Spartans Host Washington Saturday on Military Appreciation Day

Saturday, November 14

East Lansing, Mich.

4:15 PM

Michigan State University

Washington

Buy Tickets

Charlie Baker prepares to lead the Spartans out of the tunnel against Illinois on Oct. 10, 2026.

11/11/2026 10:35:00 AM | Football

MSU Game Notes Washington Game Notes

Game 10: Michigan State (3-6, 1-5 B1G) vs. Washington (5-4, 2-4 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
Kickoff: 4:16 p.m.
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (74,866)
Surface: Natural Grass
Game Notes: MSU | Washington
Purchase Tickets: msuspartans.com/fbtickets

►GAME DAY INFORMATION
Game Day Central (Parking/Tailgating/Timeline/Live Stats)

Parking: All parking lots will open at 7 a.m. | Parking Map

Game Day Updates: Fans can sign up to receive game day updates from MSU Police and Public Safety this season by texting SPARTANFB26 to 888777. Updates will include safety information, potential game delays, traffic suggestions, etc.

Special Events: Military Appreciation Day

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming/Mobile: FOX One
Announcers: Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Rhett Lewis (analyst), Caroline Hendershot (sidelines)

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Announcers: George Blaha (play-by-play), Jehuu Caulcrick (analyst), Tre Mosley (sidelines), Dalton Shetler (broadcast host)
Website/Mobile: msuspartans .com/watch, MSU Athletics app, Tune In radio
Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)
Affiliates: 17 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: SiriusXM Ch. 177/231 | SiriusXM App Ch. 955
Pregame Show: Begins at 2:30 p.m. ET

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: Washington leads, 4-1
Series in East Lansing: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Washington 41, MSU 7 (2023 in East Lansing)
Current Series Streak: 4 by Washington

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald
MSU Record: 3-6 (first year)
Overall Record: 113-107 (18th year)
Record vs. Washington: 0-0

Washington Head Coach: Jedd Fisch
Washington Record: 20-15 (third year)
Overall Record: 37-37 (sixth year)
Record vs. MSU: 0-0

►SPARTANS RETURN HOME, HOST WASHINGTON SATURDAY ON MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY IN SPARTAN STADIUM
Michigan State returns home for the first time in nearly a month as the Spartans host Washington on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 4:15 p.m. on Military Appreciation Day in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and streamed on FOX One with Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Rhett Lewis (analyst) and Caroline Hendershot (sidelines) on the call.

• The Spartans (3-6, 1-5 B1G) topped Michigan in Ann Arbor last Saturday night, 15-6, to reclaim the Paul Bunyan Trophy for the first time since 2021. Michigan State did not trail in the game and outgained the Wolverines, 298-192, while forcing four turnovers and recording five sacks and seven tackles for loss.

• Washington heads to East Lansing with a 5-4 record and a 2-4 mark in Big Ten play. The Huskies nearly completed a 22-point comeback last Saturday in Seattle against Penn State, but fell to the Nittany Lions, 28-25.

• Saturday's game marks the sixth meeting between Michigan State and Washington. The Huskies own a 4-1 series advantage. This marks the first-ever matchup between the two schools as Big Ten members.

• The two teams met in a home-and-home nonconference series in 2022 (Seattle) and 2023 (East Lansing). The Huskies won both of those games, including a 41-7 victory in 2023 in Spartan Stadium in the last matchup.

• Michigan State's only win in the series was a 27-11 victory in the first-ever meeting on Sept. 20, 1969, in East Lansing.

• MSU and Washington have met once in the postseason, a 51-23 victory for the Huskies in the 1997 Aloha Bowl.

• Two Spartans earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors for their performances in the win over Michigan. Fifth-year placekicker Liam Boyd tied his career high with five field goals in scoring all 15 points for the Spartans to be named the B1G Special Teams Player of the Week. Fifth-year cornerback NiJhay Burt had his best game as a Spartan with six tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and recovery, and a pass break-up to garner Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

• MSU's nine opponents to date have a combined 56-26 record, which ranks tied for the third-toughest schedule in the FBS by the NCAA and the 16th-toughest schedule in the FBS by ESPN.

