Michigan State Welcomes Maryland to Ford Field Saturday Night in Detroit

Game 12: Michigan State (3-8, 0-8 B1G) vs. Maryland (4-7, 1-7 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
Kickoff: 7:05 p.m. ET
Location: Detroit, Mich.
Stadium: Ford Field (65,000)
Surface: FieldTurf
Game Notes: MSU | Maryland

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: FS1
Streaming/Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Dan Hellie (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (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. 83 | SiriusXM App
Pregame Show: Begins at 5:30 p.m. ET

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 11-4^
Series in Big Ten Games: MSU leads, 7-3^
Last Meeting: MSU 27, Maryland 24 (2024 in College Park)^
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: 8-15 (second year)*
Overall Record: 42-50 (eighth year)*
Record vs. Maryland: 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.

Maryland Head Coach: Michael Locksley
Maryland Record: 37-48 (seventh year)*
Overall Record: 39-74 (10th year)*
Record vs. MSU: 2-4*
*interim coach in 2015

►MICHIGAN STATE TAKES ON MARYLAND SATURDAY NIGHT AT FORD FIELD
• Michigan State will close out the season against Maryland on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Ford Field in Detroit. Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. The game will be televised on FS1 and streamed on the FOX Sports app with Dan Hellie (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst) on the call.

• The Spartans (3-8, 0-8 Big Ten) led 17-7 heading into the fourth quarter at Iowa last Saturday but fell in a heartbreaker, 20-17, as the Hawkeyes rallied for 13 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes. Iowa's Drew Stevens hit a 44-yard field goal as time expired to close out the comeback win. Maryland (4-7, 1-7 Big Ten) lost at home to No. 18/18/17 Michigan, 45-20.

• Saturday's game marks the 16th meeting between Michigan State and Maryland. The Spartans lead the overall series, 11-4, including a 27-24 comeback victory in College Park last season. MSU is 7-3 against Maryland since the Terrapins joined the Big Ten in 2014.

• Saturday's game against Maryland marks the third-ever game for Michigan State at Ford Field. The Spartans beat Florida Atlantic, 30-17, on Sept. 11, 2010, during their first appearance at the facility, but lost to No. 11 Penn State in 2023, 42-0. Prior to that win over Florida Atlantic in 2010, MSU's last visit to downtown Detroit was Oct. 27, 1944, when Coach Charlie Bachman led the Spartans to a 32-0 victory over Wayne State in a contest played at University of Detroit Stadium. Michigan State also played Detroit at U of D Stadium in 1923, 1928, 1931 and 1933.

►NICK MARSH LEADS TEAM IN CATCHES, RECEIVING YARDS AND TD RECEPTIONS
• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh leads the Spartans with 52 receptions for 577 yards (52.5 ypg; 11.1 avg.), including a team-best five touchdown catches. The Detroit, Michigan, native ranks among the Big Ten leaders in receptions (tied for eighth with 52; 4.7 pg), TD catches (tied for 12th with five) and receiving yards (15th with 577 yards; 52.5 pg).

• During the Indiana game on Oct. 18, Marsh surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for his career; he has a total of 93 catches for 1,226 yards in 22 collegiate games, including 18 consecutive starts.

• Marsh was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week last season for his performance against Maryland after hauling in eight passes for 194 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, in the win over the Terrapins.

►ALESSIO MILIVOJEVIC STARTS AT QB FOR SPARTANS LAST THREE GAMES
• Redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic has started the last three games at quarterback for the Spartans. During his three starts, Milivojevic has completed 64 percent of his passes (62-of-97) for 694 yards (231.1 ypg), three touchdowns and one interception.

• Facing a top-10 defense at Iowa, Milivojevic passed for 255 yards and two TDs (25-of-42, .595).

• 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.

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

• For the season, Milivojevic is completing 63 percent of his passes (84-of-134) for 975 yards and six touchdowns against just two interceptions in eight games of action.

►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 (727). He is graded the second-best center in the FBS by Pro Football Focus (81.9). Gulbin is currently on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the nation's best center.

