2023-10-24 20:57:56
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Game 8: Michigan State (2-5, 0-4) at Minnesota (4-3, 2-2)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 28
Kickoff: 3:40 pm ET
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Stadium: Huntington Bank Stadium (50,805)
Surface: FieldTurf
►GAME DAY INFORMATION
Minnesota Game Day Website (Parking/Tailgating/Timeline)
►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming/Mobile: FOX Sports app
Announcers: Cory Provus (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), Brooke Fletcher (sidelines)
Live Stats: gophersports.com
Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jason Strayhorn
Sidelines: Jehuu Caulcrick
Broadcast Host: Will Tieman
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/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: 24 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: Sirius/XM (Ch. 98/196), SiriusXM app (Ch. 958)
Pregame Show: Begins at 2 p.m.
►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: MSU leads, 30-18
Series in Minneapolis: MSU leads, 13-11
Series in Big Ten Games (since 1953): MSU leads, 29-18
Last Meeting: Minnesota 34, MSU 7 (2022 in East Lansing)
Current Series Streak: 1 by Minnesota
►HEAD COACHES
MSU Interim Head Coach: Harlon Barnett
MSU Record: 0-5 (first year)
Overall Record: 0-5 (first year)
Record vs. Minnesota: First meeting
Minnesota Head Coach: P.J. Fleck
Minnesota Record: 48-30 (seventh year)
Overall Record: 78-52 (11th year)
Record vs. MSU: 1-3
►FIRST-AND-10
• Michigan State travels to Minneapolis for the first time since 2017 to take on the Gophers Saturday, Oct. 28 at 3:40 p.m. ET in Huntington Bank Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network with Cory Provus (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst) and Brooke Fletcher (sidelines) on the call.
• Michigan State (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) fell at home to No. 2/2 Michigan last Saturday night in Spartan Stadium, 49-0, while Minnesota improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten with a 12-10 road victory at Iowa.
• Saturday’s game marks the 49th meeting between Michigan State and Minnesota. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 30-18, including a 13-11 record in games played in Minneapolis. MSU beat Minnesota, 30-27, in its last trip to Minneapolis in 2017 and is 2-1 in games at Huntington Bank Stadium. The Gophers defeated the Spartans last year in Spartan Stadium, 34-7. Overall, Michigan State has won 24 of the last 31 meetings, dating back to 1977, including five out of the last six.
• Secondary coach Harlon Barnett, who is in his 15th year overall on the Spartan coaching staff, was named acting head coach by MSU Vice President/Director of Athletics Alan Haller on Sunday, Sept. 10. Barnett came back to East Lansing in 2020 following spending two seasons (2018-19) as the defensive coordinator at Florida State. He previously spent 11 seasons (2007-17) as the secondary coach at Michigan State, including three seasons as the co-defensive coordinator (2015-17) and one as the associate head coach (2017), before departing for FSU. Barnett has coached in four New Year’s Six/BCS bowl games with the Spartans (2014 Rose, 2014 Cotton, 2015 CFP Semifinal, 2021 Peach) and has been on staff for three Big Ten Championship teams (2010, 2013, 2015).
• Redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 41st in the FBS averaging 80.7 rushing yards per game (565 total). He also ranks second in the conference in carries (130) and seventh in all-purpose yards (645; 92.1 ypg), and leads the team with four rushing touchdowns. The UConn transfer has rushed for 100 yards in three of his first seven games as a Spartan, including a season-high 113 yards on 18 carries in his debut once morest Central Michigan in Week 1. He had 111 yards on 19 carries vs. Richmond in Week 2 and ran for 108 yards on a season-high 20 carries at Iowa in Week 5. Carter became the first Spartan since Jehuu Caulcrick in 2007 to score three touchdowns in a single quarter following running for three scores (2 yards, 44 yards, 6 yards) in the third quarter of the 45-14 win over Richmond in Week 2. According to PFF, Carter has rushed for 335 yards following contact (59 percent), which ranks fifth most in the Big Ten.
