Oct. 23, 2009

As the Michigan State football team (4-3, 3-1 Big Ten) prepares to take on No. 7/8 Iowa (7-0, 3-0) under the lights Saturday night in Spartan Stadium at 7 p.m., check out all the latest information on the Spartans before kickoff. The game, which has been tabbed as the "Game of the Week" by the Sporting News, will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

GAMEDAY COVERAGE:
Gameday Central | Gametracker | Game Updates - Twitter | Audio

BROADCAST COVERAGE:
TELEVISION: The Big Ten Network will televise the Michigan State-Iowa game live to a national audience, with Wayne Larrivee handling the play-by-play, Chris Martin providing color commentary and Lisa Byington serving as the sideline reporter.

RADIO: The Spartan Sports Network, featuring veteran play-by-play announcer George Blaha, color analyst Jim Miller, sideline reporter Jason Strayhorn and broadcast host Will Tieman, will broadcast the game to 35 affiliates throughout the state. Michigan State football broadcasts can be heard on flagship stations WJIM (AM 1240)/WMMQ (FM 94.9) in Lansing and WJR Radio (AM 760) in Detroit. The MSU-Iowa game also can be heard live on satellite radio: SIRIUS (Channel 122) and XM (Channel 196).

GAME NOTES:
Michigan State | Iowa

STATISTICS:
Michigan State | Iowa

FIRST-AND-10 (what you need to know about the MSU-Iowa matchup) -
• Saturday's game marks the 41st meeting between Michigan State and Iowa. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 20-18-2, including an 8-10-1 record in games played in East Lansing, Mich. Iowa has won seven of the last 11 meetings, but the last two games in the series have been decided by a combined total of 10 points. The Hawkeyes have lost four straight games in East Lansing, with Iowa's last win in Spartan Stadium coming on Oct. 7, 1995, 21-7.

• Saturday's Michigan State-Iowa game marks just the eighth night game in the 86-year history of Spartan Stadium. The Spartans are 4-3 in their seven previous prime-time TV appearances in Spartan Stadium, including two wins over ranked opponents (No. 19 Southern Cal in 1987 and No. 10 Notre Dame in 1998).

• Michigan State has won 11 of its last 14 Big Ten games, the best 14-game stretch for the Spartans in league play since the 1989-90 seasons. MSU won its last two Big Ten games in 2007, went 6-2 for a third-place finish last season, and is off to a 3-1 start in 2009.

• Michigan State's 2009 schedule ranks among the nation's most difficult (No. 17), according to NCAA figures. The Spartans' 12 opponents have a combined record of 36-25 (.590) against other NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

• Michigan State is 18-27 (.400) in its last 45 games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. MSU's 26-20 overtime victory over Michigan on Oct. 3 marked the Spartans' first win over an opponent ranked in the AP Top 25 since defeating Notre Dame, 44-41 in overtime, in 2005. The Spartans had lost 12 straight games against teams ranked in the AP Top 25. Fifteen of those 18 wins over ranked teams have come while Michigan State was unranked or ranked below its opponent. Since 1998, Michigan State is 8-7 (.533) against teams ranked in the AP Top 10, including a 5-2 record (.714) in games played in Spartan Stadium.

• During its three-game winning streak, the Spartan defense has recorded 14 sacks. The six sacks against Illinois were the second-most under Coach Mark Dantonio (seven vs. Bowling Green in 2007). Michigan State leads the Big Ten and ranks fifth (tied with Oklahoma) in the NCAA with 22 sacks this season. In addition, the Spartans have collected 24 tackles for loss in the last three games.

• Fifth-year senior Blair White, who set career highs for receptions (12) and receiving yards (186) and matched his career-best with two touchdown receptions in Michigan State's 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern, has been selected Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week. In addition, White has been named National Wide Receiver of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards. His 12 catches (fourth) and 186 receiving yards (10th) rank among the top single-game totals in Spartan history. In addition, his 186 receiving yards are the highest single-game figure in the Big Ten and the ninth-best single-game total in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season. White scored on TD grabs of 22 and 47 yards from Kirk Cousins in the third quarter against the Wildcats. It marked White's third 100-yard receiving game of the season and the fifth of his career.

• Michigan State's passing attack leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 17 in the NCAA, averaging 280.4 yards per game. The Spartans feature two of the league's top three quarterbacks in passing efficiency, as Kirk Cousins leads the Big Ten (146.5 rating) and Keith Nichol ranks third (138.8). Cousins also ranks eighth in the Big Ten in both passing yards (183.3 ypg.) and total offense (191.6 ypg.).