►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 (726; 66.0 ypg) and ranks second in receptions (42) and receiving yards (550; 50.0 ypg). Kelly ranks tied for 16th in the Big Ten in both receiving yards (550; 50.0 ypg) and receptions per game (42; 3.8 pg).

• Kelly recorded the 100th reception of his career in the game at Iowa; in his 42-game collegiate career, Kelly has 100 catches for 1,520 yards.

►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 82 tackles (7.5 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 also has four tackles for loss, one sack, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up for the Spartans.

►ALEX VANSUMEREN A VETERAN PRESENCE ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE
• Redshirt junior defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren has started 23 straight games on the defensive line for the Spartans (all 12 games in 2024; all 11 games in 2025). VanSumeren has recorded a career-high 48 tackles this season, which ranks most among the Spartan defensive line and third most on the team.

►JALEN THOMPSON NAMED MSU CAMPUS WINNER FOR JACKIE ROBINSON AWARD
• For the second year in a row, junior defensive lineman Jalen Thompson has been named the MSU campus winner and male recipient of the Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award. Now in its second year, the honor was created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who strive to have a positive impact within their community in addition to excellence in competition. Thompson organized his second annual youth camp in his hometown of Detroit this past July that supported anti-gun violence initiatives. He has also hosted a "Cleats 4 Kids" camp in Lansing.

• On the field, Thompson leads the Spartans with 6.5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks, and has a career-high 29 tackles. He is also on track to earn Academic All-Big Ten honors for the second year in a row after garnering Academic All-District and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar accolades as a sophomore.

►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 (52 receptions for 577 yards, 11.1 avg., 5 TDs, 52.5 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. LB Jordan Hall (82 tackles, 4.0 TFLs for 11 yards, 2.0 sacks for 8 yards, 3 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT)

Maryland:
Rushing – R-Fr. DeJuan Williams (123 carries for 449 yards, 3.7 avg., 2 TDs, 40.8 ypg)
Passing – Fr. Malik Washington (235-of-412, .570, 2,504 yards, 14 TDs, 8 INTs, 227.6 ypg)
Receiving – Sr. Jalil Farooq (48 receptions for 435 yards, 9.1 avg., 2 TDs, 39.5 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. LB Daniel Wingate (96 tackles, 5.5 TFLs for 15 yards, 1.5 sacks for 8 yards, 1 INT, 1 PBU)

►SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 16th meeting between Michigan State and Maryland. The Spartans lead the overall series, 11-4, including a 27-24 comeback victory in College Park last season. MSU is 7-3 against Maryland since the Terrapins joined the Big Ten in 2014.

►SPARTANS IN DETROIT
• Saturday's game against Maryland marks the third-ever game for Michigan State at Ford Field. The Spartans beat Florida Atlantic, 30-17, on Sept. 11, 2010, during their first appearance at the facility, but lost to No. 11 Penn State in 2023, 42-0. Prior to that win over Florida Atlantic in 2010, MSU's last visit to downtown Detroit was Oct. 27, 1944, when Coach Charlie Bachman led the Spartans to a 32-0 victory over Wayne State in a contest played at University of Detroit Stadium. Michigan State also played Detroit at U of D Stadium in 1923, 1928, 1931 and 1933.

►LAST TIME AGAINST MARYLAND: MSU 27, MARYLAND 24 (Sept. 7, 2024 in College Park, Md.)
• Michigan State sixth-year graduate senior Jonathan Kim kicked a 37-yard field goal with one second remaining to lead the Spartans past Maryland, 27-24, at SECU Stadium last season. The Spartans outgained the Terrapins, 484-339, led by standout offensive performances from freshman wide receiver Nick Marsh and sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles.

• Marsh had eight catches for 194 receiving yards, the 10th most by a Spartan in a single game and the second most by a true freshman, including a 77-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 24 with 4:11 in the game. The 194 receiving yards were the most by a Spartan against Maryland.

• Chiles was 24-of-38 passing for a career-high 363 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. The 363 passing yards were the eighth-most by a Spartan quarterback in a single game and the most against Maryland.