►ALESSIO MILIVOJEVIC RETURNS AS STARTING QB TO LEAD MSU OVER MICHIGAN
• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic had his streak of 11 consecutive starts snapped on Oct. 24 at UCLA but returned to lead Michigan State to a 15-6 win at Michigan on Nov. 7 in his first career start against the Wolverines. Milivojevic was 21-of-32 passing for 188 yards and no turnovers vs. Michigan.

• Milivojevic started the final four games of the 2025 season and the first seven in 2026. He has completed 65 percent of his passes (142-of-217) this season – which is tied for fifth best in the Big Ten – for 1,451 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions in eight games of action. He completed a career-high 85 percent of his passes (22-of-26) for 196 yards and two touchdowns against Illinois (10/10).

►JUNIOR RUNNING BACK BRANDON TULLIS HAS BREAKOUT GAME AT MICHIGAN
• Junior running back Brandon Tullis had a career game at Michigan with 25 carries for 86 yards, both career highs. Tullis entered the game with 11 carries for 53 yards all season. Tullis was propelled up the depth chart following injuries to Cam Edwards, Jaziun Patterson and Marvis Parrish.

• A two-year letterwinner, Tullis has 112 carries for 460 yards in 28 career games. He currently ranks third on the team in carries (36) and rushing yards (144).

►CHRISHON McCRAY NAMED OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK VS. MICHIGAN
• Fifth-year wide receiver Chrishon McCray had six receptions for 92 yards, including 73 yards after the catch, in Michigan State's win at Michigan last Saturday. He was named the team's offensive player of the week for his performance at Michigan Stadium. Now in his second season at MSU after transferring from Kent State, the 92 yards were the most by McCray in his 20 games in a Spartan uniform.

• McCray leads the team in receptions (35) and receiving yards (381; 10.9 avg.; 42.3 ypg.).

►TRENT FRALEY NAMED TO RIMINGTON AWARD MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
• Fifth-year center Trent Fraley is MSU's highest-graded offensive player (82.0) according to Pro Football Focus, which ranks No. 1 among centers in the Big Ten and No. 3 in the FBS.

• Fraley, who won the Rimington Award for the FCS while earning first-team All-America honors at North Dakota State last season, was added to the Rimington Award Midseason Watch List last month.

• Fraley has played a team-high 583 snaps on offense and has started 38 consecutive games at center in his career (29 at NDSU from 2024-25; nine at MSU in 2026).

►SPARTANS TURN UP TURNOVERS LAST TWO GAMES, INCLUDING FOUR AT MICHIGAN
• After creating just three turnovers in the first seven games, the Spartan defense has forced six turnovers (four fumbles, two interceptions) in the past two games with two at UCLA (two fumble recoveries) and four at Michigan (two fumble recoveries, two interceptions).

►SAFETY DEVIN VAUGHT LEADS TEAM IN TACKLES IN FIRST YEAR AT FBS LEVEL
• Fourth-year safety Devin Vaught leads the Spartan defense and ranks tied for 25th in the Big Ten with 55 tackles. Vaught is in his first season at MSU after playing his first three years at Maine (2023-25). Vaught, who has started every game, forced two fumbles at UCLA and returned the first one 56 yards to set up a Spartan TD in the first quarter to go along with eight tackles. He then recorded an interception in the first quarter at Michigan for his third caused turnover in the past two games.

►BEN ROBERTS RANKS AMONG HIGHEST-GRADED INTERIOR DEFENDERS BY PFF
• Fifth-year defensive lineman Ben Roberts is the team's highest-graded defender according to Pro Football Focus (84.4); that grade is also No. 1 among Big Ten interior defensive lineman and eighth-highest in the FBS at the position.

• Roberts had a career game against Northwestern on Oct. 17, recording career bests in tackles (8), tackles for loss (3.0 for 19 yards) and sacks (2.0 for 16 yards), and was named to the PFF Big Ten Team of the Week. Roberts leads the Spartans with 5.0 TFLs overall.

