Michigan State and Ohio State are set to meet on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Check out more information on the Buckeyes below.

Aidan is special. He is going to be a star. Sure he mad a couple bad throws. But his play making ability is what made the BC game winnable. Without him, we aren’t in a position to win it with a minute or so to go. He made so many great plays avoiding sacks and keeping drives open. If we call the right play and continue going to the tight ends on that last drive, we don’t give up that endzone pick and probably win the game. The play call was the bigger issue, more so than the throw itself. He could have easily been sacked on that play, if not for his tremendous elusiveness. His ceiling is off the charts on how good he can be.

Hang in there Aidan, you are going to make us Spartans proud. Go Green!!

A look at which Michigan State players are on preseason watch lists including Ryan Eckley and Nate Carter:

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Notable and positive news on the injury front going into Saturday, as Jaron Glover will play. Still TBD on Marsh.

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I am just going to come out and say it directly. I don't expect that MSU is going to beat OSU this weekend, but I really think that this game is going to be A LOT closer than people think. I go through my thought process in a little more detail in the article, but my calculations tell me that this game should be much closer than the current spread of +25 or whatever it is now. That's a huge spread. That is like top five all time this century huge for MSU in Spartan Stadium. Yes, OSU should be favored, and yes, it is certainly possible that OSU wins by several touchdowns.

But in this case, I think that my math is telling me something that the "experts" are not seeing. MSU is a lot better than the Mel Tucker led teams of the last few years. I think that the line is heavily influenced by the teams MSU has fielded over the past few years and not the team or coaches there now. I could be wrong, but I have a strong feeling the MSU covers this weekend and that the game is within one possession going into the final quarter.

I guess we will see.

Michigan State and the National Football Foundation will jointly honor Coach Dantonio, a member of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class, when the Spartans host Ohio State.​

IRVING, Texas (Sept. 26, 2024) – Michigan State and The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that they will jointly honor 2024 College Football Hall of Fame electee Coach Mark Dantonio with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments®. The Salute will take place this Saturday, Sept. 28, during the Spartans' home football game against Ohio State, which will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.

"The all-time winningest coach in Michigan State history, Mark Dantonio led the Spartans to three Big Ten championships, a Rose Bowl win and a berth in the 2015 College Football Playoff, building on a head coaching career that began with a successful three-year run at Cincinnati," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are thrilled to honor him at Spartan Stadium as a member of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class."

The NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute program, which began with the inaugural College Football Hall of Fame Class in 1951, has become a hallowed tradition, and to this day the singular events remain the first of numerous activities in the Hall of Fame experience.

During the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, each electee returns to his respective school to accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will stay on permanent display at the institution. The events take place on the field during a home game, and many Hall of Famers cite the experience as the ultimate capstone to their careers, providing them one more chance to take the field and be recognized in front of their home crowd.

Dantonio notched a 114-57 record during his 13 years in East Lansing and 18-17 mark during his three seasons at Cincinnati for an overall record of 132-74 with a 64.1 winning percentage. Dantonio won more Big Ten Championships (three in 2010, 2013 and 2015) and bowl games (six) than any other coach in Spartan history while also ranking first with 12 bowl appearances, including three New Year's Six bowls (Rose-2013 and Cotton-2014, 2015). Click here for his full Hall of Fame bio.

Coach Dantonio now becomes the fifth Michigan State head coach to enter the College Football Hall of Fame and the fourth coach from Cincinnati. From Michigan State, he joins Charlie Bachman, Duffy Daugherty, Clarence "Biggie" Munn, and Frank "Muddy" Waters. From Cincinnati, he joins Frank Cavanaugh, Sid Gillman, and George Little.

The 2024 class includes Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State), the late Paul Cameron (UCLA), Tim Couch (Kentucky), Warrick Dunn (Florida State), Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State), Deon Figures (Colorado), Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh), Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Dan Hampton (Arkansas), Steve Hutchinson (Michigan), Antonio Langham (Alabama), Randy Moss (Marshall), Julius Peppers (North Carolina), Paul Posluszny (Penn State), Dewey Selmon (Oklahoma), Alex Smith (Utah), Kevin Smith (Texas A&M), Chris Ward (Ohio State), Danny Woodhead (Chadron State [NE]), and coaches Mark Dantonio (Cincinnati, Michigan State); Danny Hale (West Chester [PA], Bloomsburg [PA]); and Frank Solich (Nebraska, Ohio).

The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted at the National Football Foundation's 66th Annual Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas on Tuesday Dec. 10 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines and hotel rates at Bellagio.

Including the 2024 Hall of Fame Class, only 1,093 players and 233 coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly 5.78 million who have played or coached the game during the past 156 years. In other words, less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of the individuals who have played the game have earned this distinction.

Release courtesy of the National Football Foundation.

No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan State is officially set for a 7 p.m. start time and will be broadcast exclusively on Peacock.

