Elijah Collins
Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, left, hands off to running back Jalen Berger during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Akron, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
No. 14 Michigan State runs for 6 TDs in 52-0 rout of Akron

By Bob Tripi Sep. 10, 2022 07:54 PM EDT

File - Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker watches the second half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Oct. 16, 2021, in Bloomington, Ind. Tucker, entering his third season with the Spartans, knows what it takes to win it all. He did it as an assistant on championship-winning coaching staffs at Alabama in 2015 and with Ohio State in 2002. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
No. 15 Michigan St. opens season of promise vs W. Michigan

By Larry Lage Sep. 01, 2022 03:40 PM EDT

FILE - Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) leaps near Pittsburgh defensive back Judson Tallandier (26) during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football game Dec. 30, 2021, in Atlanta. Reed, an AP All-Big Ten all-purpose player, returned two punts for touchdowns last season and had team highs in catches (59), yards receiving (1,026) and receiving touchdowns (10). (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Michigan State on quest to sustain success under Mel Tucker

By Larry Lage Aug. 15, 2022 01:43 PM EDT

FILE - Michigan State running back Elijah Collins, left, runs for a touchdown against Youngstown State's Vinny Gentile (54) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Sept. 11, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. Collins is among the candidates to fill the hole left by the departure of Kenneth Walker III. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)
Michigan State searching for Walker replacements this spring

By Larry Lage Apr. 14, 2022 02:22 PM EDT

FILE - Pittsburgh wide receiver Jordan Addison runs with the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
No. 11 Spartans brace for Addison, No. 13 Pitt in Peach Bowl

By Charles Odum Dec. 29, 2021 12:47 PM EST

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud drops back to pass against Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Michigan State at Ohio State 11/20/2021

Nov. 20, 2021 02:23 PM EST

Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne throws a 75-yard touchdown pass off a flea-flicker on the first play from scrimmage against Youngstown State in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Thorne passes for 4 TDs, Michigan State rolls Youngstown St

Sep. 11, 2021 03:36 PM EDT

Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne throws a 75-yard touchdown pass off a flea-flicker on the first play from scrimmage against Youngstown State in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Youngstown State at Michigan State 9/11/2021

Sep. 11, 2021 01:51 PM EDT

Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs for a touchdown past Northwestern safety Brandon Joseph (16) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill., Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Michigan State at Northwestern 9/3/2021

Sep. 03, 2021 10:07 PM EDT

Iowa running back Tyler Goodson (15) scores on a 9-yard touchdown run during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Michigan State at Iowa 11/7/2020

Nov. 07, 2020 01:41 PM EST

Mel Tucker, Michigan State's new football coach, speaks during a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Expectations tempered for Michigan St in Tucker's 1st season

By Noah Trister Oct. 14, 2020 04:37 PM EDT

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard (30) is caught by Texas A&M defensive back Leon O'Neal Jr. (9) during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
No. 19 Iowa beats No. 22 USC 49-24 in Holiday Bowl

By The Associated Press Dec. 27, 2019 07:27 PM EST

Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke (14) runs away from Wake Forest defensive lineman Manny Walker (13) during the second half of the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Michigan State beats Wake Forest 27-21 in Pinstripe Bowl

By Dan Gelston Dec. 27, 2019 07:16 PM EST

Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson (2) throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Minnesota win away from its first Big Ten championship game

By Eric Olson Nov. 27, 2019 02:19 PM EST

Michigan State running back Elijah Collins (24) rushes past Rutgers defensive back Tim Barrow (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Michigan State keeps postseason hopes alive, beats Rutgers

By Tom Canavan Nov. 23, 2019 03:16 PM EST

Michigan linebacker Devin Gil (8) carries the Paul Bunyan Trophy after beating Michigan State 44-10 in an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
No. 14 Michigan, behind Patterson, rips Michigan State 44-10

By Larry Lage Nov. 16, 2019 04:08 PM EST

Michigan State running back Elijah Collins (24) pulls away from Illinois linebacker Dele Harding (9) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
No. 14 Michigan favored against struggling Michigan State

By The Associated Press Nov. 14, 2019 04:26 PM EST

Michigan State receiver Darrell Stewart, left, is pushed out of bounds by Indiana's Andre Brown (14) after a pass reception during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
No. 25 Michigan State gears up for tough October schedule

By Noah Trister Oct. 01, 2019 04:15 PM EDT

Indiana's Whop Philyor (1) returns a kick as Indiana's Taiwan Mullen, rear, illegally blocks Michigan State's Dominique Long (9) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
No. 25 Michigan State outlasts Indiana 40-31

By Noah Trister Sep. 28, 2019 07:40 PM EDT

Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey (12) throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Connecticut, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
No. 25 Michigan State hosts Indiana for Homecoming

By The Associated Press Sep. 26, 2019 04:04 PM EDT