• Unfortunately, Roberts left the first defensive play from scrimmage at UCLA on Oct. 24 due to an injury and did not play at Michigan on Nov. 7.

Liam Boyd kicked five field goals in the win over Michigan on Nov. 7, 2026, in Ann Arbor.

Liam Boyd kicked five field goals in the win over Michigan on Nov. 7, 2026, in Ann Arbor.

►PLACEKICKER LIAM BOYD RANKS AMONG BIG TEN LEADERS IN FIELD GOALS
• Fifth-year graduate kicker Liam Boyd is tied for third in the Big Ten and tied for ninth in the FBS with 16 field goals; his previous career high was nine last season at Charlotte. Boyd is 6-for-7 from 30-39 yards and 7-of-7 from 40-49 yards and also connected on a career-long 51-yarder in the season opener vs. Toledo.

• Boyd was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after tying his career high with five field goals in the 15-6 win at Michigan on Nov. 7; he also had five field goals against Toledo. Boyd is just the second MSU kicker to kick five field goals in two separate games in the same season (Paul Edinger, 1998).

►PUNTER RHYS DAKIN LEADS BIG TEN IN PUNTING AVERAGE
• Third-year punter Rhys Dakin, a transfer from Iowa in his first season at MSU, leads the Big Ten with his 49.2-yard average (28 for 1,378 yards). He would rank No. 3 in the FBS as well, but doesn't have the minimum amount of punts to qualify for the national leaders (3.6 per game). Dakin was named to the midseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award last week. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Dakin also ranks second in the conference with 15 punts of 50-plus yards and has placed 12 punts inside the 20.

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – Gr. Jaziun Patterson (76 carries for 327 yards, 4.3 avg., 3 TDs, 46.7 ypg)
Passing – R-So. Alessio Milivojevic (142-of-217, .654, 1,451 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs, 181.4 ypg)
Receiving – R-Sr. Chrishon McCray (35 receptions for 381 yards, 10.9 avg., 1 TD, 42.3 ypg)
Tackles – R-Jr. S Devin Vaught (55 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 FF, 1 FR, 2 PBUs)

Washington:
Rushing – Fr. Brian Bonner Jr. (72 carries for 318 yards, 4.4 avg., 1 TD, 39.8 ypg)
Passing – Jr. Demond Willliams Jr. (142-of-220, .646, 1,667 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs, 208.4 ypg)
Receiving – So. Dezmen Roebuck (57 receptions for 539 yards, 9.5 avg., 4 TDs, 59.9 ypg)
Tackles – Sr. S Alex McLaughlin (64 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 4 PBUs, 3 INTs, 1 FF)

►SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the sixth meeting between Michigan State and Washington. The Huskies own a 4-1 series advantage.

• This marks the first-ever matchup between the two schools as Big Ten members.

• The two teams met in a home-and-home nonconference series in 2022 (Seattle) and 2023 (East Lansing). The Huskies won both of those games, including a 41-7 victory in 2023 in Spartan Stadium in the last matchup.

• The Spartans only win in the series was a 27-11 victory in the first-ever meeting on Sept. 20, 1969, in East Lansing.

• MSU and Washington have met once in the postseason, a 51-23 victory for the Huskies in the 1997 Aloha Bowl.

►SPARTANS FROM THE EVERGREEN STATE
• Michigan State's 2026 roster features two players from the state of Washington: No. 55 R-Sr. DT Ben Roberts (Lakewood) and No. 70 R-Sr. OL Luka Vincic (Bothell).

►MSU-WASHINGTON CONNECTIONS
• Michigan State offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan was the tight ends coach at Washington for two seasons (2022-23) under Kalen DeBoer.

• Demond Williams Sr., son of Washington QB Demond Williams Jr., was a two-year letterwinner at Michigan State as a cornerback under John L. Smith.

►BRIEF GLANCE AT WASHINGTON (5-4, 2-4 B1G)
• The Huskies are 2-4 in their last six games after opening the season 3-0, after last Saturday's loss snapped a two-game win-streak for UW.

