSU 32, Iowa 20 (2024 in East Lansing)^
Current Series Streak: 1 by MSU^
^series record does not reflect Michigan State's vacated win in 2024 as part of negotiated resolution due to NCAA infractions under previous coaching staff.

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
MSU Record: 8-14 (second year)*
Overall Record: 42-49 (eighth year)*
Record vs. Iowa: 1-0^
*Five MSU wins during the 2024 season were later vacated as part of negotiated resolution with NCAA due to infractions under previous coaching staff

Iowa Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Iowa Record: 210-128 (27th year)
Overall Record: 222-149 (30th year)
Record vs. MSU: 9-9

►SPARTANS FACE TOUGH ROAD TEST SATURDAY AT IOWA
• Michigan State travels to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes in Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 3:35 p.m. ET/2:35 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on FS1 and streamed on the FOX Sports app with Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst) on the call.

• The Spartans (3-7, 0-7 Big Ten) fell at home to Penn State, 28-10, last Saturday, while Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) lost at No. 17 USC, 26-21.

• Saturday's game marks the 51st meeting between Michigan State and Iowa. The Hawkeyes own a slim 25-23-2 series lead, including a 15-10-1 advantage in Iowa City. The Spartans beat Iowa in East Lansing last season, 32-20, led by Jonathan Kim's school-record six field goals. In the last matchup in Kinnick Stadium in 2023, the Spartans held a 16-13 lead after three quarters, but the Hawkeyes rallied to score 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to earn the 26-16 comeback win.

►NICK MARSH RANKS AMONG BIG TEN LEADERS IN RECEIVING
• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh leads the Spartans with 48 receptions for 559 yards (55.9 ypg; 11.6 avg.), including a team-best five touchdown catches. The Detroit, Michigan, native ranks among the Big Ten leaders in TD catches (tied for ninth with five), receptions (tied for eighth with 48; 4.8 pg) and receiving yards (14th with 559 yards; 55.9 pg). During the Indiana game on Oct. 18, Marsh surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for his career; he has a total of 89 catches for 1,208 yards in 21 collegiate games.

• Marsh was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week last season for his performance against Iowa; he had eight catches for 113 yards in the 32-20 win over the Hawkeyes.

►RYAN ECKLEY LEADS FBS IN PUNTING WITH 49.6-YARD AVERAGE
• Redshirt junior and preseason All-American punter Ryan Eckley leads the FBS in punting with his 49.6-yard average, and also ranks No. 1 among all active FBS punters with his career average of 47.9 yards per punt. In addition, he is first in the Big Ten in 50-yard plus punts (18) and fifth with 15 punts inside the 20.

Elijah Tau-Tolliver action vs Penn State — **Elijah Tau-Tolliver rushed for a 57-yard touchdown on MSU's first offensive play from scrimmage vs. Penn State last Saturday.**

►ELIJAH TAU-TOLLIVER LEADS SPARTANS IN RUSHING THE PAST TWO GAMES
• Fifth-year senior running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver has led the Spartans in rushing the past two games with a season-high 127 yards on just 11 carries (11.5 avg.) at Minnesota and 79 yards on six carries (13.2 avg.) vs. Penn State on Senior Day, including a 57-yard TD run. Tau-Tolliver also had a season-high eight catches for 73 yards against the Nittany Lions to compile a season-high 152 all-purpose yards (79 rushing, 73 receiving).

• Tau-Tolliver had a season-long 85-yard rush in the fourth quarter at Minnesota, tied for the ninth-longest run in school history.

• For the season, Tau-Tolliver is second on the team in rushing with 298 yards on 43 carries (6.9 avg.), including two touchdowns, and fifth on the team with 15 catches for 121 yards. He played four seasons at Sacramento State (2021-24) before transferring to MSU in January 2025.

►ALESSIO MILIVOJEVIC THROWS FOR 311 YARDS IN FIRST CAREER START AT MINNESOTA
• Redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic has started the last two games at quarterback for the Spartans. Making his first career start at quarterback against Minnesota on Nov. 1, Milivojevic threw for 311 yards while completing 20-of-28 passes. His 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.

• For the season, Milivojevic is completing 64 percent of his passes (59-of-92) for 720 yards and four touchdowns against just one interception in seven games of action.

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 (714; 71.4 ypg) and ranks second in receptions (41) and receiving yards (544; 54.4 ypg). Kelly ranks 16th in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (54.4) and tied for 15th in receptions per game (4.1), while also ranking third in the Big Ten in punt returns (14.0 avg.).

• Kelly needs just one catch to record the 100th reception of his career (99 catches for 1,514 yards in 40 career games).

►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 (657). He is graded the second-best center in the FBS by Pro Football Focus (83.4). 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 11th in the Big Ten with 74 tackles (7.4 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 22 straight games on the defensive line for the Spartans (all 12 games in 2024; all 10 games in 2025).