• Graduate senior Tre Mosley is tied for the team lead with 25 catches and two touchdown receptions. He is also second on the team with 237 receiving yards. Mosley has caught at least one pass in 24 consecutive games. The Pontiac, Michigan, product ranks 18th in school history with 123 career receptions and tied for 31st with 1,413 receiving yards. One of the most active members on the team in the community, Mosley has been nominated for both the AFCA Good Works Team and the Wuerffel Trophy for his work off the field.
• Sixth-year graduate senior linebacker Aaron Brule leads the team in tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (3.0) and ranks fourth with 34 tackles overall. Brule, who played four seasons (2018-21) at Mississippi State before transferring to Michigan State in 2022, will be playing in his 60th collegiate game overall on Saturday once morest Minnesota (40 at Mississippi State, 19 at Michigan State). For his career, Brule has 205 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks.
• Redshirt junior linebacker Cal Haladay leads the team and ranks tied for ninth in the Big Ten with 6.9 tackles per game (48 total). In addition, he ranks second on the team with five tackles for loss. He recorded the 250th tackle of his Spartan career on an 11-yard sack in the first half once morest Rutgers, and he has 264 total for his career in 36 games. Haladay led the Big Ten in tackles per game last season (10.0 avg.; 120 total). During the third quarter at Iowa, Haladay tied a school record with the third defensive touchdown of his career as he returned a fumble 42 yards for a scoop-and-score in the third quarter once morest the Hawkeyes. He had two interception returns for touchdowns in 2021 (30 yards vs. Indiana and 78 yards vs. Pitt in Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl). Haladay is the fourth Spartan in school history to score three defensive touchdowns, joining RJ Williamson (2012-15), Shilique Calhoun (2012-15) and T.J. Turner (1997-2000). Haladay was named to preseason watch lists for the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Trophy.
• Michigan State’s schedule currently ranks the third-toughest in the FBS, according to the NCAA (opponents with a .766 winning percentage; 36-11 record). The Spartans have played two Top-10 teams (No. 2 Michigan, No. 5 Washington) and six teams overall with winning records (Richmond, Washington, Maryland, Iowa, Rutgers, Michigan).
• MSU Vice President/Director of Athletics Alan Haller announced on Sept. 10 that former MSU head coach Mark Dantonio, the winningest head coach in school history, will return to the Spartan staff as an associate head coach. Dantonio will serve as an advisor to Barnett and the coaching staff on game days and throughout the week at practice and in meetings. After a storied 13 seasons as head coach of the Michigan State football program, Dantonio announced his retirement on Feb. 4, 2020. He 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.
LAST TIME OUT
►SUMMARY
• Michigan State fell to No. 2/2 Michigan, 49-0, last Saturday night before a crowd of 74,206 at Spartan Stadium.
►OFFENSE
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Katin Houser made his first start at home and second overall of his career, going 12-for-22 passing for 101 yards.
• Freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt played 15 snaps in his second action of the season during the second half once morest Michigan. Leavitt completed 4-of-8 passes for 32 yards and threw an interception in the fourth quarter.
• Graduate senior wide receiver Tre Mosley had two catches for 9 yards . . . he has snared at least one catch in 24 consecutive games and in 41 of 43 career games played.
• Redshirt sophomore running back Nathan Carter rushed 17 times for 36 yards . . . he has rushed at least 17 times in all seven games . . . Carter added two receptions for a season-high 25 yards to finish with a team-high 61 all-purpose yards . . . the 25 receiving yards is an MSU career high and the second-highest overall in his career, behind 47 yards vs. UCF during his freshman season at UConn in 2021.
• Redshirt junior tight end Maliq Carr had two catches in the game, and has at least one reception in all seven games this season and in 13 straight games dating back to last season, as part of 19 of his last 21 games . . . overall, Carr has at least one catch in 23 of 31 games during his MSU career.
