Michigan State Football

If you were looking to buy low on Kenneth Walker III as a Heisman Trophy dark horse, that time has passed.

The Michigan State star is now +500 to win college football's top individual honor, the fourth-best moneyline at DraftKings Sportsbook. His odds skyrocketed following the Spartans' 37-33 victory over rival Michigan on Saturday.

Kenneth Walker III's Heisman odds entering today's game: +1600

After today's game: +500 😳 pic.twitter.com/9lR5k3hGQb

— br_betting (@br_betting) October 30, 2021

Their offense was effectively a one-man show, as Walker carried the ball 23 times for 197 yards and five touchdowns. He now has 1,194 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground for 8-0 Michigan State.

At +170, Alabama's Bryce Young is the Heisman favorite, but he hasn't built an unassailable lead. Young's 2,453 passing yards and 26 touchdowns to three interceptions are impressive yet not otherworldly.

Michigan State still has trips to Purdue and Ohio State and will host Maryland and then Penn State in its finale. Should the Spartans win out, Walker could overtake his fellow contenders in the Heisman race.

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Michigan State remains perfect after notching the biggest win of the Mel Tucker era, a 37-33 victory over No. 6 Michigan on Saturday in East Lansing, Michigan.

Kenneth Walker III was a one-man wrecking crew, scoring all five of his team's touchdowns and putting MSU ahead for only the second (and final) time with 5:08 on the clock.

The eighth-ranked Spartans are now the Big Ten's only unbeaten team, and taking down their in-state rivals will be a big demonstration of their College Football Playoff bona fides.

On the other side, the result could take on an added importance depending on how the rest of the year shakes out for the Wolverines. A 7-0 start had some wondering whether things were finally changing under Jim Harbaugh. Instead, it looks like they're the same as they ever were.

(6) Michigan at (8) Michigan State will mark the 5th AP top-10 matchup in series history and the first since 1964. The road team won the 4 previous such games.

Michigan is 2-8 against AP-ranked opponents on the road under Jim Harbaugh, including 0-5 vs AP Top-10 teams. pic.twitter.com/1ESxp2PbpZ

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 30, 2021

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Notable Performers

Payton Thorne, QB, Michigan State: 19-of-31, 196 yards, two interceptions

Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State: 23 carries, 197 yards, five touchdowns; three receptions, 11 yards

Cade McNamara, QB, Michigan: 28-of-44, 383 yards, two touchdowns, one interception

Andrel Anthony, WR: Michigan: six receptions, 155 yards, two touchdowns

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Walker Polishes Heisman Resume

Because of how much quarterbacks have come to dominate the award, Walker's odds of winning a Heisman Trophy weren't very good to begin Saturday. That may not be the case anymore.

Michigan State was playing from behind for almost the entire game, so head coach Mel Tucker had to lean on the passing game to move the ball quickly. When Walker did get the ball in his hands, he capitalized.

Kenneth Walker made something out of nothing 👀

(via @CFBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/6lgKi7SoZo

— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) October 30, 2021

Kenneth Walker showing some Sanders-esque start-and-stop ability.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 30, 2021

Payton Thorne did well to shake off a pair of early interceptions, but this installment of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry was a showcase for Walker. His 58-yard touchdown run to help tie the game at 30 points in the fourth quarter certainly fit the bill for the proverbial "Heisman Moment."

THIS DUDE IS UNBELIEVABLE 😱🔥@Kenneth_walker9 scores his FOURTH touchdown of the game for @MSU_Football! pic.twitter.com/1gtjXOaQW7

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 30, 2021

Kenneth Walker was RB1 in the latest @PFF position rankings. Such a complete runner. Can run through, around, or past you

— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) October 30, 2021

If Michigan State manages to win the Big Ten—and even if the Spartans fail to get that far—Walker at least warrants a trip to New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony if he keeps performing like this.

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Costly Fumble Overshadows Offensive Improvement

Heading into the game, ESPN's Bill Connelly wrote how this matchup would be a big test for Cade McNamara and a Michigan offense that ranked 91st in explosive play rate.

The Wolverines responded to the challenge on their first drive. On 3rd-and-5 from his own 7-yard line, McNamara hit Andrel Anthony, and the freshman wide receiver did the rest for a 93-yard touchdown.

