Friday, October 4
Eugene, OR
9 PM
Michigan State University
at
Oregon
Linebacker Jordan Turner returned an interception 36 yards last week against Ohio State. Turner leads the team with 31 tackles and is tied for first in the Big Ten with 6.5 tackles for loss.
Spartans Face No. 6 Oregon in Friday Night Showdown
10/1/2024 4:48:00 PM | Football
Game 6: Michigan State (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) at No. 6/6 Oregon (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Date: Friday, Oct. 4
Kickoff: 9:05 p.m. ET/6:05 p.m. PT
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Stadium: Autzen Stadium (54,000)
Surface: FieldTurf
â–ºBROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: FOX
Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst), Allison Williams (sidelines)
Live Stats: goducks.com
Radio:Â Spartan Media Network |Â Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jason Strayhorn
Sidelines:Â Jehuu Caulcrick
Broadcast Host: Will Tieman
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/watch, MSU Spartans app, Tune In radio
Flagship Stations:Â Lansing:Â WMMQÂ (94.9 FM)/WJIMÂ (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids:Â WBFXÂ (101.3 FM)
Affiliates:Â 23 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite:Â SiriusXM Ch. 372 | SiriusXM App
Pregame Show:Â Begins at 7:30 p.m.
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â–ºSERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: Oregon leads, 4-3
Series in Eugene: Oregon leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Oregon 7, MSU 6 (2018 Redbox Bowl)
Current Series Streak: 1 by Oregon
â–ºHEAD COACHES
MSU Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
MSU Record: 3-2 (first year)
Overall Record: 37-37 (seventh year)
Record vs. Oregon: 2-4
Oregon Head Coach: Dan Lanning
Oregon Record: 26-5 (third year)
Overall Record: 26-5 (third year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-0
â–ºSPARTAN FOOTBALL NEWS AND NOTES
• Michigan State plays its second Top-10 opponent in less than a week as the Spartans travel to No. 6/6 Oregon to face the Ducks on Friday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The game will be televised nationally on FOX with Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst) and Allison Williams (sidelines) on the call.
• The Spartans (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) fell to No. 3/3 Ohio State at home last Saturday night, 38-7. MSU opened the season with a home win over Florida Atlantic, 16-10, and started Big Ten play with a 27-24 victory at Maryland on Sept. 7. The Spartans shut out Prairie View A&M on Sept. 14 in East Lansing, 40-0, before falling at Boston College in Week 4 on a late fourth-quarter touchdown, 23-19.
• Oregon, ranked No. 6 in both the AP and Coaches Polls, enters the game 4-0 after topping UCLA, 34-14, last Saturday night in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks began the season with back-to-back home wins over Idaho (24-14) and Boise State (37-34) and beat Oregon State in Corvallis, 49-14, in Week 3.
• In playing No. 3 Ohio State and No. 6 Oregon in back-to-back weeks, this marks the first time MSU has played two straight games against AP Top 10 opponents since 2019, when it faced three consecutive Top 10 teams (No. 4 Ohio State, No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 6 Penn State).
• Friday's game will be the eighth all-time meeting between Michigan State and Oregon. The Ducks lead the overall series, 4-3, including a 7-6 win in the 2018 Redbox Bowl at Levi's Stadium in the last matchup between the two schools. MSU is 0-3 in Eugene, with the last trip arriving in 2014 when the No. 7 Spartans lost to the No. 3 Ducks, 46-27. The Spartans last beat Oregon in 2015 in the return game in the home-and-home series, toppling the No. 7 Ducks, 31-28, en route to the College Football Playoff.
• First-year MSU head coach Jonathan Smith was 2-4 against Oregon during his six years as the Oregon State head coach (2018-23). He led the Beavers to a win over No. 9 Oregon in 2020 for his first win over the Ducks. In 2022, OSU beat the No. 9 Ducks, 38-34, in a 17-point comeback win in Corvallis. As a starting quarterback for the Beavers from 1998-2001, Smith was 2-2 against Oregon, with both victories coming when the Ducks were ranked (No. 15 in 1998; No. 5 in 2000). Smith is 1-1 in games against current Oregon head coach Dan Lanning.
â–ºAIDAN CHILES OFF TO 3-2 START AS MSU'S QB1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles is off to a 3-2 start as the starting quarterback for the Spartans. Chiles has completed 56 percent of his passes (76-of-135) for 1,058 yards (211.6 ypg), five touchdowns and eight interceptions. The Long Beach, California, native is in his first season in East Lansing after playing in a back-up role as a true freshman at Oregon State in 2023.