• Michigan State was held to 182 yards of total offense (133 passing, 57 rushing).
• The Spartans were shut out for the first time since falling 24-0 to No. 10 Indiana on Nov. 14, 2020.
►DEFENSE
• Sixth-year graduate senior linebacker Aaron Brule logged an MSU career-high 11 tackles for his first double-digit tackle outing of his Spartan career, while it was his third double-figure tackle total of his college career, posting two outings during his time at Mississippi State . . . the 11 stops were the second most of his collegiate career behind 13 tackles vs. Vanderbilt in 2020 and just ahead of 10 tackles vs. LSU in the 2020 season opener . . . Brule has registered five or more tackles in four of the seven games this season.
• Sophomore defensive back Malik Spencer recorded a career-high 11 tackles to tally his first double-figure tackle total of his career, as last Saturday’s 11 stops bettered his previous career best of nine tackles, done twice this season, first in the season opener vs. Central Michigan (9/1) and most recently vs. Maryland (9/23) . . . Spencer’s 11 tackles were his fifth game with seven or more stops this season.
• Freshman linebacker Jordan Hall logged a season-best seven stops for the second straight week, matching seven tackles last week vs. Rutgers (10/14/23).
►SPECIAL TEAMS
• Redshirt freshman Ryan Eckley averaged 46.9 yards per punt (seven punts for 328 yards), including a 52-yarder and one inside the 20 . . . Eckley is averaging 45.2 yards per punt this season.
►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – R-So. Nathan Carter (130 carries for 565 yards, 4.3 avg., 80.7 ypg, 4 TDs)
Passing – R-Jr. Noah Kim (91-of-160, .569, 1,090 yards, 218.0 ypg, 6 TDs, 6 INTs)
Receiving – Sr. Montorie Foster Jr. (25 catches for 287 yards, 11.5 avg., 1 TD)
Tackles – R-Jr. Cal Haladay (48 tackles, 5 TFLs for 15 yards, 1 sack for 11 yards, 1 INT, 1 FR)
Minnesota:
Rushing – Fr. Darius Taylor (103 carries for 591 yards, 5.7 avg., 118.2 ypg, 4 TDs)
Passing – R-So. Athan Kaliakmanis (86-of-161, .534, 923 yards, 131.9 ypg, 6 TDs, 6 INTs)
Receiving – Sr. Daniel Jackson (29 catches for 387 yards, 13.3 avg., 55.3 ypg, 5 TDs)
Tackles – R-Fr. Maverick Baranowski (48 tackles, 5 TFLs for 16 yards, 1 sack for 3 yards, 2 PBUs)
►A QUICK GLANCE AT MINNESOTA (4-3, 2-2 BIG TEN)
• The Golden Gophers have a 4-3 overall and 2-2 Big Ten Conference ledger following holding off Iowa for a 12-10 upset over the No. 24 Hawkeyes to win the Floyd of Rosedale, the bronze hog statue for the cross-border rivalry. Iowa appeared to take the lead with 1:21 left when Cooper DeJean fielded a punt that had bounced near the Minnesota sideline and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown. But following a replay review, DeJean was ruled to have made a fair-catch signal before fielding the punt, disallowing the return.
• Minnesota opened 2-0 with wins over Nebraska (13-10) and Eastern Michigan (25-6), then lost back-to-back games at No. 20 North Carolina (31-13) and at Northwestern in overtime (37-34), before winning two of its last three, beating Louisiana (35-24), before losing to No. 2/2 Michigan (52-10), prior to edging the Hawkeyes.
• The Gophers posted 239 yards of total offense in the win at Iowa, with 126 passing and 113 rushing, while the Minnesota defense stymied the Hawkeyes to just 127 yards of total offense with 116 passing and only 11 yards rushing. Iowa had just 12 yards of total offense in the second half.
