2018 Michigan State Spartans football team
American college football season
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The 2018 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, and competed in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by 12th-year head coach Mark Dantonio.
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
East Division
Record7–6 (5–4 Big Ten)
Headcoach
- Mark Dantonio (12th season)
| 2018 Michigan State Spartans football | |
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Redbox Bowl, L 6–7 vs. Oregon | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| East Division | |
| Record | 7–6 (5–4 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Co-offensive coordinators |
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| Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
| Defensive coordinator | Mike Tressel (4th season) |
| Base defense | Multiple |
| Home stadium | Spartan Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Ohio State xy$ | 8 | – | 1 | 13 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 Michigan x | 8 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 17 Penn State | 6 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 5 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 3 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 2 | – | 7 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 0 | – | 9 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 21 Northwestern xy | 8 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 5 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 25 Iowa | 5 | – | 4 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 5 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 3 | – | 6 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nebraska | 3 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 2 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Ohio State 45, Northwestern 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Spartans returned 19 starters from their Holiday Bowl-winning 2017 team, and began the year at 11th in the AP Poll. In the second game of the year, the team was upset on the road by unranked Arizona State. The team fell out of the top 25 after falling to Northwestern on homecoming, but bounced back with a road win against then-No. 8 Penn State. The Spartan offense struggled mightily in the second half of the season, and the team failed to score more than 7 points in losses to Michigan, Ohio State, and Nebraska. They finished the regular season in fourth in the East Division with a conference record of 5–4. Michigan State was invited to the Redbox Bowl, where they lost to Oregon by a score of 7–6, which matched their final record.
The team was characterized by a stark dichotomy in performance between offense and defense; the defense finished in the top ten nationally in six categories, while the offense finished in the bottom 20 nationally in six categories.[1] Junior quarterback Brian Lewerke led the team in passing, finishing the year with 2,040 passing yards, 8 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.[2] He was replaced by redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi in several games as Lewerke struggled with injuries and poor performance. Connor Heyward, replacing the injured LJ Scott, led the team in rushing. On defense, Kenny Willekes led the Big Ten in tackles for a loss (21), and was named the conference's Defensive Lineman of the Year.[3] Linebacker Joe Bachie was also an impact player, being named first team all-conference by the coaches.[3]
Offseason
2018 NFL draft
MSU kept its streak of 78 years of having at least one player drafted in the NFL Draft alive when Brian Allen was drafted in the fourth round.[4]
| Round | Pick | Team | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 111 | Los Angeles Rams | Brian Allen | Offensive lineman |
Additionally, one player, Chris Frey Jr., was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent.[5]
Recruiting
| College recruiting (2019) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
| Xavier Henderson DB |
Pickerington, Ohio | Pickerington High School Central | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 189 lb (86 kg) | Sep 9, 2016 | |
Recruit ratings: Scout:  Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:  | ||||||
| Trenton Gillison TE |
Pickerington, Ohio | Pickerington High School Central | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Jan 29, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Theo Day QB |
Dearborn, Michigan | Divine Child High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 197 lb (89 kg) | Feb 26, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Christian Jackson CB |
Marietta, Georgia | Lassiter High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Mar 1, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Edward Warinner LB |
Powell, Ohio | Olentangy Liberty High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 222 lb (101 kg) | Apr 12, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Michael Dowell DB |