• Last time out, Washington fell in a home loss to Penn State, 28-25, on Saturday, rallying from 21-3 and 28-6 deficits, the later at halftime, with a field goal early in the third quarter, then a pair of TD passes and 2-point conversions, pulling within 28-25 with 7:40 left in the fourth quarter. Washington kicked it away to PSU, who picked up a pair of third-down conversions and a fourth-down conversion with 1:59 left, reaching the UW 1-yard line, and taking three kneel downs to run out the clock on the Huskies' comeback.

• Washington's two B1G wins have come in road games, winning in back-to-back games, 38-26 at Purdue on Oct. 16 and 17-10 at Nebraska on Oct. 31, book-ending a bye week.

• UW junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is the son of Demond Williams Sr., who played cornerback at Michigan State from 2005-06 for head coach John L. Smith. The younger Williams missed UW's loss at Purdue on Oct. 16 with an injury, but returned to action at Nebraska on Oct. 31 and Saturday vs. Penn State, where he threw for two TDs as part of 19-of-33 passing for 172 yards, but also had an INT and was sacked once, adding five carries for 43 yards rushing.

• Williams is ninth in the B1G and 63rd in the FBS in passing yards/game (208.4), as well as eighth in the league and 64th in the nation in passing TDs (11). He is also ninth in the conference and 51st in the country in total offense (240.1 ypg). He is 142-of-220 (.645) for 1,667 yards with 11 TDs and four INTs through the air, while leading UW in rushing with 73 attempts, and is second on the team with 254 yards (3.5 ypc/31.8 ypg) with two TDs on the ground.

• The Huskies are 13th in the B1G and 82nd in the FBS in scoring offense (26.3 ppg), while ranking 10th in the conference and 46th in the country in scoring defense (21.9 ppg).

• UW is 13th in the B1G and 83rd in the FBS in total offense (364.4 ypg), ranking fifth in the conference and 27th in the country in passing offense (265.1 ypg), while ranking 17th in the league and 131st in the nation in rushing offense (99.3 ypg).

• Freshman running back Brian Bonner Jr. has 72 carries for 318 yards (4.4 ypc/39.8 ypg) with one TD, while sixth-year running back Trey Cooley has 41 rushing attempts for 177 yards (4.3 ypc/19.7 ypg) with one rushing score.

• The sophomore wide receiver duo of Dezmen Roebuck and Chris Lawson combine for over 100 receptions and 1,200 yards and seven TDs. Roebuck has 57 catches for 539 yards (9.5 ypc/59.9 ypg) with four scores, while Lawson has 49 receptions for 727 yards (14.8 ypc/80.8 ypg) with three TDs. Roebuck is fourth in the B1G in receptions per game (6.3), while ranking tied for 12th in the conference in TDs and 16th in receiving yards/game. Lawson is seventh in both receiving yards/game and receptions/game (5.4) and tied for 21st in receiving TDs.

• Washington's defense is 13th in the conference and 60th in the country in total defense (350.4 ypg), ranking 12th in the league and 62nd in the nation in rushing defense (136.0 ypg) and 11th in the B1G and 65th in the FBS in passing yards allowed (214.4 ypg).

• As a team, UW ranks No. 7 in the B1G in team INTs (12), while individually, sophomore safety Rylon Dillard-Allen and senior safety Alex McLaughlin are tied for second in the B1G in interceptions with three each. Senior cornerback Emmanuel Karnley is fifth in the conference in passes defended/game (1.0), with seven passes defended total (one INT, six PBU), one behind McLaughlin (three INT, five PBU), while Dillard-Allen has six (three INT, three PBU).

• McLaughlin also leads the Husky defense with 64 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, adding one forced fumble. He is also tied for 13th in total tackles, tied for 14th in TFL and tied for 21st in sacks.

• Saturday's matchup features two of the top punters in the Big Ten and the FBS, in MSU's Rhys Dakin and UW's senior Hunter Green. Dakin would lead the B1G with a 49.2 ypp average, but he doesn't reach the minimum requirement of 3.6 punts per game (28 punts in nine games, 3.1 ppg avg.), while Green leads the B1G with a 48.1 ypp average with 45 punts in nine games (5.0 ppg). Green has a long of 64 yards, one of 19 punts of 50+ yards, with 16 inside in the 20, inducing 15 fair catches and three touchbacks.