• Chiles passed for 363 yards in the win at Maryland on Sept. 7, the eighth-highest single-game total in MSU history and the most by a Spartan QB since Brian Lewerke threw for 400 in a win against Penn State in 2017.
• Chiles also leads the team with three rushing touchdowns; he has a net of 86 rushing yards on 33 carries (17.2 ypg).
â–ºKAY'RON LYNCH-ADAMS, NATHAN CARTER PACE SPARTANS ON THE GROUNDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State features two running backs – sixth-year graduate transfer Kay'ron Lynch-Adams and redshirt junior Nathan Carter – who have both rushed for more than 2,000 career yards. Carter (2,015) and Lynch-Adams (2,194) are one of seven duos on the same team in the FBS to have more than 2,000 career rushing yards (Missouri, Ohio State, UCF, Ole Miss, Penn State, Michigan State, Auburn).
• Lynch-Adams, who transferred from UMass over the summer, leads the Spartans in rushing after five games, averaging 61.2 yards per game (58 carries for 306 yards; 5.3 avg., 1 TD). He surpassed the 2,000-career rushing milestone with 46 yards on 10 carries at Maryland; he now has 2,194 career rushing yards and 17 rushing TDs in 53 collegiate games.
• Redshirt junior co-captain Nathan Carter has 53 carries for 234 yards (46.8 ypg; 4.4 avg.). He had a career-long 60-yard rushing TD vs. Prairie View A&M on Sept. 14. Carter crossed the 2,000-yard plateau for his career in the Sept. 28 game against No. 3 Ohio State.
• Lynch-Adams and Carter have combined for 69 percent of the team's rushing attempts (111 of 160).
â–ºSPARTANS TIED FOR FIRST IN BIG TEN IN TACKLES FOR LOSS, RANK THIRD IN SACKSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State is tied for the Big Ten lead, along with Indiana, with 35.0 tackles for loss (7.0 pg). The Spartans also rank third in the conference with 15 sacks (3.0 pg).
• Through the first five games, the Spartan defense ranks among the FBS leaders in sacks (17th with 15; 3.0 pg), red zone defense (21st at .713), team tackles for loss (tied for 27th with 35.0; 7.0 per game), total defense (30th at 300.4 ypg), scoring defense (39th at 19.0 ppg) and rushing defense (40th at 114.4 ypg).
â–ºCAPTAIN JORDAN TURNER OFF TO FAST START IN HIS FIRST YEAR AS A SPARTANÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Fifth-year senior linebacker Jordan Turner, a transfer from Wisconsin, was voted a co-captain by his teammates and is off to a fast start wearing the Green and White. Turner leads the team in tackles (31) and TFLs (6.5 for 38) and is tied for the team lead with 3.0 sacks. His 6.5 TFLs are tied for the most in the Big Ten and his three sacks are tied for fifth most. He recorded his fourth career interception in the Ohio State game on Sept. 28 and returned it 36 yards to set up a Spartan touchdown. Turner is graded the second-best linebacker in the Big Ten and sixth best in the FBS by PFF (84.6); he is also ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 3 in the FBS against the run (90.1).
â–ºCHARLES BRANTLEY RECORDS LONGEST DEFENSIVE PLAY IN SCHOOL HISTORYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Redshirt junior cornerback Charles Brantley is graded the sixth-best cornerback in the Big Ten and 14th-best in the FBS by Pro Football Focus (79.8). Brantley is tied for first in the Big Ten and tied for third in the FBS with seven passes defended (two interceptions, five PBUs). His two picks are tied for fourth most in the conference.
• Brantley set a school record for the longest defensive play in Spartan history with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter vs. Prairie View A&M (previous record: Dan Bass, 99 yards vs. Wisconsin in 1978). It also marked just the 16th time in Big Ten history a player returned a pick six 100 yards for a score. Brantley has two interceptions on the season, tied for fourth most in the Big Ten.
â–ºJONATHAN KIM TIED FOR BIG TEN LEAD IN FIELD GOALSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Sixth-year graduate kicker Jonathan Kim is tied for the Big Ten lead with eight field goals made (8-for-8), which is also tied for ninth most in the FBS. He made a career-high four on the road at Boston College in rainy conditions (41, 26, 51 and 27 yards).
â–ºELEVEN FIRST-TIME STARTERS IN 2024 RANKS NINTH MOST IN FBSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State has had 11 first-time starters this season, which ranks ninth most in the FBS.