More on the game via @Kevin Knight

Jaylan Brown (No. 4 in photo, No. 86 normally), Andrew Dennis (No. 77), Mikeshun Beeler (No. 93 in photo, No. 52 normally), Shawn Smith (No. 2 in scout team, No. 24 normally)

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One of the top targets for Michigan State in the 2025 class tells Spartans Illustrated he has set an official visit date. Class of 2025 five-star small forward/shooting guard Trey McKenney is planning to take an official visit with MSU on Oct. 4.

McKenney just led Orchard Lake St. Mary's to a Division I state title this past season, along with Michigan State football tight end commit Jayden Savoury. He also just helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2024 FIBA AmeriCup.

McKenney ranks as the No. 13 overall prospect and the No. 5 small forward in the 2025 class. He has made multiple unofficial visits to East Lansing in the past as well.

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I am curious as to why we haven't heard Cole Dellinger's name mentioned as we deal with injuries. I realize it takes time for OL to develop but he was pretty highly thought of as a recruit and seems to be behind some kids who are the same age or even younger. Has he dealt with injuries or is he just developing slower?

Trey McKenney is now down to three schools, and the 6-4 Shooting Guard no longer considers programs like Michigan State, UCLA, or Oregon.

His finalists at this time are Michigan, Georgetown, and USC.

My favorite time of the week. @glassman12 breaks down Michigan State's close loss to Boston College in the latest edition of the film room. Fid the video breakdowns here:

The UNLV Rebels are 3-0 and just had their qb quit the team. The reason being he reportedly was made promises that have not been fulfilled. I believe he is a 5th year senior. I think this could be the first of many players who hold the school accountable for unpaid promises. Thoughts?

@ColinJankowski has three takeaways from the 23-19 loss at Boston College:

Record-Breaking Number of Campbell Trophy Semifinalists Announced​

203 Nominees with an Average 3.63 GPA; 23 of the Top 25 Ranked FBS Teams Represented​

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Maverick Hansen is a sixth-year graduate senior defensive lineman and four-year letterwinner who has played in 41 career games, logging 90 tackles, including 8.0 TFLs (35 yards) and 5.0 sacks (31 yards) . . . has eight career starts at defensive tackle (three in 2021, one in 2022, four in 2023) . . . four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar . . . voted one of five captains by his teammates for the 2024 season.

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IRVING, Texas (Sept. 25, 2024) – The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) proudly announced today a record number of 203 semifinalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award. The new highwater mark eclipses the 201 nominees in 2023. The impressive list of candidates, from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, boasts an impressive 3.63 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor's degrees.

Celebrating its 35th year, the Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

2024 WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY® SEMIFINALISTS NOTES

• 35th year of the William V. Campbell Trophy®
• 66th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments
• 203 Semifinalists
• 3.63 Average GPA
• 124 Nominees who have already earned their bachelor's degrees
• 7 Nominees who have earned a master's degree
• 3 Nominees with a perfect 4.0 GPA
• 48 Nominees with a 3.8 GPA or better
• 91 Nominees with a 3.7 GPA or better
• 26 Academic All-America selections
• 128 Captains
• 31 All-Americans
• 129 All-Conference picks

"These 203 semifinalists reflect not only exceptional academic and athletic talent but also the deep-rooted leadership that shows a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives, which is learned on the gridiron," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "The Campbell Trophy® continues to represent the pinnacle of what it means to be a scholar-athlete, and this year's candidates exemplify how football builds future leaders who will undoubtedly shape tomorrow's world."

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 23, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 35th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines and room rates at the Bellagio.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior who will complete his final year of eligibility in the 2024 season or graduate student or graduate transfer who has already earned a degree and participating in the 2024 season; have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor; and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

"We are incredibly proud of this year's semifinalists, who embody the true spirit of the Campbell Trophy®," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of this prestigious award, their achievements remind us of the profound impact scholar-athletes have, not just on their teams, but on the communities they serve and the careers they pursue after football. The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates."

Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 66th year in 2024. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments, and the NFF has recognized 922 outstanding individuals since the program's inception. This year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $12.9 million.

The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the program's prestige. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and nine first-round NFL draft picks. Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the storied venue.

Known as "The Coach of Silicon Valley," Campbell became one of our country's most influential business leaders, playing critical roles in the success of Apple, Google, Intuit and countless other high-tech companies. The captain of the 1961 Columbia Ivy League championship team, he found his true calling after an unlikely career change at age 39 from football coach to advertising executive. His ability to recruit, develop, and manage talented executives - all lessons learned on the gridiron - proved to be a critical component of his ability to inspire his business teams to the highest levels of success.

Later in life, Campbell was driven by a heartfelt desire to give back, and he quietly gave away tens of millions of dollars to multiple charities while also finding an hour and half each autumn weekday to coach an eighth-grade boys and girls flag-football team near his home in Palo Alto, California. Campbell passed away April 18, 2016, at the age of 75.

As part of its support of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, Fidelity Investments helped launch the NFF Faculty Salutes, which recognize the contributions of the faculty athletics representatives at each of the institutions with a finalist for the Campbell Trophy®. Once the finalists are selected, the NFF will present each of their faculty athletics representatives with a plaque and Fidelity will donate $5,000 for the academic support services at each school. The salutes have recognized 184 FARs since the program's inception, and Fidelity has made a total of $920,000 in donations.