►SPARTANS FROM MARYLAND
• Michigan State has five players on its 2025 roster from the state of Maryland: fifth-year senior linebacker Wayne Matthews III (Largo/Charles Herbert Flowers High School), fifth-year senior defensive lineman Jalen Satchell (Springdale/The Avalon School), freshman cornerback Aydan West (Gaithersburg/Quince Orchard), redshirt freshman defensive back Elisha West (Gaithersburg/Quince Orchard) and senior defensive back Ade Willie (Baltimore/IMG Academy).

►QUICK GLANCE AT MARYLAND (4-7, 1-7 BIG TEN)
• The Terrapins tote a 4-7 overall and 1-7 B1G ledger in tow to Detroit for Saturday's clash with the Spartans at Ford Field in the regular-season finale.

• Like MSU, UMD started the season on a winning streak followed by a losing skid, as the Terps are on a seven-game losing skein after a 4-0 start to the season. Maryland has four losses to the same opponents as MSU in Nebraska, losing 34-31 on Oct. 11; UCLA, losing 20-17 on Oct. 18; Indiana, losing 55-10 on Nov. 1 and Michigan, losing 45-20 last Saturday.

• In the loss to the Wolverines, the Terps scored first, taking the opening kickoff and driving the field for a TD. Michigan then reeled off 21-unanswered points before Maryland got a field goal midway through the second quarter for a 21-10 halftime score. Michigan added three TDs and a field goal in the second half, while Maryland had a field goal and a TD with 5:55 left in the game to close to 45-20, but couldn't get any closer.

• Freshman quarterback Malik Washington was 19-of-39 passing for 210 yards with one TD and one INT, adding 10 rushes for 16 yards against Michigan. Washington in second in the B1G and 20th in the FBS in completions/game (21.4), along with seventh in the league and 43rd in the nation in passing yards/game (227.6), and 10th in the conference and 60th in the country in passing TDs (14). He is 235-of-412 passing for 2,504 yards, with eight INTs to go with the 14 TDs. Washington adds 49 rushing attempts for 285 yards (5.8 ypc/25.9 ypg) with a team-leading four TDs.

• Maryland is 15th in the B1G and 100th in FBS in scoring offense (23.1 ppg), while ranking 14th in the conference and 75th in the country in scoring defense (25.5 ppg).

• The Terps' offense is 13th in the B1G and 101st in the FBS in total offense (344.2 ypg), which includes 17th in the league and 124th in the nation in rushing offense (107.0 ypg), while ranking ninth in the conference and 59th in the country in passing offense (237.2 ypg).

• UMD's defense is 16th in the B1G and 94th in the FBS is total defense (397.5 ypg), along with 16th in the conference and 108th in the country in rushing defense (176.9 ypg), in addition to 13th in the league and 69th in the nation in passing yards allowed (220.5 ypg).

• Senior wide receiver Jalili Farooq has a team-best 48 receptions for 435 yards (9.1 ypc/39.5 ypg) with two TDs. Senior wideout Octavian Smith Jr. has 40 catches for 500 yards (12.5 ypc/45.5 ypg), while senior Shaleak Knotts has 36 catches for a team-leading 578 yards.

• Redshirt freshman running back DeJuan Williams is 18th in the B1G in rushing yards/carry (3.7), along with 24th in all-purpose yards/game (73.3), with 40.8 ypg rushing and 32.5 ypg receiving. He has 123 carries for 449 yards with two rushing TDs, along with 38 catches for 347 yards (9.4 ypc) with one TD reception.

• Junior linebacker Daniel Wingate is fifth in the B1G in tackles/game (8.7), with 96 total tackles, adding 5.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. Freshman defensive lineman Sidney Stewart is tied for fifth in the B1G and tied for 22nd in the FBS in sacks (7.0 ).

• Freshman placekicker Sean O'Haire tops the B1G and ranks sixth in the FBS in field goals/game (1.91), also leading the league and ranking tied for sixth in the nation in field goals made (21), making 21-of-23, to rank fourth in the conference and tied for 12th in the country in field goal percentage (.913).

