College Sports

No. 11 Michigan State looks for 6th straight, faces Rutgers

Posted October 07, 2021 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Michigan State coach Mel Tucker yells during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Western Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 48-31. (AP Photo/Al Goldis) The Associated Press

No. 11 Michigan State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at Rutgers (3-2, 0-2), Saturday at noon EDT (BTN).

Line: Michigan State by 5, according to Fan Duel Sportsbook.

Series record: Michigan State 8-4.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Michigan State is off to its best start since going 8-0 in 2015 and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. This game also will have a revenge factor. Rutgers went to East Lansing, Michigan, last season and spoiled the debut of Mel Tucker as the Spartans' coach. It also gave Rutgers coach Greg Schiano a win to start his second stint. The Spartans are trying to keep rolling and the Scartlet Knights are looking to snap a two-game losing streak.

KEY MATCHUP

Rutgers defense against Michigan State: The Scarlet Knights forced seven turnovers last year in stunning Michigan State 38-27. The unit has almost everyone back. It needs a bounce back performance after being shredded by No. 7 Ohio State last week. The Spartans have turned the ball over just three times over five games and have forced eight turnovers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Michigan State: WR Jayden Reed has scored eight touchdowns, five receiving, two on punt returns and one rushing. The last Michigan State player with two punt return TDs in a season was Bill Simpson in 1972.

Rutgers: Aron Cruickshank. The junior is fifth in the conference in all-purpose yards, averaging 126.8 yards. He is second on the team with 206 yards receiving, including a 75-yard touchdown against now-No. 7 Ohio State this past weekend.

FACTS & FIGURES

Tucker is the second coach in school history to begin his second season 5-0, joining Charlie Bachman in 1934. ... RB Kenneth Walker III had 24 carries for 126 yards and scored three touchdowns, while QB Payton Thorne was 20-of-30 passes for 327 yards. He threw for a TD and ran for another in win over Western Kentucky. ... After facing No. 9 Michigan and No. 7 Ohio State the past two weeks, Rutgers faces a third straight ranked opponent for the second time in school history. The other time was in 2007 when it faced No. 2 South Florida, No. 6 West Virginia and No. 16 Connecticut. The Scarlet Knights have lost 32 straight games to ranked opponents. ... Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed in a game against Army in 2010, and four other student-athletes will be inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame in a halftime ceremony at Homecoming.

___

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral (0) throws a pass against Ohio State during an NCAA football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) The Associated Press

Michigan State players celebrate following an NCAA college football game against Western Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 48-31. (AP Photo/Al Goldis) The Associated Press

Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne (10) and offensive linemen Matt Carrick, left, and Nick Samac celebrate Thorne's touchdown against Western Kentucky during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis) The Associated Press

Rutgers quarterback Johnny Langan (21) is tackled by Ohio State cornerback Marcus Williamson (5) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) The Associated Press

Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III, top, dives over Western Kentucky's Miguel Edwards for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis) The Associated Press

Michigan State's Jayden Reed, left, returns a punt for a touchdown as teammate Ben VanSumeren (13) blocks against Western Kentucky during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis) The Associated Press

Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III, right, runs for a touchdown against Western Kentucky's Miguel Edwards during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.