• Junior linebacker Greg Jones, who leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the NCAA in tackles (12.1 stops per game), has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award and Midseason First-Team All-American by Phil Steele. Jones also is listed among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (tied for fourth at 0.71 per game) and tackles for loss (tied for seventh at 1.21 per game). He leads the team in tackles (85 total), tackles for loss (8.5 for 42 yards), sacks (5.0 for 32 yards) and production points (156). Jones reached double-figure tackles for the fifth time this season, recording 14 stops including a career-best two sacks (9 yards) in MSU's 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern.

• Lou Groza Award candidate Brett Swenson ranks first among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision active leaders in scoring, with 328 career points. His 62 career field goals rank second among all-active NCAA FBS kickers, trailing only Alabama's Leigh Tiffin (69 made). With his next field goal, Swenson will become MSU's all-time leader in that category. He tied Dave Rayner's record of 62 made, with a 28-yarder in the third quarter against Northwestern. Swenson also needs just seven points to break Rayner's career scoring record (334 points, 2001-04).

STAT LEADERS -
Michigan State (after seven games):
Rushing - Larry Caper (76 carries for 338 yards, 4.4 avg., 6 TDs)
Passing - Kirk Cousins (99 of 156 for 1,283 yards, 9 TDs, 4 INTs)
Receiving - Blair White (45 catches for 635 yards, 14.1 avg., 6 TDs)
Tackles - Greg Jones (85 tackles, 36 solos, 49 assists, 8.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks)

Iowa (after seven games):
Rushing - Adam Robinson (108 carries for 520 yards, 4.8 avg., 5 TDs)
Passing - Ricky Stanzi (126 of 213 for 1,577 yards, 11 TDs, 8 INTs)
Receiving - Tony Moeaki (20 catches for 247 yards, 12.4 avg., 4 TDs)
Tackles - Pat Angerer (68 tackles, 24 solos, 44 assists, 2.0 TFL)

MSU/IOWA SERIES NOTES -
Saturday's game marks the 41st meeting between Michigan State and Iowa. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 20-18-2, including an 8-10-1 record in games played in East Lansing, Mich. Iowa has won seven of the last 11 meetings, but the last two games in the series have been decided by a combined total of 10 points. The Hawkeyes have lost four straight games in East Lansing, with Iowa's last win in Spartan Stadium coming on Oct. 7, 1995, 21-7. (Note: For a complete list of all-time series scores, please refer to page 148 in the 2009 MSU Spring Football Guide.)

THE LAST MEETING -
Oct. 4, 2008, in East Lansing, Mich.: Michigan State's defense made a key fourth down stop in the fourth quarter to lift the Spartans to a 16-13 win over Iowa. Shonn Greene gained 157 yards on 30 carries for the Hawkeyes. But with 2:16 remaining in the game, linebacker Adam Decker stopped him on fourth-and-inches from the Spartans 21-yard line to seal the win for Michigan State. Iowa passed up what could have been a game-tying field-goal attempt to go for it on fourth down.

Adam Decker stopped Iowa's Shonn Greene for a 3-yard loss on a fourth-and-inches play in the fourth quarter that preserved MSU's 16-13 victory over Iowa last season.

Michigan State running back Javon Ringer was held in check. He entered the game as the nation's No. 2 rusher and tops in the Big Ten at 179.4 yards a game. But Iowa held him to 91 yards on 25 carries. Greene entered the game ranked sixth in the nation averaging 133 rushing yards, second in the conference behind Ringer.

Brett Swenson's 25-yard field goal gave Michigan State a 16-3 lead with 9:32 left in the third quarter.

Iowa then started its rally. Trent Mossbrucker's 33-yard field goal cut the Michigan State lead to 16-6 with 3:18 left in the third. Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi connected with receiver Andy Brodell on a 31-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 16-13 with 8:47 left in the game.

Iowa entered the game allowing just 10.2 points per game, fewest in the Big Ten. But Michigan State got just enough from Ringer, and the threat of the run helped set up the passing game. Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer made a play-action fake that did enough to freeze Iowa's linebackers and allow tight end Charlie Gantt to slip behind coverage for a 4-yard touchdown pass, giving Michigan State a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The score was set up by a 52-yard Hoyer pass to B.J. Cunningham, also off a play-action fake.

