Spartans Open Big Ten Play Saturday Evening at No. 25 USC

Game 4: Michigan State (3-0, 0-0 B1G) at No. 25 USC (3-0, 1-0 B1G)

---

Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Kickoff: 11:05 p.m. ET/8:05 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (71,349)
Surface: Natural Grass
Game Notes: MSU | USC

►BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: FOX

Streaming/Mobile: FOX Sports app

Announcers: Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst), Alexa Landestoy (sidelines)

Live Stats: usctrojans.com | Live Stats

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings

Play-by-Play: George Blaha

Analyst: Jehuu Caulcrick

Sidelines: Tre Mosley

Broadcast Hosts: Will Tieman, Dalton Shetler

Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/watch, MSU Spartans app, Tune In radio

Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)

Affiliates: 23 associates listed at msuspartans.com

Satellite: SiriusXM Ch. 372 | SiriusXM App

Pregame Show: Begins at 9:30 p.m. ET

 

►SERIES INFORMATION

All-Time Series: Tied, 4-4

Series in Los Angeles: USC leads, 3-0

Last Meeting: MSU 17, USC 16 (1990 John Hancock Bowl)

Current Series Streak: 3 by MSU

►HEAD COACHES

MSU Head Coach: Jonathan Smith

MSU Record: 8-7 (second yr)

Overall Record: 42-42 (eighth yr)

Record vs. USC: 1-2

USC Head Coach: Lincoln Riley

USC Record: 29-14 (fourth yr)

Overall Record: 84-24 (ninth yr)

Record vs. MSU: 0-0

►SPARTAN FOOTBALL NEWS AND NOTES

• Michigan State travels to No. 25 USC in a matchup of undefeated groups on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT within the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The sport will likely be televised nationally on FOX with Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst) and Alexa Landestoy (sidelines) on the decision.

• MSU improved to 3-0 on the season with a 41-24 victory over Youngstown State final Saturday in Spartan Stadium to shut out the nonconference portion of its schedule. The Spartans opened with a 23-6 win over Western Michigan and beat Boston College in double time beyond regulation, 42-40, in Week 2. 

• USC entered the AP Top 25 this week at No. 25 following a 33-17 win at Purdue final Saturday in West Lafayette. The Trojans started the season with dominant dwelling wins over Missouri State (73-13) and Georgia Southern (59-20).

• Second-year MSU head coach Jonathan Smith is the primary Spartan head coach to start out 3-0 in his first two seasons in East Lansing. The Spartans are additionally 3-0 in back-to-back years for the primary time since going 3-0 three straight seasons from 2005-07.

• Saturday marks the ninth all-time assembly between Michigan State and USC and the primary as Big Ten members. The total collection is tied, 4-4, with the Spartans proudly owning a three-game successful streak over the Trojans. In the final assembly between the 2 faculties, Michigan State edged USC, 17-16, within the 1990 John Hancock (Sun) Bowl in El Paso, Texas. MSU additionally beat USC twice throughout the 1987 season, defeating the Trojans 27-13 within the season opener in East Lansing, then claiming the rematch with a 20-17 win within the Rose Bowl. MSU is in search of its first win within the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after falling to the Trojans in L.A. in 1963, 1972 and 1978. This marks MSU’s first regular-season sport within the state of California since enjoying at Cal to start out the 2008 season.

• Smith and fourth-year USC head coach Lincoln Riley have confronted one another as soon as earlier than, a 17-14 win for USC in Corvallis, Oregon, on Sept. 22, 2022. Smith went 1-2 as a head coach in opposition to USC throughout his Oregon State tenure however is 1-0 in opposition to the Trojans within the Memorial Coliseum with a 45-27 win on Sept. 25, 2021.

►WELCOME BACK HOME

• Junior co-captain quarterback Aidan Chiles, a local of Long Beach, California, is headed again dwelling this week to play on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

• Chiles is off to a powerful begin for the 3-0 Spartans, finishing 71 % of his passes (58-of-81) for 656 yards (218.7 ypg) and 6 touchdowns in opposition to only one interception. He has additionally confirmed to be a working risk and ranks second on the crew in dashing with 123 yards on 30 carries with one rating (41.0 ypg). Chiles, who has began 15 consecutive video games for MSU, ranks eighth within the Big Ten in complete offense (259.7 ypg). 

