Northern Colorado
N/A0-0
Michigan State
1st Big Ten11-1
Northern Colorado @ Michigan State preview
Spartan Stadium
After riding the highs of a dramatic overtime win against Notre Dame and then the scary news of coach Mark Dantonio’s heart attack, Michigan State will host Northern Colorado on Saturday.
Offensive coordinator Don Treadwell will fill in for Dantonio as the No. 23 Spartans (3-0) face the Bears (2-1) before starting Big Ten conference play against Wisconsin on Oct. 2. Given last week’s emotional chain of events, and the level of opponent, Treadwell’s biggest challenge will be making sure the Spartans are focused and motivated to play the Bears, a Football Championship Subdivision school.
Spartan players certainly will have Dantonio on their minds, but they received good news when the coach was released from the hospital Tuesday. He is expected back, but no timetable has been set.
From an offensive standpoint, the Spartans, who rely on a balanced attack, shouldn’t miss much. Treadwell is in his fourth year as Dantonio’s coordinator at Michigan State and he served in the same role at Cincinnati from 2004-2006. The Spartans have scored at least 30 points in each of their games, led by their running attack, which is averaging 241 yards (16th in the country).
Running backs Edwin Baker and Le’Veon Bell share the load for the Spartans. Baker (390 yards on 46 attempts) and Bell (304 on 37 attempts) both are averaging more than eight yards and have runs of at least 75 yards. Baker and Bell have combined for all eight of Michigan State’s rushing touchdowns with four apiece.
The Spartans can count on steady play from junior quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw for a season-high 245 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s dramatic 33-31 overtime win over Notre Dame when the Spartans won on a fake field. Cousins has been sacked seven times in three games so the offensive line will have to do a better job of keeping him upright.
Greg Jones spearheads the Spartan defense. The junior linebacker is averaging nearly 10 tackles and has two forced fumbles.
Michigan State will be without tight end Dion Sims, who was suspended Tuesday and faces arraignment Thursday after being charged with theft.
The Bears (2-1) boast a big-play offense, entering the game scoring better than 45 points, although all games have been against FCS opponents. Quarterback Dylan Orms has thrown for six touchdowns, including four to top receiver Jace Davis, who averages 20.1 yards per catch.
Saturday’s meeting is the first between the schools. Northern Colorado, from the Big Sky, is 0-2 all-time against Big Ten teams, losing to Iowa and Purdue.
Offensive coordinator Don Treadwell will fill in for Dantonio as the No. 23 Spartans (3-0) face the Bears (2-1) before starting Big Ten conference play against Wisconsin on Oct. 2. Given last week’s emotional chain of events, and the level of opponent, Treadwell’s biggest challenge will be making sure the Spartans are focused and motivated to play the Bears, a Football Championship Subdivision school.
Spartan players certainly will have Dantonio on their minds, but they received good news when the coach was released from the hospital Tuesday. He is expected back, but no timetable has been set.
From an offensive standpoint, the Spartans, who rely on a balanced attack, shouldn’t miss much. Treadwell is in his fourth year as Dantonio’s coordinator at Michigan State and he served in the same role at Cincinnati from 2004-2006. The Spartans have scored at least 30 points in each of their games, led by their running attack, which is averaging 241 yards (16th in the country).
Running backs Edwin Baker and Le’Veon Bell share the load for the Spartans. Baker (390 yards on 46 attempts) and Bell (304 on 37 attempts) both are averaging more than eight yards and have runs of at least 75 yards. Baker and Bell have combined for all eight of Michigan State’s rushing touchdowns with four apiece.
The Spartans can count on steady play from junior quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw for a season-high 245 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s dramatic 33-31 overtime win over Notre Dame when the Spartans won on a fake field. Cousins has been sacked seven times in three games so the offensive line will have to do a better job of keeping him upright.
Greg Jones spearheads the Spartan defense. The junior linebacker is averaging nearly 10 tackles and has two forced fumbles.
Michigan State will be without tight end Dion Sims, who was suspended Tuesday and faces arraignment Thursday after being charged with theft.
The Bears (2-1) boast a big-play offense, entering the game scoring better than 45 points, although all games have been against FCS opponents. Quarterback Dylan Orms has thrown for six touchdowns, including four to top receiver Jace Davis, who averages 20.1 yards per catch.
Saturday’s meeting is the first between the schools. Northern Colorado, from the Big Sky, is 0-2 all-time against Big Ten teams, losing to Iowa and Purdue.