YOU'RE NOT CATCHING HIM ⚡️@UMichFootball gets the first TD of the game thanks to this 93-yard catch and run by @andrel_jr! pic.twitter.com/QecWvygzrP

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 30, 2021

McNamara and J.J. McCarthy, who played a handful of snaps, weren't shredding Michigan State's secondary with deep throws down the field. Instead, they found consistent success with intermediate throws that added up to a lot of yardage.

vs Zone and Man they're forcing Sparty to cover more yards vertically and horizontally. Makes area in zone a lot bigger than only running routes 20 yards and down. Makes DBs have to actually cover instead of sit when they're in man.

— Michael Felder (@InTheBleachers) October 30, 2021

Cade McNamara has made some beautiful throws across the middle today. Great touch and accuracy.

— Josh Newkirk (@JoshNewkirk7) October 30, 2021

Harbaugh's decision to deploy both McNamara and McCarthy came back to bite him in the fourth quarter, though.

Michigan averted disaster when a fumble by McCarthy bounced out of bounds. The Wolverines weren't as fortunate the second time around as McCarthy mishandled a handoff to Blake Corum.

McCarthy’s earned the right to play in a game like this. But he also just fumbled on the last drive. He doesn’t necessarily deserve a second chance in the biggest game of the year when Cade is dealing the way he has all day.

— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) October 30, 2021

Michigan fans are also left to rue the defensive touchdown that was wiped off the board in the second quarter when the referees determined Thorne was down before losing control of the ball. Aidan Hutchinson had recovered the fumble in the end zone.

The Spartans eventually punted, and the Wolverines settled for a field goal on their next drive. The four points they lost sure would've helped late in the game.

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What's Next?

Michigan hosts Indiana on Nov. 6, while Michigan State hits the road to play Purdue.

As LSU and head football coach Ed Orgeron are expected to part ways this offseason, the school may have already identified a candidate for his replacement.

According to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker has been mentioned by "several industry sources" as a potential option for LSU's coaching search.

In his second year has Michigan State head coach, Tucker has coached the Spartans to a 7-0 record and a No. 9 ranking. Michigan State topped Indiana 20-15 on Saturday and is one of two remaining undefeated teams in the Big Ten along with Michigan.

Michigan State went 2-5 in 2020, but Rittenberg noted that Tucker was able to achieve a quick turnaround after he "flipped the Spartans' roster through the transfer portal this summer." Rittenberg also described Tucker as a "top-level recruiter."

Tucker is in just his third year as an FBS head coach, leading Colorado to a 5-7 record in 2019 and taking the MSU job after one season. Prior to that, Tucker spent time on defensive coaching staffs at Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU.

Tucker also has extensive experience as an assistant in the NFL. He was defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars as defensive coordinator. He was promoted to interim head coach in 2011 when Jacksonville fired head coach Jack Del Rio.

The Spartans are off this week before rivalry showdown against the No. 6 Wolverines at home on Oct. 30.      

A Michigan State football player, known only as John Doe, has filed a lawsuit against the school claiming he has been unfairly suspended amid a sexual assault investigation, per Ken Palmer of the Lansing State Journal.

A female student said the sophomore was one of two Spartans football players to sexually assault her in January 2021. The plaintiff denies the claim, saying the encounter was consensual.

Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker suspended the player indefinitely from all team activities after learning of the accusation in February. The investigation remains active, preventing the player from returning to the team.

"Depriving plaintiff of access to the football team's activities deprives plaintiff of a substantial educational opportunity," the lawsuit states.

The woman asked Michigan State to conduct a formal investigation on March 30, although there has been no resolution to this point.

"MSU has not completed the grievance process, has not submitted the case to the final decision-makers, has not held a hearing, and has not provided Plaintiff with either updates regarding timing or an end date," the lawsuit stated, per ESPN's Paula Lavigne.

Michigan State didn't comment on the matter, calling it a "pending litigation," according to Matt Wenzel of MLive.com.

The school hired a new Title IX coordinator earlier this month with Nicole Schmidtke replacing Tanya Jachimiak in a role that oversees sexual assault allegations. Michigan State was fined $4.5 million by the U.S. Education Department in 2019 because of its lack of compliance with Title IX, mostly stemming from sexual assault allegations against former university doctor Larry Nassar.

Lavigne and Nicole Noren of ESPN also reported in 2018 an extensive list of sexual assault and domestic violence accusations against Spartans football players under then-head coach Mark Dantonio. Tucker was hired in February 2020 after Dantonio resigned.   

Michigan State football and men's basketball players will receive a year-round, $500 monthly stipend as part of a name, image and likeness deal with United Wholesale Mortgage, which is run by former MSU walk-on basketball player Mat Ishbia.