Swenson made field goals of 29 and 32 yards to give Michigan State a 13-0 lead late in the second quarter. Mossbrucker kicked a 25-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, trimming Michigan State's lead to 13-3. Iowa committed three turnovers in the first half. Two came deep inside Michigan State territory and took away scoring chances for the Hawkeyes. The other led to a Michigan State field goal.

MSU/IOWA COACHING CONNECTIONS -
• Michigan State defensive line coach Ted Gill worked for five years as an assistant coach under Hayden Fry at Iowa (1990-94) where he coached the defensive line and linebackers, helping the Hawkeyes earn three bowl appearances (1991 Rose, 1991 Holiday and 1993 Alamo). In 1991, defensive end Leroy Smith earned first-team All-America and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors after registering a school-record 18 sacks. During his tenure in Iowa City, Gill instructed five first-team All-Big Ten selections, including Jim Johnson (1990), Matt Ruhland (1990), Ron Geater (1991), Smith (1991) and Mike Wells (1992-93).

• Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker spent 12 years as an assistant coach at Michigan State under George Perles (1983-94). During his tenure at Michigan State, Parker coached outside linebackers and served as defensive coordinator for six years (1988-93).

• Michigan State director of personnel/player development Dino Folino and Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker worked together under Perles from 1988-94. Folino coached the Spartan defensive secondary for seven years.

• Iowa defensive backs coach Phil Parker, a 1986 Michigan State graduate, was a four-year letterman and three-time first-team All-Big Ten defensive back for the Spartans from 1982-85. Parker was named MVP of the 1984 Cherry Bowl (nine tackles and an interception vs. Army) and also helped lead the Spartans to a trip to the 1985 All-American Bowl. He later served as a graduate assistant under George Perles for the 1987 Big Ten and 1988 Rose Bowl championship team. Parker still ranks third among MSU's career leaders in interceptions with 16.

• Michigan State director of personnel/player development Dino Folino and Iowa linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Eric Johnson spent the 1998 season together at Vanderbilt. Folino coached the secondary and served as defensive coordinator under Woody Widenhofer, while Johnson worked as a graduate assistant coach.

MSU/IOWA CONNECTIONS, PART II -
• Saturday, Michigan State junior strong safety Marcus Hyde (Fostoria, Ohio) will compete against his brother Micah, a freshman defensive back on the 2009 Iowa roster.

• Michigan State sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins' grandfather, Ralph Woodard (end: 1945, 1947-49), and great uncle, Dick Woodard (center/linebacker: 1944, 1946-48), were four-year lettermen for Iowa in the 1940s. Dick played five years of professional football, including one season with the All-American Football Conference's Los Angeles Dons (1949) and four years in the National Football League with the New York Giants (1950-51, 1953) and Washington Redskins (1952).

SPARTANS RETURN TO PRIME TIME -
Saturday's Michigan State-Iowa game marks just the eighth night game in the 86-year history of Spartan Stadium. The Spartans are 4-3 in their seven previous prime-time TV appearances in Spartan Stadium, including two wins over ranked opponents (No. 19 Southern Cal in 1987 and No. 10 Notre Dame in 1998).

Here are brief recaps of the previous seven night games played in Spartan Stadium:

Sept. 7, 1987 (Michigan State 27, No. 19 Southern Cal 13)
In its first prime-time appearance, the Spartans upset No. 19 Southern Cal, 27-13, in the 1987 season opener, played on Labor Day. Lorenzo White rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns while Bobby McAllister accounted for 163 total yards, including a 9-yard TD run, to pace the Spartan attack. Michigan State produced 13 points off five Southern Cal turnovers.

Sept. 9, 1998 (Michigan State 45, No. 10 Notre Dame 23)
Bill Burke completed 12-of-19 passes for 209 yards and three scores as Michigan State stunned No. 10 Notre Dame, 45-23. The Spartans got out of the gate early as Notre Dame's first possession ended in a blocked punt that Richard Newsome returned 25 yards for a touchdown. Michigan State scored TDs on its first four possessions. Julian Peterson's 23-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Spartans a 42-3 halftime lead.

