EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Linebacker Cal Haladay was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row. He helped Michigan State to a 27-21 win over Rutgers University in East Lansing with a career-high 19 tackles. He is currently tied for first in the Big Ten for tackles at 99 (9.9 per game). He is the second MSU player to earn the defensive award twice in the same season.

MSU continued to show progress with another their solid win holding off Rutgers. Thorne threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns as Jalen Burger had one rushing touchdown. Jayden Reed and Daniel Barker both had receiving touchdowns.

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Barker gave MSU the 7-0 lead just before the first quarter ended on a 26-yard pass from Thorne. Rutgers tied it at seven with 5:52 left in the second only to see Berger run in a two-yard rush for a 14-7 lead with 2:05 left. MSU took the 14-7 lead at the half.

MSU held a 21-7 advantage in the third quarter on Thorne to Jayden Reed 25-yard pass at the 10:34 mark. Rutgers fought back with a one-yard run to cut the lead to seven, 21-14, with 1:30 left in the third. The Spartans scored twice in a three-minute span in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Ben Patton hit a 34-yard field goal for a 10-point lead, 24-14, and connected won a 48-yard field goal with 3:22 left making it 27-14. Rutgers scored with 47 seconds left to pull within six, 27-21, but failed to get the onside kick as MSU came away with the win.

The Spartans host Indiana on November 19 at 12:00 p.m. with the game on the Big Ten Network.