• Senior placekicker Tyler Robles is 13-of-15 on field goals, ranking tied for fifth in the B1G in field goal percentage (.867), with a long of 50 yards, making his last 11 in a row. Robles is also 24-of-24 on PATs.

• UW head coach Jedd Fisch is in his third season in Seattle at the leash of the Huskies, posting a 20-15 record at Washington. Fisch is in his sixth year overall as a collegiate head coach, logging an even 37-37 ledger, including three years at Arizona, turning around a program that went 1-11 his first year there in 2021 to 10-3 in 2023, beating Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl and finishing No. 11 in the final AP Top 25 Poll.

LAST TIME OUT: MICHIGAN STATE 15, MICHIGAN 6

►GAME RECAP
Michigan State defeated Michigan, 15-6, last Saturday night at Michigan Stadium to reclaim the Paul Bunyan Trophy in Pat Fitzgerald's first game against the Wolverines as head coach of the Spartans.

The Spartans outgained the Wolverines, 298-192, and held a 110-54 advantage in rushing yards. MSU held the ball for 38:07 and created a season-high four turnovers (two interceptions, two turnovers).

Liam Boyd tied his season high with five field goals to propel the Spartans to their first victory in the series since 2021.

After missing the last game at UCLA due to an injury, Spartan quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, in his first start against Michigan, completed 21-of-32 passes for 188 yards. Junior Brandon Tullis rushed for a career-high 86 yards on 25 carries, and redshirt senior Chrishon McCray had six catches for 92 yards.

Fifth-year senior captain Nikai Martinez led the Spartan defense with seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. Michigan State sacked Wolverine QB Tommy Carr five times and had seven tackles for loss overall.

►SCORING SUMMARY
After nearly a scoreless first half, Boyd kicked two field goals in the final 93 seconds to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead at halftime.

On MSU's fifth series of the first half, the Spartans drove 47 yards on 10 plays, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal at the 1:33 mark after getting to the UM 3-yard line. Michigan State then forced a three-and-out to get good field position, and took advantage with another Boyd field goal before the break, this time from 37 yards out with five seconds on the clock.

The Spartans forced another three-and-out on Michigan's opening possession of the third quarter, and after getting the ball on its own 1-yard line at the 12:53 mark, MSU went on a 17-play, 79-yard drive that took 10:41 off the clock, capped by a 37-yard field goal by Boyd to make it 9-0. It marked the longest scoring drive of the season for plays (17) and time of possession (10:41) for the Spartans.

Boyd tacked on two more field goals late in the fourth quarter. He finished a 10-play, 56-yard drive with a 24-yard field goal with 5:04 left, then kicked a 49-yarder a minute later after a Wolverine turnover to put the Spartans on top, 15-0.

Michigan scored a late touchdown with 1:35 left in the game, but couldn't convert the 2-point attempt, and the Spartans recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.

Michigan State won despite not scoring a touchdown, marking MSU's first win without a TD since a 2-0 win over Kentucky on Oct. 7, 1944.

►GAME/SERIES NOTES
• Last Saturday's game marked the 119th meeting between Michigan State and Michigan . . . the Spartans earned their 11th win in the past 19 games against Michigan, cutting UM's lead to 15-13 in games since 1999, as the Wolverines still lead the all-time series, 75-39-5.

• Michigan State ranks second among opponents in all-time victories over Michigan . . . only Ohio State (52) has posted more wins over the Wolverines than the Spartans (39).

• While last Saturday was MSU's first win in Ann Arbor since 2020, the Spartans have now won six of the last 10 meetings over the Wolverines in Michigan Stadium, including four of the last seven matchups.

• The Spartans also held the Wolverines to their lowest point total in the series since 2013, when Michigan State won, 29-6.