Tyler J. Davis of the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday the agreement covers all 133 players on the football and men's basketball rosters. It follows a $32 million donation from Ishbia to the school's athletic department in February.

"The Spartan family sticks together, and that's what makes MSU athletics so special," Ishbia said. "Each player contributes to the team in a positive way and we're excited to help support them, while also helping educate consumers about the benefits of independent mortgage brokers."

It's one of the largest agreements since a Supreme Court ruling in June that said the NCAA couldn't limit "education-related benefits" because of antitrust law, which opened the door for student-athletes to sign NIL deals.

Ishbia was part of the Spartans' championship squad during the 1999-2000 season, and his company has hired former MSU players Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell and Adam Wolfe. Cleaves discussed how much a monthly stipend could have improved his life as a student-athlete, per Davis.

"I was a star athlete and having access to resources like this would have made a huge difference in my career in a very positive way," he said. "What UWM is doing for these Spartan athletes is unprecedented, and aligns closely with what Coach Izzo and MSU taught us, which is to always take care of our family."

The announcement didn't state when the payments to the athletes will begin.

Michigan State's football team opened its season Friday with a 38-21 win over Northwestern. The men's basketball squad will tip off the 2021-22 campaign Nov. 9 against Kansas in the Champions Classic.

Antonio Gates Jr. announced his commitment Monday to Michigan State on Twitter:

💚🤍 pic.twitter.com/cwDrX5t4RB

— AntonioGatesJr‼️‼️‼️ (@AntoniogatesJr1) July 26, 2021

The Michigan native is the son of Antonio Gates, who spent 16 years in the NFL with the Chargers while earning eight Pro Bowl selections. The 41-year-old leads all tight ends and ranks seventh in NFL history with 116 career touchdown receptions.

The younger Gates plays wide receiver but is considered a 4-star recruit and the No. 293 overall player in the class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

The 6'1", 185-pound prospect had more than 20 scholarship offers, including from Florida, Penn State and Tennessee, but he liked what Michigan State has shown with young receivers.

"They utilize their receivers right, they had one of the top freshman receivers in the country last year and they're just a good program overall," he said of Michigan State in April, per Allen Trieu of 247Sports.

Spartans wideout Ricky White averaged 22.3 yards per catch as a freshman last year.

Gates will already have a head start on his father, who did not play football in college and instead played basketball at Kent State before reaching the NFL as an undrafted free agent. The future Hall of Famer initially signed with Michigan State to play football for then-coach Nick Saban, but he transferred to Eastern Michigan for the opportunity to play basketball before moving on to Kent.

Michigan State defensive back Shakur Brown will skip his senior year at Michigan State after declaring for the 2021 NFL draft, he announced in a tweet Monday.

"Ever since I was a child, it has always been my dream to compete at the highest level and play in the NFL," Brown wrote. "After much prayer and discussion with my family, I believe the time is right for me to pursue that dream."

pic.twitter.com/6JY2IFuVDU

— Shakur Brown (@shackspeare29) December 14, 2020

Brown is tied for the national lead in interceptions this season with five and has also broken up four passes for the 2-5 Spartans, who end the season Saturday against Maryland. Brown did not say if he would play in the final game.

Per Matt Wenzel of MLive.com, Brown is the third cornerback in as many years to depart Michigan State a season early in favor of the NFL draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Josiah Scott in the fourth round earlier this year, a year after the Pittsburgh Steelers added Justin Layne.

After redshirting his first year, he tallied six tackles and returned an interception for a score through 12 games in 2018. He played in only seven games in 2019 because of injuries, recording 23 tackles, six pass breakups, two sacks and an interception.

Unless he plays Saturday, Brown will end his Michigan State tenure with 54 tackles, 16 pass breakups, seven interceptions and a pair of sacks through 26 appearances.

Michigan State football players Luke Fulton and Charles Willekes have both been suspended indefinitely from all team activities after getting arrested in September, according to Matt Wentzel of MLive.com.

Fulton was charged with aggravated assault related to a criminal complaint on Sept. 8 in East Lansing, but later accepted a plea for misdemeanor assault and battery. Willekes was arrested regarding the same complaint but his records have been sealed. 

Both players will have their records sealed as long as they complete the conditions of their sentence under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act. Fulton and Willekes will also avoid any jail time provided they complete the conditions of their plea agreements.

Fulton's lawyer Mike Nichols explained the situation involving his client.

"In order to avoid any misleading information, even though that record is supposed to be sealed at this point in the case, the charge was reduced to assault and battery, which is not an unusual resolution where the person really wasn't really hurt badly," Nichols said.