• Maryland head coach Michael Locksley is in his seventh year leading the Terps, tallying a 37-48 ledger. Overall, Locksley is in his 11th year as a collegiate head coach, amassing a 39-74 overall record.

Alessio Milivojevic action at Iowa — **Alessio Milivojevic threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns at Iowa. (Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications)**

LAST TIME OUT: IOWA 20, MICHIGAN STATE 17

►GAME RECAP
Hawkeye kicker Drew Stevens hit a 44-yard field goal as time expired to cap a 10-point fourth-quarter comeback for Iowa as Michigan State fell at Kinnick Stadium, 20-17, last Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans led 17-7 going into the fourth quarter, but Iowa (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten) scored 13 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes to rally for the victory.

Making his third career start at quarterback, redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic completed 25-of-42 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Senior tight end Jack Velling recorded career bests for receptions (8) and receiving yards (88) while redshirt junior Chrishon McCray had six catches for 75 yards, including two TD grabs (45 and 5 yards).

MSU forced a season-high two turnovers on defense and outgained the Hawkeyes, 335-301.

Redshirt senior linebacker Wayne Matthews led the Spartan defense with nine tackles, including an 8-yard loss. Junior linebacker Jordan Hall registered eight stops and graduate senior cornerback Malcolm Bell and graduate senior defensive lineman Quindarius Dunnigan both had a sack and two tackles for loss. The Spartans collected three sacks and seven tackles for loss overall.

►SCORING SUMMARY
After both teams traded punts on their first two possessions, the Spartans forced a turnover on Iowa's third series as Malik Spencer intercepted a pass at the MSU 6-yard line before going out of bounds.

The Spartans were forced to punt, however, and Iowa's Kaden Wetjen returned it 62 yards for his third punt return touchdown of the season, giving the Hawkeyes a 7-0 lead with 3:38 left in the first quarter.

On its fifth offensive series, Michigan State drove the ball to the Iowa 5-yard line to set up first-and-goal, but had to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Martin Connington to make it 7-3 at the 2:54 mark in the first half. Connington's field goal capped a 14-play, 78-yard drive that took 6:19 off the clock.

Iowa's Drew Stevens missed a 53-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to keep the score 7-3 in favor of the Hawkeyes at halftime.

Michigan State forced its second turnover on Iowa's first series of the third quarter, as Mark Gronowski fumbled on a third down scramble that was recovered by Jordan Hall at the Hawkeye 38-yard line. Two plays later, Alessio Milivojevic found Chrishon McCray in the end zone on a 45-yard touchdown pass to give MSU its first lead of the game, 10-7, with 8:58 left in the third.

The Spartans extended their lead to 17-7 later in the third quarter on an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Brandon Tullis' season-long 35-yard rush to the Iowa 5-yard line set up first-and-goal, and on third-and-goal, McCray hauled in his second TD pass of the game with a leaping 5-yard grab in the corner of the end zone.

Iowa trimmed its deficit to 17-10 on a 26-yard field goal by Stevens at the 11:27 mark in the fourth quarter.

The Spartans stopped the Hawkeyes on the next two series following the field goal, but Wetjen returned a punt 40 yards to the MSU 42-yard line with 2:37 left in the game to ignite the Hawkeyes; he finished the game with three punt returns for 147 yards. Five plays later, Gronowski threw a 13-yard touchdown to Jacob Gill to tie the game at 17 with 1:29 remaining.

MSU drove the ball to its own 45-yard line, but was forced to punt on fourth-and-2, and Iowa took over at its 21-yard line with 41 seconds left. Gronowski completed three straight passes to set up Iowa at the MSU 25-yard line, and following a run, Stevens drilled the game-winner on the last play of the game.

►OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic made his third consecutive start, including his second on the road, and he finished with career-highs of 25-of-42 passing, as the 25 completions topped his previous top mark of 20 completions, which also came on the road, at Minnesota (11/1/25) and the 42 attempts bettered his prior mark of 28, in same game at Minnesota.