North Ridgeville, Ohio | St. Edward High School (Lakewood) | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | May 29, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jeslord Boateng LB |
Dublin, Ohio | Dublin Coffman High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Jun 12, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Davion Williams CB |
Belleville, Michigan | Belleville High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Jun 17, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Dimitri Douglas OT |
Saline, Michigan | Saline High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 282 lb (128 kg) | Jun 19, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jacob Slade DE |
Lewis Center, Ohio | Olentangy High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 255 lb (116 kg) | Jun 25, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Zachary Slade DE |
Lewis Center, Ohio | Olentangy High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | Jun 25, 2017 | |
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports:  ESPN: | ||||||
| Javez Alexander WR |
Sandusky, Ohio | Sandusky High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jun 28, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Parks Gissinger DE |
West Hills, California | Chaminade College Preparatory School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 227 lb (103 kg) | Jul 20, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Chase Kline LB |
Chardon, Ohio | Chardon High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Jul 25, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Julian Major WR |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Penn Hills High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Jul 29, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| James Ohonba OT |
Stockbridge, Georgia | Woodland High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 345 lb (156 kg) | Sep 29, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Elijah Collins RB |
Detroit, Michigan | University of Detroit Jesuit High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | Sep 29, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jacob Isaia OG |
Las Vegas, Nevada | Bishop Gorman High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | Oct 1, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Kalon Gervin CB |
Detroit, Michigan | Cass Technical High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Dec 2, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| La'Darius Jefferson QB |
Muskegon, Michigan | Muskegon High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 209 lb (95 kg) | Dec 9, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jalen Nailor WR |
Las Vegas, Nevada | Bishop Gorman High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Feb 3, 2018 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: | ||||||
Sources:
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Preseason
Award watch lists
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chuck Bednarik Award[6] | Joe Bachie | LB | JR |
| Maxwell Award[7] | Brian Lewerke | QB | JR |
| LJ Scott | RB | SR | |
| Davey O'Brien Award[8] | Brian Lewerke | QB | JR |
| Doak Walker Award[9] | LJ Scott | RB | SR |
| Butkus Award[10] | Joe Bachie | LB | JR |
| Jim Thorpe Award[11] | David Dowell | S | JR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy[12] | Joe Bachle | LB | JR |
| Outland Trophy[13] | David Beedle | G | SR |
| Ray Guy Award[14] | Jake Hartbarger | P | SR |
| Wuerffel Trophy[15] | Khari Willis | DB | SR |
| Walter Camp Award[16] | Brian Lewerke | QB | JR |
| Ted Hendricks Award[17] | Kenny Willekes | DE | JR |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[18] | Brian Lewerke | QB | JR |
| Manning Award[19] | Brian Lewerke | QB | JR |
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Utah State* | No. 11 | BTN | W 38–31 | 73,114 | |
| September 8 | 10:45 p.m. | at Arizona State* | No. 15 | ESPN | L 13–16 | 53,599 | |
| September 22 | 7:30 p.m. | at Indiana | No. 24 | BTN | W 35–21 | 45,445 | |
| September 29 | 12:00 p.m. | Central Michigan* | No. 21 |
| FS1 | W 31–20 | 73,752 |
| October 6 | 12:00 p.m. | Northwestern | No. 20 |
| FS1 | L 19–29 | 72,850 |
| October 13 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 8 Penn State | BTN | W 21–17 | 106,685 | ||
| October 20 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 6 Michigan | No. 24 |
| FOX | L 7–21 | 76,131 |
| October 27 | 12:00 p.m. | Purdue |
| ESPN | W 23–13 | 72,657 | |
| November 3 | 12:00 p.m. | at Maryland | ESPN2 | W 24–3 | 31,735 | ||
| November 10 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 8 Ohio State | No. 24 |
| FOX | L 6–26 | 74,633 |
| November 17 | 12:00 p.m. | at Nebraska | FOX | L 6–9 | 88,793 | ||
| November 24 | 4:00 p.m. | Rutgers |
| FOX | W 14–10 | 64,951 | |
| December 31 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. Oregon* | FOX | L 6–7 | 30,212 | ||
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Source[20]
Personnel
Roster
| 2018 Michigan State Spartans football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coaching staff