►OFFENSIVE NOTES
• MSU registered a 17-play, 79-yard drive that ate up 10:41 in the third quarter, as the Spartans started at their own 1 with 12:53 on the clock and reached the UM 20, with the drive capped by Liam Boyd's 38-yard field goal with 2:12 left . . . it was the Spartans' longest drive by both plays and time of the season, topping a 16-play drive in 7:19 for a TD vs. Eastern Michigan (9/12) . . . the 10:41 drive was the longest since at least 2014, topping a 9:45 scoring drive last season at Nebraska (10/4/25).

• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic returned to the starting lineup after missing last game at UCLA with an injury, making his eighth start of the season . . . Milivojevic was 21-of-32 for 188 yards with no TDs or no INTs . . . it was Milivojevic's third game this season with 20+ completions, while posting his fourth game this season with 30+ attempts . . . in completing 65.6 percent of his passes, Milivojevic logged his seventh game in completing 60.0 percent or better of his passes.

• Junior running back Brandon Tullis posted career highs with 25 carries for 86 yards, topping his previous top marks of his career for carries and yards, which were both also on the road, with 14 carries last season at Minnesota (11/1/25) and 56 yards at Iowa (11/22/25).

• Redshirt junior running back Kenneth Williams made his first career start in the backfield, finishing with 10 carries for 41 yards, which are both behind his career highs of 17 carries for 54 yards last time out at UCLA (10/24) . . . he also added career highs of four catches for 23 yards, marking his second game in a row topping his career-best for receptions after three catches for 12 yards last game at UCLA.

• Redshirt senior Chrishon McCray snared game highs of six catches for 92 yards . . . the six catches were his second-most of the season behind his top mark of eight catches in the season-opener vs. Toledo (9/4) . . . McCray's 92 yards is not only a new season-high but also his most at a Spartan, topping his previous MSU best of 75 yards last season at Iowa (11/22/25).

►DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Michigan State's defense held Michigan to just six points, the fewest points allowed by the Spartans this season . . . Michigan didn't score its touchdown until there was 1:35 remaining in the game.

• Michigan State limited Michigan to just 54 yards rushing, a new season-low for the Wolverines, after their previous low of 57 yards vs. Indiana (10/24) . . . the Spartans also forced four turnovers, not only a season-high for Michigan State's defense, but also for Michigan's offense . . . MSU held UM to just 192 yards of total offense, the second-lowest outing of the season for the Wolverines, only trailing 180 yards vs. Minnesota (10/3).

• The Spartan defense's four turnovers marked a season-high and the most since 2022 when the Spartans also had four takeaways, which came vs. Akron on Sept. 10, 2022 . . . MSU entered the game with just five turnovers caused all season.

• The Spartans had two fumble recoveries, tying their season-high that was all of one-game old, with a pair of fumble recoveries last game out at UCLA (10/24) . . . the Green & White now has four-times the number of fumble recoveries in the last two games as they had in the previous seven games combined, with just one coming in the Eastern Michigan game (9/12) . . . MSU is tied for second in the Big Ten with 10 forced fumbles.

• MSU's defense recorded 7.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks . . . the 7.0 TFLs tied for the Spartans' second-most of the season behind 10.0 TFLs vs. Northwestern (10/17), and matching 7.0 TFL vs. Eastern Michigan (9/12) . . . MSU's 5.0 sacks tied the Spartans' season-best from 5.0 vs. Northwestern.

• MSU's defense recorded 7.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks Saturday . . . the 7.0 TFLs is tied for the Spartans' second-most of the season behind 10.0 TFL vs. Northwestern (10/17), and matching 7.0 TFL vs. Eastern Michigan (9/12) . . . MSU's 5.0 sacks tied the Spartans' season-best from 5.0 in same aforementioned game vs. Northwestern.

• Redshirt senior defensive back NiJhay Burt registered a season-high six tackles, adding one interception, one forced fumble and one pass break-up.

• Burt's interception was his first of the season and also his first in his two seasons at Michigan State, as it was his first since 2024 during his junior season at Eastern Illinois . . . the interception came early in the fourth quarter and set up MSU for its fourth field goal in the game and a 12-0 lead.

• His fumble recovery was the first of his career, and it came at a crucial point in the game with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter, after MSU had just taken a 12-0 lead, and got the ball back for the Spartan offense, to tack on the fifth field goal of the day with 4:30 left and a 15-0 advantage.