• VanSumeren has already recorded a career-high 47 tackles, which ranks most among the Spartan defensive line and third most on the team.

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – So. Makhi Frazier (116 carries for 520 yards, 4.5 avg., 2 TDs, 57.8 ypg)
Passing – Jr. Aidan Chiles (128-of-203, .631, 1,392 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs, 154.7 ypg)
Receiving – So. Nick Marsh (48 receptions for 559 yards, 11.6 avg., 5 TDs, 55.9 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. LB Jordan Hall (74 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 2.0 sacks for 8 yards, 3 FF, 1 INT)

Iowa:
Rushing – So. Kamari Moulton (120 carries for 612 yards, 5.1 avg., 2 TDs, 76.5 ypg)
Passing – Gr. Mark Gronowski (129-of-202, .639, 1,216 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs, 121.6 ypg)
Receiving – Gr. Kaden Wetjen (20 receptions for 151 yards, 7.6 avg., 1 TD, 15.1 ypg)
Tackles – Sr. LB Karson Sharar (63 tackles, 7.0 TFLs for 23 yards, 1.0 sack for 3 yards, 1 PBU)

►MSU-IOWA SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 51st meeting between Michigan State and Iowa. The Hawkeyes own a slim 25-23-2 series lead, including a 15-10-1 advantage in Iowa City.

• The Spartans beat Iowa in East Lansing last season, 32-20, led by Jonathan Kim's school-record six field goals.

• In the last matchup in Kinnick Stadium in 2023, the Spartans held a 16-13 lead after three quarters, but the Hawkeyes rallied to score 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to earn the 26-16 comeback win.

• MSU is looking for its first win in Iowa City since winning the Big Ten Championship during the 2013 season.

►LAST TIME AGAINST IOWA: MSU 32, IOWA 20 (Oct. 29, 2024 in East Lansing, Mich.)
• Sixth-year graduate kicker Jonathan Kim set a school record with six field goals and Michigan State scored a touchdown with two minutes left as the Spartans beat Iowa, 32-20, in front of 69,682 fans on Homecoming at Spartan Stadium.

• The Spartans outgained the Hawkeyes, 468-283, and had the ball for 39:44 compared to Iowa's 20:16. Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles completed 22-of-30 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown, while running 11 times for 51 yards. Sixth-year running back Kay'ron Lynch-Adams carried 15 times for 86 yards and senior running back Nathan Carter had nine carries for 49 yards and one touchdown as Michigan State rushed for a season-high 212 yards.

►MICHIGAN STATE-IOWA COACHING CONNECTIONS
• Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker, a 1986 Michigan State graduate, was a four-year letterman and three-time first-team All-Big Ten defensive back for the Spartans from 1982-85. Parker was named MVP of the 1984 Cherry Bowl (nine tackles and an interception vs. Army) and also helped lead the Spartans to a trip to the 1985 All-American Bowl. He later served as a graduate assistant under George Perles for the 1987 Big Ten and 1988 Rose Bowl championship team. Parker still ranks third among MSU's career leaders in interceptions with 16.

►QUICK GLANCE AT IOWA (6-4, 4-3 BIG TEN)
• Iowa has a 6-4 overall record and a 4-3 B1G record, as the Hawkeyes are currently receiving votes in both the AP Top 25 and AFCA Coaches Polls and were No. 21 in last week's College Football Playoff Rankings. After a season-long three-game win streak in the month of October, Iowa has lost its last two games in November, losing at home to No. 9 Oregon, 18-16, on Nov. 8, on a walk-off field goal by the Ducks as time expired.

• Last time out, the Hawkeyes lost, 26-21 at No. 17 USC on Saturday, in the first meeting between the Hawkeyes and Trojans since 1976. After Iowa took a 21-7 lead with 3:24 left in the first half, the Hawkeyes didn't score again the rest of the day, as the Trojans got within 21-10 at halftime with a field goal with 39 seconds before half. USC added another field goal early in the third quarter, before scoring a TD with 3:33 to go in the third, before taking the Trojans took their first lead of the day with a TD with 13:36 remaining.

• Iowa is 10th in the B1G and 62nd in the FBS in scoring offense (28.7 ppg), while the Hawkeye defense is fourth in the conference and eighth in the country in scoring defense (14.3 ppg).

• Offensively, Iowa is 16th in the league and 116th in the nation in total offense (310.2 ypg), including fifth in the B1G and 44th in the FBS in rushing offense (176.6 ypg), along with 18th in the conference and 130th in the country in passing offense (133.6 ypg).