On January 2, 2018, Harlon Barnett was hired as defensive coordinator for Florida State, leaving the Spartans after spending the previous 14 years with head coach Mark Dantonio.[21] On January 19, the school announced that co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel was promoted to defensive coordinator with the departure of Barnett.[22]
Also on January 19, former Kent State head coach Paul Haynes was hired as the secondary coach.[22][23] Haynes, who was fired from Kent State after five seasons as head coach,[24] returned to the Spartans after serving as defensive backs coach from 2003 to 2004. On January 22, the school announced the hiring of former Kent State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, who had coached with the Spartans on two prior occasions, as a defensive backs and special teams coach.[25] On February 1, the school hired Chuck Bullough as defensive ends coach.[26]
| Name | Position | Joined staff |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Dantonio | Head coach | 2007 |
| Mark Staten | Assistant head coach/offensive line | 2007 |
| Dave Warner | Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs | 2007 |
| Jim Bollman | Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends | 2013 |
| Mike Tressel | Defensive coordinator/linebackers | 2007 |
| Brad Salem | Quarterbacks | 2010 |
| Terrence Samuel | Wide receivers | 2011 |
| Ron Burton | Defensive Tackles | 2013 |
| Chuck Bullough | Defensive Ends | 2018 |
| Don Treadwell | Assistant Defensive Backs/Special Teams, Freshmen | 2018 |
| Paul Haynes | Secondary | 2018 |
Game summaries
Utah State
Week One: Utah State at Michigan State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah State | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| No. 11 Michigan State | 6 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 38 |
at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
- Date: August 31, 2018
- Game time: 7:01 pm EDT
- Game weather: 80°F, Wind: 11 mph SSE, Sunny
- Game attendance: 73,114
- Referee: Ron Snodgrass
- TV announcers (BTN): Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-play), Glen Mason (analyst), Elise Menaker (sideline)
- Sources:[27]
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
The Spartans opened the 2018 season under the lights at home against Mountain West opponent Utah State.
Utah State received the opening kickoff and took little time scoring on their opening drive, taking only just over two minutes to score on a Jordan Love one-yard run. The MSU offense stalled at midfield on their first drive, but Matt Coghlin made a 49-yard field goal to put the Spartans on the board, 7–3. After a turnover on downs on the following Utah State possession, Michigan State added another field goal, bringing them within a point. The second quarter featured sloppy play from both teams. As Michigan State was driving into Utah State territory, Brian Lewerke was sacked and attempted to throw the ball away. After review, the officials determined that Lewerke had not completed a forward throwing motion, that he had fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by Utah State. However, the Aggies did not score off of the turnover. Several possessions later, the Aggies committed a turnover of their own when Jordan Love threw an interception that resulted in Michigan State points when Brian Lewerke connected with Cody White on a seven-yard pass for a touchdown. The score gave the Spartans their first lead of the game, 13–7. Utah State answered with a touchdown of their own on the following possession, retaking the lead 14–13. The Spartan offense drove deep into Utah State territory and Felton Davis scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brian Lewerke with 28 seconds left in the half to give MSU a 20–14 lead at halftime.
The Spartans extended their lead after in the second half when a 17-yard Connor Heyward touchdown run increased their lead to 27–14. Late in the third quarter, Utah State added a field goal to narrow the lead to 27–17. The following Michigan State possession ended in disaster when a Brian Lewerke pass intended for Jalen Nailor was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Gage Ferguson to bring Utah State within three, 27–24. Michigan State increase their lead with a field goal early in the fourth quarter, but Utah State retook the lead with five minutes remaining in the game on a Darwin Thompson one-yard touchdown run. Brian Lewerke led the offense down the field the following possession, completing five straight passes before Connor Heyward scored the go-ahead touchdown on an option pitch from Lewerke to give Michigan State a 36–31 lead with two minutes remaining. Lewerke then connected with Davis on the two-point conversion pass to give MSU a 38–31 lead. With less than two minutes remaining, Utah State drove the ball to the MSU 46-yard line. However, MSU linebacker Joe Bachie leapt to deflect a pass and secured the interception to seal the win for the Spartans, avoiding a major upset. Michigan State extended its home opening winning streak to 20 games with the victory.