• Chiles rushed for a career-high 76 yards in opposition to Youngstown State on simply eight carries, good for a 9.5-yard common, and compiled 346 yards of complete offense as he accomplished 22-of-29 passes (.758) for 270 yards and one TD. The .758 completion proportion was additionally a single-game profession finest for Chiles.

• Chiles was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after throwing a career-high 4 landing passes within the double-overtime win in opposition to Boston College in Week 2. He additionally had a 3-yard dashing TD within the second time beyond regulation and linked with Omari Kelly on the game-winning cross on MSU’s 2-point conversion in double time beyond regulation.

►NICK MARSH LOOKING FOR MORE AFTER RECORD-BREAKING FRESHMAN SEASON                  

• Sophomore extensive receiver Nick Marsh ranks tied for second within the Big Ten with three receiving touchdowns.  He had a career-high two TD catches vs. BC (11 yards in first quarter; 41 yards in third quarter).

• Marsh additionally at the moment ranks among the many Big Ten leaders in receptions (tied for fourth with 16; 5.3 pg) and receiving yards (twelfth with 64.7 ypg).

• Marsh set an MSU freshman document in 2024 for many receptions (41) and receiving yards (649). He has 16 catches for 194 yards (64.7 ypg) within the first three video games of 2025.

►MAKHI FRAZIER LEADS GROUND GAME IN FIRST YEAR AS STARTER                                    

• Sophomore working again Makhi Frazier leads the crew and ranks eleventh within the Big Ten in dashing, averaging 68.7 yards per sport (4.8 per carry) with two touchdowns. In his first collegiate begin, Frazier ran for 103 yards and a landing in opposition to Western Michigan, then adopted up with 81 yards on 17 carries in Week 2 in opposition to Boston College. 

►STOPPING THE RUN                                                              

• Michigan State ranks fourth within the Big Ten and ninth within the FBS in dashing protection, permitting simply 64.3 yards per sport (Western Michigan: 29 yards; Boston College: 67 yards; Youngstown State: 97 yards).

• The Spartans additionally rank among the many FBS leaders at twenty seventh in crew tackles for loss with 7.3 per sport.

►JORDAN HALL LEADS TEAM, RANKS FOURTH IN BIG TEN IN TACKLES                                   

• Junior co-captain linebacker Jordan Hall ranks tied for fourth within the Big Ten with 27 tackles (9.0 pg). He recorded a career-high 15 tackles, together with 9 solo stops, within the win over Boston College to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. Early within the first quarter, Hall compelled a fumble close to the aim line to forestall an Eagle landing as Armorion Smith recovered the ball for the Spartans. 

• A local of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Hall additionally leads the crew with 3.5 tackles for loss and a couple of.0 sacks.

►PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN RYAN ECKLEY A WEAPON ON SPECIAL TEAMS                                             

• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley, a Ray Guy Award candidate and preseason All-American, led the Big Ten in punting in 2024 together with his 47.9-yard common and was a second-team all-conference choice. 

• Eckley has confirmed why he is among the finest punters within the nation within the first three video games of the season. Although he would not meet the NCAA stat minimums after punting simply as soon as in opposition to Youngstown State, Eckley would rank No. 1 within the FBS together with his 52.0-yard punting common. He additionally ranks tied for first within the Big Ten in punts contained in the 20 (7) and in 50-yard plus punts (6). Eckley has dropped 5 punts contained in the opponents’ 10-yard line, together with three on the 1 and one on the 2.

• Eckley was named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week following his efficiency in opposition to Boston College in Week 2. He had two punts downed on the 1, and all three of his punts had been downed contained in the 20, for 0 return yards. He completed with a 54.7 yards per punt common, beginning his evening with a 60-yarder within the first quarter that was downed on the BC 12, then including a 55-yarder downed on the 1 early within the fourth quarter and topping his punting evening with a 49-yarder downed on the 1 on the second-to-last play of regulation.