Offense (10): So. QB Aidan Chiles (five starts), R-So. RT Ashton Lepo (five starts), R-So TE Michael Masunas (four starts), R-So. RG Gavin Broscious (two starts; out for season with injury), R-Fr. LT Stanton Ramil (one start), Fr. LT Rakeem Johnson (one start), So. TE Brennan Parachek (one start), R-Fr. WR Aziah Johnson (one start), R-Fr. WR Jaelen Smith (one start), R-So. RG Kristian Phillips (one start; out for season with injury)
Defense (1): R-So. DT Alex VanSumeren (five starts)
â–ºSTAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – Gr.-6 Kay'ron Lynch-Adams (58 carries for 306 yards, 5.3 avg., 1 TD, 61.2 ypg)
Passing – So. Aidan Chiles (76-of-135, .563, 1,058 yards, 5 TDs, 8 INTs, 211.6 ypg)
Receiving – Sr.-5 Montorie Foster Jr. (19 receptions for 217 yards, 11.4 avg., 1 TD, 43.4 ypg)
Tackles – Sr.-5 LB Jordan Turner (31 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 1 INT)
Oregon:
Rushing – Jr. Jordan James (64 carries for 386 yards, 6.0 avg., 4 TDs, 96.5 ypg)
Passing – Gr.-6 Dillon Gabriel (110-of-135, .815, 1,192 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT, 298.0 ypg)
Receiving – Sr.-5 Tez Johnson (33 receptions for 311 yards, 9.4 avg., 4 TDs, 77.8 ypg)
Tackles – Sr. LB Bryce Boettcher (28 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBUs)
â–ºSERIES NOTESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Friday's game will be the eighth all-time meeting between Michigan State and Oregon. The Ducks lead the overall series, 4-3, including a 7-6 win in the 2018 Redbox Bowl at Levi's Stadium in the last matchup between the two schools. MSU is 0-3 in Eugene, with the last trip arriving in 2014 when the No. 7 Spartans lost to the No. 3 Ducks, 46-27. The Spartans last beat Oregon in 2015 in the return game in the home-and-home series, toppling the No. 7 Ducks, 31-28, en route to the College Football Playoff.
â–ºMICHIGAN STATE-OREGON CONNECTIONSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• First-year Spartan cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin spent the past two seasons (2022-23) as the passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach at Oregon.
• Michigan State has two Oregon transfers on the 2024 roster: redshirt sophomore Anthony Jones (2022 season at UO) and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Ben Roberts (2022-23 at UO).
• Oregon redshirt junior defensive tackle Derrick Harmon played three years at Michigan State (2021-23) before transferring to UO following spring practice.
â–ºLAST MEETING: OREGON 7, MSU 6 (DEC. 31, 2018, REDBOX BOWL)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Oregon edged Michigan State, 7-6, in a defensive slugfest in the 2018 Redbox Bowl held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Spartans outgained the Ducks, 331-203, and held a significant advantage in time of possession (37:15-22:45), but Justin Herbert's 28-yard pass to Dillon Mitchell with 11:19 left in the fourth quarter was enough to preserve the comeback victory for Oregon. Herbert, the No. 6 overall draft pick, was held to 19-of-33 passing for 166 yards. Sophomore cornerback Josiah Scott was named the Redbox Bowl Outstanding Defensive Player after recording a career-high four pass break-ups and three tackles, including one for a loss of 8 yards. Scott became just the second Spartan to earn bowl MVP honors in a losing effort (Andre Rison, 1989 Gator Bowl Offensive MVP).
â–ºA GLANCE AT NO. 6/6 OREGON (4-0, 1-0 BIG TEN)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• The No. 6/6 Ducks enter their inaugural Big Ten home game with a 4-0 record and a 1-0 Big Ten ledger after beating fellow league newcomer UCLA, 34-13, on Saturday night in Los Angeles. Oregon jumped out to a 28-3 lead at halftime and cruised to the win over its fellow former PAC-12 foe.
• Oregon will be debuting its "Stamp Out Cancer" themed uniform for Friday's game against the Spartans. UO head coach Dan Lanning, his wife and children helped with the design of the "Heroes" uniform, as Lanning's wife, Sauphia, completed treatment for bone cancer in 2017.
• In Saturday's win at UCLA, UO had 431 yards of total offense, with 278 passing and 153 rushing. Meanwhile, the Duck defense held the Bruins to 172 yards of total offense, with just 125 through and air while stymieing their rushing attack with just 47 yards on the ground, in addition to limiting them to 1-of-10 on third-down conversions.
• Senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel was 31-of-41 passing for 278 yards with three TDs and one INT. Gabriel leads the FBS in passing completion percentage (.815) at 110-of-135 for 1,192 yards (298.0 ypg) with nine TDs and one INT, ranking third in the conference and ninth in the country in passing efficiency (176.2). He is second in the league and 12th in the nation in passing yards per game (298.0), while ranking fifth in the B1G and 31st in the FBS in passing TDs. Gabriel also tops the conference and is 16th in the country in total offense (310.3 ypg), adding 21 rushing attempts for 49 yards (2.3 ypc/12.3 ypg) with two TDs.
• Senior wide receiver Tez Johnson is fifth in the league and 21st in the nation in receiving TDs (4), while sixth in the conference and 47th in the country in receiving yards per game (77.8), with 33 receptions for 311 yards (9.4 ypc).
• Junior running back Jordan James is seventh in the Big Ten and 29th in the FBS in rushing yards/game (96.5), while also ranking eighth in the conference and 36th in the country in rushing TD (4),and ninth in the league and 33rd in the nation in rushing yards/carry (6.0). He has 64 rushing attempts for 386 yards, adding eight catches for 57 yards (7.1 ypc/14.3 ypg).
• On the season, Oregon is fourth in the Big Ten and 32nd in the FBS in scoring offense (36.0 ppg), while ranking 12th in the conference and 37th in the country in scoring defense (18.8 ppg).
• UO is sixth in the league and 34th in the nation in total offense (454.0 ypg), including ranking fifth in the B1G and 20th in the FBS in passing offense (301.8 ypg), while ranking ninth in the conference and 76th in the country in rushing offense (152.3 ypg). Oregon also leads not just the Big Ten but the FBS in passing completion percentage (.807).
• Defensively, the Ducks are sixth in the B1G and 16th in the nation in total defense (266.8 ypg), while ranking fifth in league and 15th in the nation in passing yards allowed (154.8 ypg) and 10th in the conference and 37th in the country in rushing defense (112.0 ypg).
• Senior linebacker Bryce Boettcher anchors the Duck defense with 28 total tackles, adding three pass break-ups and one interception. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Derrick Harmon is second on the team with 18 stops, and also second on the team with 3.5 TFLs, adding 2.0 sacks, with four QB hurries and two pass break-ups.
• Lanning is in his third season at the helm of the Ducks and as a collegiate head coach, posting a 26-5 record.
LAST TIME OUT: NO. 3/3 OHIO STATE 38, MSU 7
â–ºGAME RECAPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• No. 3 Ohio State scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to open up a 24-7 halftime lead en route to 38-7 win over Michigan State in front of 71,114 at Spartan Stadium last Saturday night.
• Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles completed 13-of-19 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown, while redshirt sophomore Jaron Glover caught four passes for 53 yards and one score.
• On the defensive side, fifth-year senior linebacker Jordan Turner had nine tackles, a half for loss and one interception, while junior safety Malik Spencer had seven tackles (a half for loss) and junior safety Nikai Martinez and fifth-year senior linebacker Cal Haladay had five tackles apiece.
• Ohio State took the first possession of the game down to the MSU 10-yard line early in the first quarter, but the Spartan defense stopped the Buckeyes on third down and goal. Jayden Fielding kicked a 30-yard field goal as the visitors took a 3-0 lead.
• MSU responded on its first drive, as running back Nathan Carter had a 19-yard run, Chiles completed a pass to Brennan Parachek for 19 yards and one to Glover for 8 yards to put the Spartans on the Buckeyes 20-yard line. The Spartans went for it on fourth-and-1 and were stopped by the Buckeyes.
• Ohio State took over and used a 14-play, 80-yard drive over 5:42 to extend its lead to 10-0 on a 3-yard pass from Will Howard to Gee Scott Jr. on fourth-and-goal.
• The Spartans moved the ball once again on their next possession. Chiles completed a pair of passes to Glover, including a 24-yard pass that moved MSU into Ohio State territory. Chiles then threw a 26-yard pass to Jack Velling at the Ohio State 11-yard line but the Buckeyes forced a fumble and took possession.
• MSU responded as Turner intercepted a pass from Howard at the OSU 48-yard line and returned it 36 yards. Chiles wasted little time, completing a 12-yard pass to Glover for a touchdown as MSU pulled to within 10-7 with 9:41 to play.
• On the next drive, Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith capped off a four-play, 75-yard drive over 2:19 with a 19-yard touchdown run, giving the Buckeyes a 17-7 lead.