• The Hawkeye defense is fourth in the B1G and sixth in the FBS in total defense (261.2 ypg), in addition to fourth in the league and 16th in the nation in rushing defense (103.8 ypg), while ranking fourth in the conference and sixth in the country in passing yards allowed (157.4 ypg).

• Individually, graduate quarterback Mark Gronowski leads the B1G and is sixth in the FBS in rushing TDs (13), with at least one rushing score in each of the 10 games, good for the longest single-season streak by a QB in B1G history, and he is also the only player in the NCAA to score in every game this season. Gronowski has 55 wins at QB, good for the most wins by a QB at all levels, after he tied the FCS record of 49 wins by a QB, during his time at South Dakota State.

• Gronowski has 96 total rushes for 370 yards (3.9 ypc/37.0 ypg) with the 13 TDs, while the rest of the Hawkeyes have nine rushing TDs. He is also 129-of-202 passing for 1,216 yards, with five INTs and six TDs, ranking 16th in the B1G in both passing yards/completion (9.4) and yards/game (121.6)

• Sophomore running back Kamari Moulton is sixth in the B1G and 66th in the FBS in rushing yards/carry (5.1), as well as seventh in the conference and 49th in the country in rushing yards/game (76.5). Moulton has 120 carries for 612 yards with two rushing TDs. He adds 13 receptions for 81 yards (6.2 ypc).

• Graduate receiver/returner Kaden Wetjen leads Iowa with 20 catches for 151 yards (7.6 ypc/15.1 ypg), with one TD. Wetjen also leads the B1G and ranks second in the FBS in both punt return TDs (2) and punt return average (24.4 ypr), while also leading the conference and ranking third in the country in kick return TDs (1). Wetjen also tops the nation in combined kick return yards with 391 yards on 16 punt returns and 338 yards on 11 kick returns.

• Defensively, senior linebacker Karson Sharar leads Iowa with 63 total tackles, and is tied for 28th in the B1G with 7.0 tackles for loss. Senior defensive back TJ Hall is tied for tops in the B1G and tied for 26th in the FBS with eight pass break-ups, adding one INT, to rank tied for second in the conference and tied for 32nd in the country with nine passes defended.

• Senior placekicker Drew Stevens is 17-of-22 on field goals, ranking second in the B1G and 13th in the FBS in field goals/game (1.7). Stevens has a long of 58 yards, one of four FGs of 50+ yards, adding 30-of-31 on PATs.

• Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is the dean of Big Ten football coaches, as he is in his 27th season at the helm of the Hawkeyes and is the not only the longest tenured active head coach in college football, but is also the all-time winningest coach in Big Ten Conference history with a 210-128 record at Iowa, and a 222-149 career record, coaching three seasons at Maine (1990-92) with a palindromic 12-21 record with the Black Bears, before later taking over at Iowa in 1999.

Malcolm Bell action vs Penn State — **Malcolm Bell tied for the team lead with eight tackles against Penn State, including a 10-yard tackle for loss in the first quarter.**

LAST TIME OUT: PENN STATE 28, MICHIGAN STATE 10

►GAME RECAP
Michigan State trailed by just four points at halftime, 14-10, but Penn State scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to break open a close game as the Spartans lost, 28-10, on Senior Day at Spartan Stadium.

Redshirt senior running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver had six carries for 79 yards, including a 57-yard scoring run in the first quarter to give the Spartans the early lead, and caught eight passes for 73 yards. Redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic completed 17-of-27 passes for 128 yards.

Redshirt senior defensive back Malcolm Bell and redshirt senior linebacker Wayne Matthews III each had eight tackles, including one for loss to lead the defense, while redshirt junior defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren had eight tackles and graduate senior Darius Snow added six tackles.

►SCORING SUMMARY
• After forcing a three-and-out on Penn State's first drive, Michigan State scored on its first offensive play from scrimmage as Elijah Tau-Tolliver raced 57 yards to the end zone for his second touchdown of the season.

• The Nittany Lions answered on their second series, driving 75 yards on 12 plays while taking 6:52 off the clock, evening the score at 7 on Kaytron Allen's 8-yard run.

• MSU's defense stopped Penn State on fourth-and-1 from the Spartan 42-yard line at the beginning of the second quarter, and used that momentum to go another scoring drive. Martin Connington's 24-yard field goal with 8:40 left in the second put MSU back on top, 10-7, capping an eight-play, 52-yard drive for the Spartans.

• The lead didn't last long for Michigan State, as Ethan Grunkemeyer connected with Devonte Ross on a 75-yard TD pass on Penn State's next play from scrimmage, giving the Nittany Lions a 14-10 advantage.

• The teams traded field position in the third quarter as the score remained 14-10 heading into the fourth. Penn State took over at its own 24-yard line at the 13:37 mark in the final quarter and went on a long, methodical touchdown drive that went 76 yards on 13 plays and took 9:05 off the clock to take a 21-10 lead with 4:32 remaining. Ross took a flip pass from Grunkemeyer and went 4 yards for the touchdown on third-and-goal to cap the scoring drive.