• Eckley has a profession punting common of 47.7 yards per punt (110 punts for five,236 yards), which might rank No. 1 in class historical past (present document: Bryce Baringer, 46.0 avg.). That common additionally ranks No. 1 amongst present energetic gamers within the FBS.

►STAT LEADERS

Michigan State:

Rushing – So. Makhi Frazier (43 carries for 206 yards, 4.8 avg., 2 TDs, 68.7 ypg)

Passing – Jr. Aidan Chiles (58-of-81, .716, 656 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT, 218.7 ypg)

Receiving – So. Nick Marsh (16 receptions for 194 yards, 12.1 avg., 3 TDs, 64.7 ypg)

Tackles – Jr. LB Jordan Hall (27 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 2.0 sacks for 8 yards, 1 FF)

USC:

Rushing – Jr. Waymond Jordan (39 carries for 286 yards, 7.3 avg., 3 TDs, 95.3 ypg)

Passing – R-Jr. Jayden Maiava (48-of-70, .686, 989 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, 329.7 ypg)

Receiving – Jr. Makai Lemon (16 receptions for 311 yards, 19.4 avg., 2 TDs, 103.7 ypg)

Tackles – R-Sr. LB Eric Gentry (21 tackles, 5.0 TFLs for twenty-four yards, 3.0 sacks for 15 yards, 2 FR)

►MSU-USC: SERIES NOTES                                                          

• Saturday marks the ninth all-time assembly between Michigan State and USC. The total collection is tied, 4-4, with the Spartans proudly owning a three-game successful streak over the Trojans. 

• In the final assembly between the 2 faculties, Michigan State edged USC, 17-16, within the 1990 John Hancock (Sun) Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Current Spartan extensive receivers coach Courtney Hawkins was named the MVP of that sport after accounting for 216 all-purpose yards, together with a 21-yard landing within the second quarter. 

• MSU additionally beat USC twice throughout the 1987 season, defeating the Trojans 27-13 within the season opener in East Lansing, then claiming the rematch with a 20-17 win within the Rose Bowl. 

• MSU is in search of its first win within the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after falling to the Trojans in L.A. in 1963, 1972 and 1978.

►SPARTANS FROM THE GOLDEN STATE                                                          

• Michigan State has 5 gamers on its present roster from the state of California: junior quarterback Aidan Chiles (Long Beach/Downey High School), freshman quarterback Leo Hannan (Long Beach/Servite High School), redshirt freshman tight finish Wyatt Hook (Cupertino/Homestead), redshirt freshman quarterback Ryland Jessee (San Diego/Helix High School) and freshman offensive lineman Drew Nichols (Murrieta/Murrieta Valley).

►A GLANCE AT NO. 25 USC (3-0, 1-0 BIG TEN)                                                            

• The Trojans entered the Associated Press rankings this week at No. 25, whereas receiving votes within the AFCA Coaches Poll. Like the Spartans, the Trojans are among the many 39 FBS groups which can be 3-0 after the primary three weeks of the season getting into Saturday’s Big Ten conflict within the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

• USC improved to 3-0 total and 1-0 in Big Ten play after withstanding a three-hour climate delay in West Lafayette, Indiana, that noticed lightning and rain, as the unique 3:40 p.m. ET kickoff grew to become a 6:45 p.m. begin, for a 33-17 win at Purdue. It was the primary Big Ten assembly between the Trojans and Boilermakers and the general first assembly between USC and Purdue since 1998.

• USC opened the season with dwelling wins over Missouri State (73-13 on 8/30/25) and Georgia Southern (59-20 on 9/6/25) earlier than hitting the street for the battle with the Boilermakers.

• In the win over Purdue, as soon as the sport began after the climate rolled by, the Trojans’ offense obtained rolling with two dashing TDs and a 70-yard interception return for a TD by 360-pound redshirt sophomore defensive sort out Jamaal Jarrett, together with 4 area targets by redshirt freshman placekicker Ryon Sayeri. 