• Milivojevic's 255 yards was his second-highest output of his career, behind his career-best 311 yards at Minnesota.
• Redshirt junior wide receiver Chrishon McCray snared his third catch of the game on the 45-yard TD catch from Milivojevic in the third quarter and it was not only good for the TD, but was also McCray's 100th career catch . . . McCray had 81 receptions during his time at Kent State and that was his 19th at MSU, as he's in his first season as a Spartan.

• McCray had two TD catches, both coming in the third quarter, to become the first Spartan receiver with two TD receptions in a game since sophomore teammate and fellow wide receiver, Nick Marsh, had a pair of TD catches vs. Boston College (9/6/25).

• The two TDs give McCray three TD catches on the season and 16 for his collegiate career, as he had 13 during his time at Kent State (2022-24) . . . it was his fifth career multi-TD catch outing, with a pair of two TD catches in 2023, in addition to a two-TD and a three-TD performance in 2024.

• McCray finished with six catches for 75 yards, both good for his season highs.

• Sophomore running back Brandon Tullis had eight carries for a career-high 56 yards, which topped his previous career-high total of 52 yards in the season opener vs. Western Michigan (8/29/25) . . . Tullis registered a new career-long rush with a 35-yard run in the third quarter, bettering previous career-long of 14 yards vs. Boston College (9/6/25).

• Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly had one catch for 6 yards . . . his lone catch of the game came in the second quarter and was his 100th career reception, as it was his 42nd catch as a Spartan, after he had 58 previously before transferring to MSU (53 at Middle Tennessee State in 2024; five at Auburn in 2022-23).

• Senior tight end Jack Velling had new career-highs with eight catches for 88 yards.

• Redshirt junior tight end Michael Masunas tied his career-high for the second game in a row with three catches, matching his career-high for the third time total after equaling his output from last time out vs. Penn State (11/15/25) and Boston College (9/6/25) . . . Masunas tied his career-high with the three catches for a new career-best 47 yards in the first half alone.

►DEFENSIVE NOTES
• MSU's defense registered its first game this season with two forced turnovers on the interception in the first quarter (Malik Spencer) and the fumble recovery (Jordan Hall) in the third quarter.

• Spencer snared his first interception of the season with the pick in the first quarter . . . it was Spencer's second career interception, and both have come on the road after his first career oskie last year at Oregon.

• Hall finished with eight tackles, including 0.5 tackle for loss and one pass break-up to go with the fumble recovery.

• Redshirt senior linebacker Wayne Matthews III led the Spartan defense with nine tackles, his second-most of the season behind his season-best 10 stops vs. Youngstown State (9/13/25).

• Graduate defensive back Malcolm Bell registered his first career sack on Saturday, taking down Iowa QB Mark Gronowski in the fourth quarter . . . he now has 5.0 tackles for loss this season and 9.0 for his career . . . Bell finished with five tackles overall.

• Graduate defensive lineman Quindarius Dunnigan logged his first forced fumble of the season and second of his career for forcing a fumble by Iowa QB Mark Gronowski in the third quarter that was recovered by teammate Jordan Hall, setting up MSU's first TD of the game.

• Dunnigan also sacked Gronowski in the second quarter, for Dunnigan's first full sack of the season . . . the Spartan defensive lineman added another tackle for loss to finish with a season-high 2.0 TFLs as part of five total tackles, adding a QB hurry.

• Graduate defensive lineman Ru'Quan Buckley registered a career-high five tackles, including a sack.

►SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley's first punt of the game was a 44-yarder that was downed by redshirt freshman defensive back Keshawn Williams at the 1-yard line . . . it was his fifth punt downed at the 1 this season after two each in the Boston College (9/6/25) and Western Michigan (8/29/25) games . . . Eckley's punt downed at the 1 was his ninth punt inside the 10 this season . . . Eckley added a 58-yarder later in the first quarter and a 54-yarder in the fourth quarter . . . he now has 20 punts of 50+ yards this season and 64 for his career.