At Arizona State
Week Two: Michigan State at Arizona State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 15 Michigan State | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
| Arizona State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 16 |
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ
- Date: September 8, 2018
- Game time: 10:45 pm EDT
- Game weather: Clear skies, 100 °F (38 °C)
- Game attendance: 53,599
- Referee: Mike Cannon
- TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (Play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Tom Luginbill (sideline)
- Sources:
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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At Indiana
Week Three: Michigan State at Indiana – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 24 Michigan State | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Indiana | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
- Date: September 22, 2018
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 63 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 45,445
- Referee: Mark Kluczynski
- TV announcers (BTN): Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-play), Glen Mason (analyst), Elise Menaker (sideline)
- Sources:
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Central Michigan
Week Four: Central Michigan at Michigan State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 20 |
| No. 21 Michigan State | 0 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Northwestern
Week Five: Northwestern at Michigan State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 29 |
| No. 20 Michigan State | 3 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 19 |
at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
- Date: October 6, 2018
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
- Game attendance: 72,850
- TV: FS1
- Sources:
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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At Penn State
Week Six: Michigan State at Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| No. 8 Penn State | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
- Date: October 13, 2018
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C); cool, cloudy
- Game attendance: 106,685
- Referee: Michael Cannon
- TV announcers (BTN): Kevin Kugler (Play-by-play), James Laurinaitis (analyst), Lisa Byington (sideline)
- Sources:
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Michigan
Paul Bunyan Trophy: #6 Michigan Wolverines (6–1) at #24 Michigan State Spartans (4–2)
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Michigan State | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, Michigan
- Date: October 20
- Game time: 12:05 p.m.
- Game weather: Partly cloudy • 52 °F (11 °C) • Wind 13 W
- Game attendance: 76,131
- Referee: Jerry McGinn
- TV announcers (Fox): Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft
- Box Score
| Game information |
|---|
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| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Purdue
Week Eight: Purdue at Michigan State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Michigan State | 6 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
- Date: October 27, 2018
- Game time: 12:02 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 37°F, Clear, NW 18 MPH
- Game attendance: 72,657
- Referee: Ron Snodgrass
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones (Play-by-Play), Dusty Dvoracek (Analyst) & Molly McGrath (Sideline)
- Sources:
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
At Maryland
Week Nine: Michigan State at Maryland – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Maryland | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Ohio State
Week Ten: Ohio State at Michigan State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 8 Ohio State | 0 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 26 |
| No. 24 Michigan State | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
- Date: November 10, 2018
- Game time: 12:05 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C), Overcast & Flurries, WNW 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
- Game attendance: 74,633
- Referee: John O'Neill
- TV announcers (FOX): Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt
- Sources:
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
At Nebraska
Week Eleven: Michigan State at Nebraska – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
at Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
- Date: November 17, 2018
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Overcast, 27 °F (−3 °C), N/NE 16 miles per hour (26 km/h)
- Game attendance: 88,793
- Referee: Don Capron
- TV announcers (FOX): Brian Custer and Ben Leber
- Sources:
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Rutgers
Week Twelve: Rutgers at Michigan State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Michigan State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Vs. Oregon (Redbox Bowl)
2018 Redbox Bowl: Michigan State vs Oregon – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
- Date: December 31, 2018
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. PST
- Game attendance: 30,212
- Referee: Reggie Smith
- TV announcers (FOX): Joe Davis, Brady Quinn and Bruce Feldman
- Sources:
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Rankings
Awards and honors
| Player | Award | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Kenny Willekes | Smith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year | [3] |
| Player | Position | Coaches | Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenny Willekes | DL | 1 | 1 |
| Joe Bachie | LB | 1 | 2 |
| Matt Coghlin | K | 3 | 1 |
| Justin Layne | DB | 2 | 2 |
| Raequan Williams | DL | 3 | 3 |
| David Dowell | DB | 3 | Hon. |
| Khari Willis | DB | Hon. | 3 |
| Andrew Dowell | LB | Hon. | Hon. |
| Mike Panasiuk | DL | Hon. | Hon. |
| Felton Davis III | WR | Hon. | Hon. |
| Connor Heyward | KR | – | Hon. |
| Hon. = Honorable mention. Reference:[3] | |||
Players drafted into the NFL
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 83 | Justin Layne | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 4 | 109 | Khari Willis | S | Indianapolis Colts |