• USC completed with 460 yards of complete offense, with 178 yards dashing and 282 yards passing. The Trojan protection stymied Purdue to simply 52 yards dashing and 305 yards passing for 357 yards of complete offense.

• Redshirt junior quarterback Jayden Maiava was 17-of-28 passing for 282 yards and not using a TD nor an INT, and was sacked twice, ending with 10 dashing yards on seven makes an attempt, together with a 3-yard dashing TD within the second quarter to present USC a 10-0 lead.

• Junior working again Waymond Jordan rushed for 77 yards on 18 carries with one TD, a 6-yard scoring scamper within the second stanza. Redshirt senior working again Eli Sanders added 75 yards on 10 carries.

• Junior extensive receiver Makai Lemon led the receiving corps with 5 catches for 63 yards, whereas junior wideout JaKobi Lane led the best way with 115 yards on three catches.

• Redshirt senior linebacker Eric Gentry spearheaded the Trojan protection with eight tackles, together with 2.0 sacks as a part of 3.0 tackles for loss, including two compelled fumbles. Redshirt senior security Bishop Fitzgerald snared two of USC’s three interceptions on the day, with each main the Trojan scores. Fitzgerald added 5 stops.

• On the season, the Trojans lead the B1G and rank second within the FBS in scoring offense at 55.0 factors per sport, boosted by hanging 73 factors on the scoreboard in opposition to Missouri State and 59 vs. Georgia Southern.

• USC leads not solely the convention, however the nation, in complete offense, with 604 yards per sport, rating second within the league and sixth within the nation in passing offense (364.0 ypg), whereas rating fifth within the B1G and seventeenth within the FBS in dashing offense (240.0 ypg).

• The Trojan protection ranks 14th within the league and 59th within the nation in complete protection (319.3 ypg), rating seventh within the B1G and twenty second within the FBS in dashing protection (86.3 ypg) and seventeenth within the convention and 97th within the nation in passing yards allowed (233.0 ypg).

• Maiava tops the B1G and ranks fifth within the FBS in passing (329.7 ypg), additionally main the nation in each passing effectivity (215.5) and passing yards per completion (20.6 ypc). He is 48-of-70 for 989 yards, with six TDs and no INTs. Maiava provides 24 dashing yards on 11 makes an attempt, with two dashing TDs.

• Lemon is second within the league and twelfth within the nation in receiving yards (103.7 ypg), with 16 receptions for 311 yards, rating tied for ninth within the convention and 52nd within the nation in receiving TDs (2).

• Lane leads the B1G and ranks sixth within the FBS in yards per reception (26.6 ypc), whereas rating sixth within the league and forty sixth within the nation in receiving (79.7 ypg), with 9 catches for 239 yards with one TD.

• Jordan is fourth within the convention and twenty fourth within the nation in dashing (95.3 ypg), in addition to seventh within the B1G and thirty seventh within the FBS in dashing TDs (3), with 39 carries for 286 yards (7.3 ypc).

• Defensively, Gentry additionally tops the Trojans on the season, sharing the lead within the B1G and rating tied for third within the FBS in solo tackles per sport (7), and rating second within the league and seventeenth within the nation in tackles for loss per sport (1.7). Gentry has 21 complete tackles, with 5.0 TFL and three.0 sacks, including two fumble recoveries.

 • Fitzgerald leads the league and ranks twenty sixth within the nation in passes defended per sport (1.3), whereas topping each the convention and nation in interceptions per sport (1.0), with three INTs and one cross break-up for 4 complete passes defended. He provides 15 tackles with 0.5 TFL.

• USC head coach Lincoln Riley is in his fourth season main the Trojans, posting a 29-14 at USC . . . Riley is in his ninth yr as a head coach, with an total mark of 84-24.

LAST TIME OUT: MSU 41, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 24

►GAME RECAP                                           

• Michigan State scored a pair of touchdowns within the third quarter to open a 21-point lead en path to a 41-24 win over Youngstown State at Spartan Stadium final Saturday afternoon.