• The Spartans had a chance to pull within one possession on the next drive, marching down to the Ohio State 16-yard line, but a Chiles fumble turned the ball back over. The teams traded possessions over the next four minutes and Ohio State used a six-play, 60-yard drive over 44 seconds to take a 24-7 lead into halftime on a 17-yard pass to Smith from Devin Brown with 29 seconds left.
• Ohio State scored twice in the third quarter, extending its lead to 38-7. Howard completed a 33-yard pass to Emeka Egbuka to cap a 13-play, 76-yard drive over 7:11, making it 31-7. After an MSU turnover that gave the Buckeyes the ball on the Spartans 12-yard line, Howard ran it in from 6 yards out to make it 38-7 with 2:05 to play.
â–ºOFFENSIVE NOTESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Aidan Chiles connected with Jaron Glover for a 12-yard TD pass in the second quarter . . . last Saturday was Glover's first game back since the Maryland game (9/7/24) after missing the previous two with an injury . . . it was Glover's second TD catch of his career and season, with his first coming in the Maryland contest . . . Glover finished with team-highs of four catches for 53 yards . . . of his four catches, two went for either a first down or TD, as 16-of-25 (.640) career catches have gone for either a first down or TD.
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• Freshman wide receiver Nick Marsh also made his return to action after missing the game at Boston College with an injury, and snared two receptions for 30 yards in limited action, with both going for first downs, including a 25-yard catch along the sidelines on a third-and-10 pass play, and also a 5-yard catch on a second-and-3 play . . . of Marsh's 13 catches on the season, eight have gone for either a first down or TD.
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• Sophomore tight end Brennan Parachek tied a career-high with two catches for a career-best 27 yards . . . it was the third time in Parachek's career he's had two receptions in a game, last doing so last year also vs. Ohio State (11/11/23) . . . the 27 yards betters his previous top mark of 19 yards last season vs. Michigan (10/21/23).
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• Senior wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. had two catches, extending his team-leading streak of at least one catch in 18 consecutive games dating back to 2022 . . . Foster has at least one reception in 28 of his last 40 career games played.
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â–ºDEFENSIVE NOTESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State's defense entered last Saturday's game leading the Big Ten in sacks and was denied a sack for the first time this season . . . the Spartan defense did have 3.0 tackles for loss, shy of their 8.0 average that also led the Big Ten.
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• MSU's defense did snare an interception for the fourth game out of the five this season with Jordan Turner's 36-yard interception return in the second quarter, snaring the ball at the OSU 48 and returning the pick to the OSU 12, setting up the Spartans' TD on the next play. It was Turner's fourth career interception.
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• Turner finished with a game-high nine tackles, bettering his previous season high with seven stops twice, both against Maryland (9/7) and Prairie View A&M (9/14) and one shy of his career-best of 10 tackles, vs. Iowa (11/12/22) while at Wisconsin . . . Turner also had 0.5 tackle for loss, as he has posted at least 0.5 TFL in all five games this season, and also added one QB hurry.
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• Junior defensive back Malik Spencer tallied a season-high seven stops, adding one pass break-up, tying his season high for the second time this season and his career best for the eighth time.
â–ºSPECIAL TEAMS NOTESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Ray Guy Award Watch List member redshirt sophomore punter Ryan Eckley had a 58-yarder in the fourth quarter along with a 55-yarder in the third quarter, logging at least one 50-yard punt in his last 11 games, as part of 12 of last 14, and 13 of the last 15 games . . . Eckley now has 32 career 50-plus yard punts, including eight this season through five games . . . Eckley finished with five punts for a 46.6 ypp average.
â–ºNATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION HOSTS ON-CAMPUS SALUTE FOR MARK DANTONIOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State and The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame jointly honored 2024 College Football Hall of Fame electee Coach Mark Dantonio with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments®, during the Ohio State game last Saturday night. For becoming the latest Spartan in the College Football Hall of Fame, Dantonio's name was also added to the Spartan Stadium Ring of Fame.
• Dantonio finished his career with a record of 114-57 in East Lansing, 132-74 in 16 seasons overall. During his time at the helm of the Spartan program, Dantonio compiled an impressive list of accomplishments including three Big Ten Championships, two victories in the Big Ten Championship Game, victories in the 2014 Rose Bowl and the 2015 Cotton Bowl, and an appearance in the 2015 College Football Playoff, finishing his career as the winningest football coach in Michigan State history. Â
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