• Senior placekicker Dragan Kesich scored all 12 Gopher points going 4-for-5 on field goals, making a 43-yarder in the first quarter, to tie the score at 3-all, before missing from 43-yards early in the second quarter. Iowa scored the game’s lone touchdown less than a minute before halftime for a 10-3 lead at intermission. Kesich split the uprights from 44-yards out midway through the third quarter and made a 28-yarder late in the third stanza to pull the Gophers within 10-9 heading to the final quarter. Kesich’s fourth field goal came frm 31-yards out with 8:33 to give Minnesota its first lead of the day, and the Gophers held on to win the Floyd of Rosedale.
• On the season, Minnesota is ninth in the Big Ten in scoring offense (20.3 ppg), while ranking 12th in total offense (302.7 ypg), ranking sixth in rushing offense (170.9 ypg) and 13th in passing offense (131.9 ypg).
• The Gopher defense is ninth in the conference in scoring defense (24.3 ppg), also ranking ninth in total defense (338.0 ypg), including ranking seventh in rushing defense (119.7 ypg) and ninth in passing defense (218.3 ypg).
• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis is eighth in the Big Ten in passing TDs (6), as well as 10th in the league in passing yards/game (131.9), ninth in passing yards/completion (10.8) and 11th in passing efficiency (106.4). He is 86-of-161 (.534) for 923 yards with six INTs and six TDs. Kaliakmanis has 44 rushing attempts for 76 yards with two TDs.
• Freshman running back Darius Taylor leads the Big Ten in rushing yards/game (118.2) and is tied for eighth in the league in rushing TDs (4). He has 103 carries for 591 yards (5.7 ypc). Taylor adds nine catches for 81 yards (9.0 ypc/16.2 ypg).
• Senior wide receiver Daniel Jackson is tied for third in the Big Ten in receiving TDs (5), ranking tied for seventh in the league in receptions/game (4.1) and 10th in receiving yards/game (55.3). He is also tied for fifth in the conference in receptions (29) and 10th in receiving yards (529).
• Redshirt freshman linebacker Maverick Baranowski spearheads the Gopher defense, leading the way with 48 tackles, ranking tied for 14th in the Big Ten in total tackles, along with tied for ninth in the conference in tackles/game (6.9). He also shares the team lead and ranks tied for 17th in the league in tackles for loss (5.0).
• Fifth-year defensive back Tyler Nubin has a team-best three interceptions to rank tied for second in the conference, along with adding two pass break-ups to tie for 18th in the league in total passes defended (5).
• Fifth-year defensive back Tre’Von Jones and junior defensive back Justin Walley are tied for 10th in the Big Ten in passes defended (6), with one INT and five pass break-ups, which rank tied for seventh in the league.
• Redshirt junior Danny Striggow is tied for fourth in the conference in sacks (4.0), while tying Baranowski for the team-lead and tied for 17th in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (5.0).
• Senior placekicker Dragan Kesich leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the FBS in field goals per game (2.0), as well as ranking third in the league and 19th in the nation in field goal percentage (.875), also topping the conference and ranking tied for seventh in field goals (14). He also has 33 kickoffs for a 64.7 ypk average with 28 touchbacks.
• Senior punter Mark Crawford is fifth in the Big Ten in and 48th in the FBS in punting (42.4 ypp) on 36 punts, with a long of 56 yards, one of six punts of 50+ yards, with nine inside the 20 and inducing 18 fair catches.
• The Gophers are led by head coach P.J. Fleck, who has a 48-30 record in his seventh season at Minnesota. Overall, Fleck is in his 11th year as a collegiate head coach, logging a 78-52 overall ledger.
►SERIES NOTES
• Saturday’s game marks the 49th meeting between Michigan State and Minnesota. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 30-18, including a 13-11 record in games played in Minneapolis. MSU beat Minnesota, 30-27, in its last trip to Minneapolis in 2017 and is 2-1 in games at Huntington Bank Stadium. The Gophers defeated the Spartans last year in Spartan Stadium, 34-7. Overall, Michigan State has won 24 of the last 31 meetings, dating back to 1977, including five out of the last six.
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