• Junior quarterback Aidan Chiles accomplished 22-of-29 passes for 270 yards and one landing, whereas working eight instances for a career-high 76 yards. 

• Sophomore Nick Marsh had a season-high six catches for 94 yards, all within the first half, and senior tight finish Jack Velling additionally had a season-high six receptions for 70 yards.

• The Spartans accrued a season-high 444 yards of complete offense within the win.

• MSU improved to 10-0 all-time vs. groups from the NCAA FCS.

►SCORING SUMMARY                                                      

Although Youngstown State (2-1) took an early 3-0 lead on a prolonged 15-play, 65-yard opening drive that took 7:39 off the clock, Michigan State responded with a 10-play, 82-yard landing march on its first collection, capped by a Rodney Bullard Jr. 8-yard reverse that made it 7-3 MSU with 1:13 left within the first quarter.

Michigan State went up 14-3 with one other landing on its second collection of the sport, going 87 yards on 12 performs over the course of 6:37, as Makhi Frazier rushed into the top zone for a 1-yard rating on the 8:07 mark within the second quarter.

The Penguins scored their first landing of the sport on their third collection, sparked by a 66-yard rush by Jaden Gilbert to the MSU 1-yard line that led to a 1-yard landing run by Gilbert two performs later, chopping the Spartan result in 14-10 with 5:59 left within the first half.

Armorion Smith recorded his first interception as Spartan proper earlier than halftime, and MSU took benefit of the turnover with a 24-yard Martin Connington area aim as time expired within the first half.

In the third quarter, Omari Kelly almost returned a punt for a landing for 83 yards, the Tenth-longest in MSU historical past, however was stopped on the YSU 4-yard line. MSU transformed on the following play with a 4-yard dashing TD by Brandon Tullis to take a 24-10 lead.

The Spartans then went up 31-10 on the 6:55 mark within the third quarter on Michael Masunas’ 28-yard landing seize ultimately zone on their subsequent possession.

Youngstown State trimmed its deficit to 2 touchdowns at 31-17 after Penguin QB Beau Brungard transformed on fourth-and-goal for a 3-yard landing cross to RK Dandridge with 1:17 remaining within the third.MSU went again up 17 factors on Connington’s second area aim of the sport, this time from 27 yards out with 8:44 left within the fourth.

Youngstown State minimize the lead all the way down to 10 factors, 34-24, when Brungard linked with Kylon Wilson on a 19-yard run-and-catch for a landing, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive over 5:39. The Spartans took over with 3:04 left within the sport and closed out the scoring on a 22-yard landing run from Elijah Tau-Tolliver with 1:48 left within the sport, making it 41-24.

►OFFENSIVE NOTES                                                     

• MSU has now scored 40-plus factors in back-to-back video games for the primary time since 2017, scoring 40 in a 40-7 win over Rutgers (11/25/17) after which 42 within the 42-17 conquer Washington State (12/28/17) within the 2017 Holiday Bowl . . . it is the primary time with 40-plus factors in back-to-back regular-season video games since 2014, scoring 45 in a 45-31 win over Purdue (10/11/14) and 56 in a 56-14 rout of Indiana (10/18/14).

• MSU solely had 10 possessions, however scored on seven of them, with 5 touchdowns and two area targets, with the opposite drives ending on turnover on downs, one punt and one interception.

• The Spartans’ 82-yard drive in 6:11 for its opening TD of the sport not solely marked the third time in as many video games that MSU scored a TD on its opening possession however was the longest scoring drive of the season for each performs and instances . . . the highest marks solely lasted a couple of minutes as that was topped on Michigan State’s subsequent possession, scoring on an 87-yard drive in 6:37 for the following TD.

 • Reigning Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week, junior quarterback Aidan Chiles rushed for a career-high 76 yards on simply eight carries (9.5 ypc) . . . the 76 yards dashing topped his earlier profession lengthy of 57 yards final season vs. Boston College on 9/21/24 . . . the 9.5 ypc was additionally a career-high when having greater than 4 carries, topping the earlier high mark of 6.3 ypc (57 yards on 9 carries in aforementioned sport vs. Boston College), and solely trailing total collegiate profession bests of 14.5 (29 yards on two carries vs. Colorado) and 10.5 ypc (42 yards on 4 carries vs. UC Davis) throughout his freshman season of 2023 at Oregon State. 