• Penn State added a 26-yard rushing touchdown from Allen with just over two minutes left to close out the scoring.

►OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Michigan State had its same starting five offensive linemen for the second game in a row: redshirt freshman Rustin Young at left tackle, graduate senior Caleb Carter at left guard, graduate senior Matt Gulbin at center, redshirt freshman Rakeem Johnson at right guard and redshirt junior Conner Moore at right tackle. Overall, Michigan State has started 10 different offensive linemen this season for a total of six different starting combinations.

• The Spartans scored on their opening drive for the seventh time in 10 games this season, including the sixth TD to go with one FG, as MSU scored on senior running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver's 57-yard TD run on the first offensive play . . . MSU had previously scored on its opening drive vs. Western Michigan (TD; 8/29/25), Boston College (TD; 9/6/25), Youngstown State (TD; 9/13/25), USC (TD; 9/20/25), UCLA (TD; 10/11/25) and Indiana (FG; 10/18/25).

• The 57-yard TD on the first offensive play was MSU's first time scoring a TD on the first play from scrimmage since Sept. 11, 2021, when QB Payton Thorne connected with WR Jayden Reed for a 75-yard TD vs. Youngstown State on the way to the Spartans' 42-14 win over the Penguins.

• Tau-Tolliver's 57-yard run marked his second straight game with a 50+ yard rush after an 85-yard run at Minnesota that was his collegiate career long . . . Tau-Tolliver finished with six carries for 79 yards . . . he now has 206 yards on 17 carries in his last two games . . . he doubled his season receiving output with eight catches for 73 yards Saturday after entering the game with just seven catches for 48 yards . . . the eight catches against Penn State was more than his season totals of three and seven in 2022 and 2023, respectively, during this time at Sacramento State.

• The eight catches by Tau-Tolliver was not only a season-high, but also the second most of his collegiate career behind 11 catches in a game vs. Weber State last year during his time at Sacramento State.

• Redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic made his second straight start of his career, but his first at Spartan Stadium . . . Milivojevic was 17-of-27 for 128 yards . . . Milivojevic was 4-of-4 for 44 yards during MSU's scoring drive in the second quarter, part of MSU's eight-play, 52-yard drive, capped by freshman placekicker Martin Connington's 24-yard field goal to give MSU a 10-7 lead at the 8:40 mark of the second quarter . . . Milivojevic completed his next three passes as well for seven consecutive completions.

• Sophomore running back Makhi Frazier had a team-high eight carries for 27 yards in his return to action after missing the Minnesota game with an injury.

• Redshirt junior tight end Michael Masunas tied a career-high with three catches, matching his outing vs. Boston College (9/6/25), and it was his fourth game this season with multiple catches.

• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh had two receptions to extend his streak of at least one reception in 21 consecutive games, with one in every game that he's appeared in as a Spartan, including multiple receptions in the last 20 games played after one catch in his Spartan debut.

• Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly had three receptions, as he now has at least one catch in all 10 games this season as a Spartan, including multiple catches in nine of the 10 games.

►DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Graduate defensive back Malcolm Bell shared the team lead with a game-high eight tackles, as he now has five or more stops in the last two games as part of three of the last four, with four total outings . . . along with a season-high mark, Bell's eight stops tied for his second-most of his career, behind nine stops vs. Ball State (10/15/22) during his career at UConn . . . Bell added 1.0 tackle for loss, marking his third straight game with at least 0.5 tackle for loss, and now has 3.0 TFLs on the season.

• Redshirt senior linebacker Wayne Matthews III shared the team lead with eight tackles, along with 1.0 TFL . . . Matthews registered 1.0 TFL, for the fifth game with at least 0.5 TFL, and now has 3.5 TFLs on the season.

• Redshirt junior defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren matched Matthews and Bell with eight tackles . . . with the eight stops, VanSumeren set a new career-high to register or tie a career-best for the fourth time this season, after setting a new top career mark of six at USC (9/20/25), then tying it in the UCLA (10/11/25) and Indiana (10/18/25) games . . . VanSumeren has logged five or more tackles in six of the 10 games.

►SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley had five punts for a 48.4 ypp average, with a long of 58 yards in the third quarter, one of two punts of 50+ yards, adding a 55-yarder in the fourth quarter . . . Eckley now has 18 punts of 50+ yards on the season and 62 for his career.

• Eckley added three inside the 20, now with 15 on the season and 44 for his career.

• Redshirt freshman placekicker Martin Connington split the uprights on a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter, moving him to 10-of-14 on the season.

• Connington added on a PAT to improve to 20-of-21 on the season.