Sept. 2, 1999 (Michigan State 27, Oregon 20)
Michigan State battled back from a 17-7 third-quarter deficit to post a 27-20 victory over Oregon in the 1999 season opener. The Ducks built a 17-7 lead on A.J. Feeley's 18-yard touchdown strike to Tony Hartley with 9:30 left in the third quarter. The Spartans pulled even at 17 on Bill Burke's 12-yard TD toss to Gari Scott with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter. Michigan State took the lead for good at 24-17 on Amp Campbell's 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Burke threw for 205 yards and two TDs while Lloyd Clemons gained 121 yards on 18 rushes.

Oct. 26, 2002 (Wisconsin 42, Michigan State 24)
Brooks Bollinger accounted for 193 total yards and five touchdowns to lead Wisconsin to a 42-24 victory over Michigan State. Wisconsin jumped out to a 21-0 lead, scoring on three-straight possessions in the first quarter. Bollinger scored on a 1-yard sneak, a 7-yard bootleg around right end and flipped a 3-yard TD pass to Mark Bell in the first quarter. Bollinger completed 10-of-18 throws for 135 yards and three scores. Wisconsin's ground game amassed 313 yards, with Anthony Davis (29 for 170) and Smith (14 for 110) each posting 100-yard rushing games. In his second career start for the Spartans, Damon Dowdell hit 14-of-24 passes for 162 yards, including TD tosses of 7 yards to BJ Lovett and 26 yards to Charles Rogers.

Sept. 18, 2004 (Notre Dame 31, Michigan State 24)
Brady Quinn threw for one touchdown and ran for another score to lead Notre Dame to a 31-24 victory over Michigan State. The Fighting Irish parlayed six takeaways into 17 points. Notre Dame took the lead for good at 14-7 with :07 remaining in the first quarter as Tom Zbikowski stripped the ball from Jason Teague and returned the fumble 75 yards for a score. The Irish built a 21-7 halftime lead on Quinn's 35-yard TD strike to Matt Shelton with 8:52 to play in the first half. Notre Dame extended its lead to 28-7 on Ryan Grant's 6-yard TD run late in the third quarter. Drew Stanton came off the Spartan bench to account for 159 total yards (110 passing, 49 rushing) in the second half, including a 4-yard TD run in the closing seconds. Quinn completed 11-of-24 throws for 215 yards, while Shelton caught three passes for 123 yards.

Sept. 23, 2006 (Notre Dame 40, Michigan State 37)
Notre Dame cornerback Terrail Lambert capped a furious rally by returning an interception 19 yards for a touchdown with 2:53 remaining to give the 12th-ranked Fighting Irish a 40-37 victory over the Spartans. Lambert followed up his score by ending the Spartans' comeback hopes moments later with a juggling interception of Drew Stanton's pass in the closing seconds of the game. Michigan State scored on three of its first four possessions to build a 17-0 first-quarter lead. Stanton capped an eight-play, 59-yard drive with a 15-yard scoring strike to Kerry Reed late in the first half as the Spartans took a 31-14 halftime lead. Jehuu Caulcrick's 30-yard TD run with 5:50 left in the third quarter gave MSU a 37-21 advantage. The Irish offense clicked late, led by quarterback Brady Quinn, who finished 20-of-36 for 319 yards with five TDs against one interception. In the fourth quarter, the Irish pulled to within three at 37-33, as Quinn threw TD passes to Jeff Samardzija (43 yards) and Rhema McKnight (14 yards). Caulcrick finished with 111 yards and a TD on eight carries. Stanton ran for 53 yards and completed 10 of 22 passes for 114 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.

Oct. 13, 2007 (Michigan State 52, Indiana 27)
Javon Ringer rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries to help Michigan State to a 52-27 Homecoming victory over Indiana. Brian Hoyer was 20-for-23 for 190 yards and a TD for the Spartans, who led by as many as 32 points in the third quarter. Jehuu Caulcrick rushed for three TDs and Devin Thomas caught 13 passes for 148 yards and a TD. Indiana's high-powered offense was kept off the field much of the game by Michigan State, which dominated time of possession. The Spartans had the ball for just over 41 minutes. Kellen Lewis ran for a TD and passed for another for the Hoosiers, while James Hardy caught six passes for 121 yards and a TD.

UPSET SPECIALS -
Michigan State is 18-27 (.400) in its last 45 games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. MSU's 26-20 overtime victory over Michigan on Oct. 3 marked the Spartans' first win over an opponent ranked in the AP Top 25 since defeating Notre Dame, 44-41 in overtime, in 2005. The Spartans had lost 12 straight games against teams ranked in the AP Top 25.