• Chiles was additionally 22-of-29 passing, for a brand new single-game career-high .759 completion proportion, for 270 yards with one TD . . . he now has six TD passes this season by three video games after not hitting the six-TD mark final season till sport seven, and almost half of final yr’s season-total of 13 TDs, whereas surpassing his 2023 season complete at Oregon State with 4; Chiles did throw his first interception of the season, snapping his streak of 5 straight video games and not using a decide.

• The 270 yards passing strikes Chiles to three,071 yards passing as a Spartan, changing into the 18th QB in MSU historical past to throw for 3,000 yards in a Spartan jersey, and is now at No. 17 on MSU’s profession passing yards checklist.

• Senior tight finish Jack Velling had a career-high tying six catches after no catches in Week 2, together with 4 within the second quarter alone, with two receptions approaching the identical drive throughout one scoring drive early within the quarter, with the second catch establishing MSU on the YSU 3, because the Spartans punched it in two performs later . . . Velling’s fourth catch of the second stanza obtained went all the way down to the YSU 1, and the Spartans once more struck the top zone two performs later.

• Velling’s six catches Saturday matched his earlier career-high of six catches final yr vs. Boston College (9/21/24) . . . the 70 yards was his third outing of 70+ yards as a Spartan, behind two video games of 77 yards, first vs. Boston College and the later vs. Rutgers within the season finale (11/30/24).

• Senior extensive receiver Omari Kelly had 4 catches for 49 yards, as he has 4 or extra receptions in every of his three video games as a Spartan after 4 final week vs. Boston College and 7 vs. Western Michigan within the season opener . . . he completed with a game-high 139 all-purpose yards after recording 90 punt return yards, together with an 83-yarder within the third quarter that arrange MSU’s third TD of the sport; the 83-yard punt return marked the Tenth-longest in MSU historical past and the second-longest that did not go for a TD. 

• After no TD catches in his first 14 video games performed as a Spartan, redshirt junior Michael Masunas now has a TD catch in back-to-back video games following the primary TD of his profession final week vs. Boston College, including a 28-yard catch from Chiles within the third quarter.

• Senior working again Elijah Tau-Tolliver scored his first TD as a Spartan with a 22-yard scamper within the fourth quarter . . . it was Tau-Tolliver’s fifteenth career-rushing TD after 14 throughout his time at Sacramento State (2021-24), with seven in every of 2023 and 2024 season.

• Sophomore working again Brandon Tullis had seven rushes for 31 yards and a TD, approaching a 4-yard scamper within the second stanza . . . Tullis now has two dashing scores by three video games this season, scoring the primary of his profession within the season opener vs. Western Michigan.

• Graduate extensive receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. scored the primary profession dashing TD with an 8-yard finish round for MSU’s opening rating within the first quarter . . . Bullard now has 21 TDs in his collegiate profession with 19 receiving TDs and one kick return for a TD throughout his three seasons at Valdosta State (2022-24).

►DEFENSIVE NOTES                                                    

• Redshirt senior linebacker Wayne Matthews III was named the Spartan Defensive Player of the Week after main the crew with 10 tackles. 

• Redshirt senior defensive again Armorion Smith snared his first interception as a Spartan and second of his profession with a decide within the second quarter; he additionally had an interception at Cincinnati in 2022.

►SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES                                                    

• Reigning Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week Ryan Eckley was solely wanted to punt as soon as, going for 48 yards and it had a 0-yard return.

• Redshirt freshman placekicker Martin Connington made two area targets for the second straight sport with a 24-yarder as time expired within the first half, including a 27-yarder within the fourth quarter . . . Connington had a 50 and 39-yarder final week vs. Boston College and is now 4-of-4 on area targets . . . he’s additionally 6-of-6 on PATs with 5 in opposition to YSU after one vs. BC in time beyond regulation.