• Burt's six stops bettered his previous season-high of five stops that came vs. Northwestern (10/17) . . . Burt now has three or more stops in four of the six games played, missing three games with an injury.

• Graduate defensive back Nikai Martinez led MSU with seven stops, adding one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery . . . Martinez now has five or more tackles in each of the last four games and a total of five times this season.

• After picking up the first fumble recovery of not only the season, but his collegiate career last time out at UCLA (10/24), Martinez now has back-to-back games with a fumble recovery, recovering the UM fumble late in the third quarter that was forced by Anelu Lafaele.

• Redshirt junior safety Devin Vaught posted his second takeaway in as many games with his interception in the first quarter . . . Vaught had a fumble recovery last game at UCLA (10/24).

• Vaught's interception was his second in the last four games after his first oskie of the season coming in the game vs. Illinois (10/10) . . . he now has two of the MSU defense's three interceptions on the season, with edge player Kenny Soares Jr. snaring the other oskie, coming in the season opener vs. Toledo (9/4).

• Redshirt sophomore edge player Trey Lisle, in his first career collegiate start, logged four stops, including this first sack and TFL as a Spartan . . . Lisle now has 5.5 career TFL and 1.5 sacks for his collegiate career after 4.5 TFL and 0.5 sack at Southwest Missouri State in 2025.

• Playing in his just fourth game of the season, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Carlos Hazelwood added a sack and TFL of his own in the fourth quarter.

• Graduate edge player Kenny Soares Jr., had one official tackle, but also had an unofficial sack on UM's 2-point conversion attempt, sacking UM QB Tommy Carr.

• Two Spartan defenders made their first career starts on Saturday against Michigan (Edge Trey Lisle, defensive lineman Derrick Simmons).

►SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Graduate placekicker Liam Boyd was 5-of-5 on field goals, scoring all 15 of the Spartans' points, single-handedly outscoring the Wolverines, 15-6.

• Boyd's five field goals tied the most in a Big Ten game and his 15 points were the most scored by an opposing player against Michigan this season . . . the 15 points were also the most scored by a visiting player of any kind in a Big Ten game this season.

• Boyd tied his career-high with five goals, matching his five upright splits in the season-opener vs. Toledo (9/4).

• It was Boyd's third game of the season with multiple field goals, joining his 5-of-6 outing in the season-opener vs. Toledo (9/4) and 2-of-3 vs. Nebraska (9/26).

• Boyd split the uprights twice in the opening half, first with a 21-yarder with 1:33 left in the second quarter and later with a 37-yarder with :05 before halftime, that gave MSU a 6-0 lead at intermission . . . Boyd then added a 38-yarder late in the third quarter, capping MSU's 17-play, 79-yard, 10:41 drive . . . he made his fourth field goal of the game, coming with 5:04 left in the fourth quarter from 24-yards out for MSU's 12-0 advantage, before his fifth field goal of the night with 4:09 left in the game with his longest of the night, from 49-yards out for a 15-0 lead.

• Boyd is now 16-of-19 on field goals this season, with at least one field goal in seven of the nine games, and remains perfect when the ball passes the line of scrimmage as his only three misses have been blocked (54, 52, 33).

• Ray Guy Award Midseason Watch List member junior punter Rhys Dakin had four punts for a 48.8 average, including two of 50+ and three inside the 20, pinning two inside the 20 in the first half and another in the fourth quarter, and only allowed one return on the night.

• Dakin started his evening with a 51-yard punt on his first punt of the night that went out-of-bounds at the UM 11, before a 57-yarder at the end of the first quarter . . . in the second quarter, Dakin notched a 49-yarder that was fair caught at the UM 18 . . . in the fourth quarter, Dakin lofted a 38-yard punt that was fair caught at the UM 11.

• Dakin now has 15 punts of 50+ yards on the season and 41 for his career . . . he now has 12 inside the 20 this season and 59 for his career.

►UP NEXT
• Michigan State hosts Oregon for Senior Night on Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.