The Spartans are scheduled to begin their season Saturday against Rutgers after the entire Big Ten conference season was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both players were looking to see more action in 2020 after redshirting during their first season last year.

Willekes is a walk-on who followed in the path of his brother, Kenny Willekes, who was a star last season for Michigan State after totaling 10 sacks and 78 tackles. The younger of the two appeared in one game last year on special teams.

Fulton was a 3-star recruit out of Ohio but is yet to see regular-season action.

Michigan State placed all of its football players into quarantine or self-isolation for 14 days after a member of the team and a second staff member tested positive for the coronavirus.

The school said in a statement: 

"As part of the athletic department's return to campus policy, student-athletes quarantine when coming into close contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19. The university has designated areas available to house individuals in quarantine as needed based upon the living arrangements of student-athletes."

After a second staffer tests positive for COVID-19, Michigan State announces the entire football team will quarantine/isolate for 14 days pic.twitter.com/azhRPpT4TI

— Matt Charboneau (@mattcharboneau) July 24, 2020

The NCAA Division I Council allowed schools to hold limited practices for their football and basketball teams as early as June 1 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To prepare for the 2020 football season, the group laid out a six-week schedule to steadily ramp up workouts.

With students slowly returning to campus, a number of schools announced they had student-athletes test positive for the coronavirus.

The council's plan gave the option of coaches requiring student-athletes to work out and attend team meetings for up to 20 hours per week beginning on Friday.

Michigan State, however, announced on Wednesday it was temporarily suspending all football training after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.

The Big Ten announced it was adopting conference-only schedules for its fall sports this season. Friday's news, however, raises further doubts about the viability of staging a college football season any earlier than the spring.

If this was the season, the entire Michigan State team would miss two games. I don't currently have an answer for how the league would handle that. Also a reminder that conference-only decisions can't stop this - only provide a window of flexibility to try and react to it..

— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) July 24, 2020

The Spartans were originally supposed to kick off the season Sept. 5 against Northwestern. The school lists its schedule as "TBA" following the Big Ten's announcement.

Former Michigan State wide receiver Andre Rison alleged Monday former Spartans assistant coach Carl "Buck" Nystrom slapped him before a game against Illinois in October 1986. 

Rison told ESPN's Eric Woodyard he originally felt the situation was "part of being tough and being a football player that wanted to make it to the National Football League," but his view has changed over time, especially amid the current movement for racial justice.

"When the coach slapped me, the whole room got silent, and Mark Ingram Sr. put his arm around me," he said. "I shed a tear. I had never been struck by a grown man. Not by my grandfather, not by my father—who wasn't in my life a lot—but I just had never been struck by any man, and then I had never been struck by a white man, for sure. For a long time, I just held it in."

Rison played at MSU from 1985 through 1988. He explained to Woodyard the incident was never disclosed to anyone outside of those in the locker room that day, a group that included former Spartans defensive coordinator and current Alabama head coach Nick Saban:

"That man had no right to hit me. I never told my mom. I never told anybody. The only people that really knew were our whole team and all the coaches. Nick Saban was on that staff. He was one of the ones that came to me and consulted me. That's why I respect him to this day. I don't have to call Nick Saban every day and knock his door down, but Nick Saban offered my son a scholarship [to Alabama], and that was fair to me. That was fair and was all I ever asked for. I love Nick. I love Nick like a father figure."

Nystrom was an All-American guard at Michigan State before later returning to the school to serve as the offensive line coach. He was inducted in the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2014 class.

Neither Michigan State nor Kyle Nystrom, his son and Northern Michigan's current head football coach, returned requests for comment about Rison's allegation, per Woodyard.

Rison added he's happy to see the ongoing efforts to achieve racial equality:

"I played basketball at Michigan State and I also made All-Big Ten at Michigan State in indoor track, and I thought it was part of the culture of trying to get to the next level. Also, I was fresh off watching 'Roots' as a kid and listening to how slavery was. We were real close to [having learned] that, but not like this generation of professional athletes, so that's why I commend them for how they stand up and protest and the way they do for racial change.

"For me, myself, being in an interracial relationship, in a marriage of 15 years, I love my wife, and it doesn't matter what color you are and what race you come from, because we're all human."

Rison was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft. He earned five Pro Bowl selections and won Super Bowl XXXI with the Green Bay Packers in 1997 during a 12-year career.

Nystrom retired in 1992 after a 38-year collegiate coaching career.