Fifteen of those 18 wins over ranked teams have come while Michigan State was unranked or ranked below its opponent. Eight of the last 14 games against AP Top 25 teams have been decided by nine points or less.

Under head coach Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has defeated three ranked opponents: No. 22 (AP) Michigan in 2009, No. 22 (USA TODAY/Coaches Poll) Northwestern in 2008 and No. 22 (USA TODAY/Coaches Poll) Penn State in 2007.

Since 1998, Michigan State is 8-7 (.533) against teams ranked in the AP Top 10, including a 5-2 record (.714) in games played in Spartan Stadium.

Greg Jones has the most tackles (85) of any player in the FBS.

NCAA STAT LEADERS -
Here's a glance at how Michigan State ranks among the NCAA individual stat leaders in 2009:

Individual Statistics (Top 50)
Passing Efficiency: Kirk Cousins (25th with 146.5 rating)
Receptions: Blair White (t-27th at 6.4 receptions per game)
Receiving Yards: Blair White (25th at 90.7 receiving yards per game)
Punting: Aaron Bates (31st with 42.6-yard average)
Punt Returns: Keshawn Martin (34th at 9.2 yards per return)
Field Goals: Brett Swenson (t-29th at 1.4 field goals made per game)
Tackles: Greg Jones (2nd at 12.1 tackles per game)
Sacks: Greg Jones (t-41st at 0.71 sacks per game)

CONTROLLING THE CLOCK A KEY TO SUCCESS -
In recording three straight conference wins over Michigan, Illinois and Northwestern, Michigan State has held the ball for nearly 34 minutes more than its opponents (106:50 to 73:10). In league play, the Spartans rank fourth in the Big Ten in time of possession (32:20 avg.).

Just how important is time of possession? Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State is 14-3 (.823) when leading in time of possession.

JONES NAMED BUTKUS AWARD SEMIFINALIST & MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICAN -
Junior linebacker Greg Jones, who leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the NCAA in tackles (12.1 stops per game), has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award and Midseason First-Team All-American by Phil Steele. Jones also is listed among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (tied for fourth at 0.71 per game) and tackles for loss (tied for seventh at 1.21 per game). He leads the team in tackles (85 total), tackles for loss (8.5 for 42 yards), sacks (5.0 for 32 yards) and production points (156).

The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Jones reached double-figure tackles for the fifth time this season, recording 14 stops including a career-best two sacks (9 yards) in Michigan State's 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern. The Spartan defense limited the Wildcats to just three first downs and 37 total yards in the third quarter as MSU scored 24 unanswered points en route to a 24-7 lead.

He has posted double-digit tackles in 12 of his last 14 games overall, averaging 12.2 stops during that stretch. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native has led the team in tackles in 18 of the last 20 games.

Jones produced 11 tackles in MSU's 24-14 victory at Illinois, including a 6-yard sack. The Spartans built a 17-0 halftime lead at Illinois as the defense limited the Illini to three first downs and 60 total yards in the first half. Illinois' first eight possessions resulted in seven punts and one turnover.

He posted 14 stops, including nine solo hits, in the Big Ten opener at Wisconsin.

Jones made nine stops at Notre Dame, ending his streak of consecutive games with double-figure tackles at nine. He averaged 12.8 tackles during that nine-game stretch, and it marked the longest streak by a Spartan since Chuck Bullough produced double-digit tackles in 15 straight games in 1990-91 (Oct. 20, 1990, game vs. Illinois through Nov. 2, 1991, game vs. Northwestern). Bullough averaged 15.7 tackles during his 15-game streak.

He matched his career high with 15 tackles against Central Michigan, including 1.5 for losses (3 yards).

The 2009 Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year registered 14 tackles in the season opener against Montana State, with three resulting in losses (16 yards) including 1.5 sacks (11).

Jones has started 27 of 33 career games, including 21 consecutive starting assignments. He has 290 career tackles, including 31 for losses (113 yards) and 11.5 sacks (66 yards). Jones needs just 10 more stops to become just the 16th player in Spartan history to reach the 300-tackle career milestone. He ranks seventh among NCAA FBS active leaders in tackles, averaging 8.8 stops per game. His 31 tackles for loss rank eighth on MSU's all-time list (tied with Kelly Quinn, 1982-84).