2024 Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists by Division and Position

• 95 Nominees from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
• 41 Nominees from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
• 18 Nominees from NCAA Division II
• 44 Nominees from NCAA Division III
• 5 Nominees from the NAIA
• 110 Offensive Players
• 78 Defensive Players
• 15 Special Teams Players

Release courtesy of National Football Foundation.

Gift supports upgrades to baseball facilities and the men’s basketball program​

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Family means everything to Michigan State alumni Kristen and Justin Ishbia—and that includes their MSU family. A shared passion for their Spartan community and the success of its student-athletes, combined with their generosity and Justin's love for baseball, were leading forces in the couple's recent $10 million gift to Michigan State Athletics.

A 2000 graduate of the Eli Broad College of Business, Justin is the founder and managing partner of Chicago based Shore Capital Partners, part majority owner and alternate governor of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, and minority owner and alternate governor of Major League Soccer's Nashville SC. Kristen graduated from the College of Education with a degree in Kinesiology in 2008.

The Ishbias' gift includes $8.5 million in support of men's basketball and baseball, and $1.5 million in previous Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) payments. A portion of the gift will be used to support the baseball program and upgrades to the baseball facilities. The baseball field will be renamed Jeff Ishbia Field, in honor of Justin's father.

"As a lifelong baseball fan and former player, I know first-hand the lasting impression the game and a coach can have on an up-and-coming athlete," said Justin Ishbia. "Coach Jake Boss runs a fantastic program that has produced many successful players, and he and the team deserve to have best-in-class facilities that match the quality of the program."

"Spartan baseball is very thankful for the Ishbias' gift," said Michigan State baseball coach Jake Boss. "The facility upgrades that we will be able to make as a result of their gift will benefit student-athlete development for years to come."

In gratitude for the tremendous impact Coach Tom Izzo has had on countless collegiate basketball players, including Justin's brother, Mat Ishbia, the remainder of the gift will support the Men's Basketball Excellence Fund.

"Coach Izzo embodies the true meaning of mentorship and team-first mentality," said Justin Ishbia. "It has been a privilege to be in his orbit, and we are excited to see the Spartan's basketball team continue to flourish for years to come under his leadership."

"We are incredibly grateful for Justin and Kristen's generosity," said Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo. "The entire Ishbia Family has been so supportive to both MSU as a whole, and for me individually. Justin and Kristen and their kids will always be special to me. To be an elite program, you must have elite support from donors. This gift will positively impact our ability to continue to chase championships, while also providing me greater motivation and incentive to keep our program at a championship level."

"Justin and Kristen are passionate alums and represent the core of who we are as Spartans," said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. "I appreciate their continued commitment to our athletics programs, and to creating an environment where our student-athletes have everything they need to succeed as they proudly represent our university on national and international stages."

"Spartan athletics is deeply appreciative of this transformational gift from Justin and Kristen Ishbia," said Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller. "While college athletics continues to evolve at the national level, donor support has never been more critical to supporting the overall mission of our department. The generosity displayed with their gift will help provide a first-class experience for our student-athletes."

For those interested in more information on philanthropically supporting MSU Athletics, please visit spartanfund.net or call (517) 432-1610.

Defensive lineman Quindarius Dunnigan and linebackers Jordan Hall and Cal Haladay spoke to the media Wednesday. Dunnigan has experience with upsets. Hall and Haladay have been stung by the Buckeyes before. Despite it all, the team is projecting confidence going into Saturday.

Read here:

Michigan State is one-third of the way through the 2024 regular season.

W vs FAU 16-10
W at Maryland 27-24
W vs Prairie View A&M 40-0
L at Boston College 19-23

Here is the remaining schedule

vs Ohio State
at Oregon
BYE
vs Iowa
at Michigan
vs Indiana
BYE
at Illinois
vs Purdue
vs Rutgers

What will Michigan State's final regular season record be?

Interesting piece here by Ross Dellenger.

"Member schools plan to seriously consider granting athletes in all sports, not just football, the ability to participate in up to a certain percentage of games in a fifth season and still use their redshirt; permit athletes to earn prize money before they enroll in college; and eliminate the National Letter of Intent."

MSU assistant head coach/co-special teams coordinator/running backs coach Keith Bhonapha took some time to explain his process in the running backs room to establish consistency, snap back from adversity on the field and what he thinks the running backs can do schematically to add "juice" to the Spartan offense.

More here:

Blue Adams:

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Demetrice Martin:

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Quindarius Dunnigan:

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Jordan Hall:

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Cal Haladay:

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Michigan State men’s basketball had its first official team practice of the 2024-2025 season on Monday. While it is always an exciting time for head coach Tom Izzo and the program, this year it feels a little different because of the team’s trip to Spain last month.

“The other part that’s different is we went to Spain,” Izzo said on Tuesday prior to the Spartans' second practice of the season. “Seems like we’ve been practicing forever. But the good news is I like my team. The first official day was good.”

Player progress updates, info on the upcoming trip to Northern Michigan and more:

@HuddlestonL's latest this week looks at panic versus patience