WHITE KEYS EXPLOSIVE PASSING GAME -
Fifth-year senior Blair White leads the Spartans in receptions (45), receiving yards (635) and touchdown catches (6). The 6-foot-2, 200-pound White ranks among the Big Ten leaders in TD receptions (second), receiving yards (fourth at 90.7 per game) and receptions (fifth at 6.4 per game). White also is listed among the NCAA leaders in both receiving yards (No. 25) and receptions (tied for No. 27). Twenty-nine of his 45 catches (64 percent) have produced either a first down or a score, including 11 gains of 20 or more yards.

White, who set career highs for receptions (12) and receiving yards (186) and matched his career-best with two touchdown receptions in the Spartans' 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern, has been selected Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week. He shares the honor with Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell. In addition to his selection as Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week, White has been named National Wide Receiver of the Week (shares honor with Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes) by the College Football Performance Awards.

His 12 catches (fourth) and 186 receiving yards (10th) rank among the top single-game totals in Spartan history. In addition, his 186 receiving yards are the highest single-game figure in the Big Ten and the ninth-best single-game total in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision this season. White scored on TD grabs of 22 and 47 yards from Kirk Cousins in the third quarter against the Wildcats. It marked White's third 100-yard receiving game of the season and the fifth of his career.

White led the Spartans with four catches for 50 yards in Michigan State's 24-14 victory at Illinois, including three grabs that resulted in first downs.

He led the team with six receptions for 49 yards in MSU's 26-20 overtime victory over No. 22 Michigan.

White caught six passes for 75 yards and two scores in MSU's 33-30 loss at Notre Dame. He scored on a 30-yard pass from wide receiver Keshawn Martin in the second quarter and a 17-yard strike from Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter that gave the Spartans a 30-26 lead.

The Saginaw, Mich., native recorded his second-straight 100-yard receiving game with seven catches for 105 yards against Central Michigan.

He had a career-high nine receptions for 162 yards and two TDs in the 2009 season opener against Montana State. White scored on TD grabs of 15 and 24 yards from Cousins against the Bobcats. His 162 receiving yards were just 2 yards shy of his career best (164 vs. Wisconsin in 2008). Almost one-third of his receiving yards (51 of 162) came after the catch against Montana State.

A former walk-on, White has 91 career receptions for 1,319 yards (14.5 avg.) and seven TDs. The Saginaw, Mich., native has caught at least one pass in 18 consecutive games.

COUSINS OFF TO A SOLID START -
Sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 25 in the NCAA in passing efficiency with his 146.5 rating. In six starts, Cousins has completed 99-of-156 throws (.635) for 1,283 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in passing yards (No. 8 at 183.3 yards per game) and total offense (No. 8 at 191.6 ypg.).

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Cousins posted his third 200-yard passing game of the season in Michigan State's 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern, completing 21-of-31 passes for 281 yards including TD strikes of 22 and 47 yards to Blair White.

Cousins accounted for 227 total yards in Michigan State's 26-20 overtime victory over No. 22 Michigan. He hit 15-of-21 throws for 152 yards and two interceptions against the Wolverines. He also led the team in rushing, gaining 75 yards on seven carries. Cousins produced runs of 19 and 41 yards against the Wolverines.

He recorded his second-straight 200-yard passing game, completing 17-of-34 passes for 201 yards, two TDs and an interception in the Big Ten opener at Wisconsin. Cousins completed scoring tosses of 14 yards to Mark Dell and 20 yards to B.J. Cunningham.

He completed 23-of-35 throws for 302 yards, one TD and one interception in MSU's 33-30 loss at Notre Dame. Cousins set career highs for completions, attempts and passing yards against the Irish. His 302 passing yards mark the third-best single-game total by a Spartan quarterback against Notre Dame (Drew Stanton - 327 in 2005; Ed Smith - 306 in 1978).

Cousins hit 13-of-18 passes for 164 yards and a score in MSU's 29-27 loss to Central Michigan. With the score tied at 20, he went 5-for-5 for 59 yards on a 13-play, 80-yard drive as the Spartans took a 27-20 lead on his 35-yard TD strike to Cunningham with 7:33 left in the game.

In his first career start, Cousins completed 10-of-17 throws for 183 yards and a career-best three scores against Montana State in the 2009 season and home opener. He completed TD strikes of 29 yards to Cunningham, and 15 and 24 yards to White. He connected on 7-of-11 passes for 118 yards and two TDs in the first half against the Bobcats.