Early Look: Michigan State Spartans (4-4, 2-3)

The Michigan State Spartans, fresh off a three-game losing streak, host an Illinois team wanting to get bowl eligible and get its first win in East Lansing since 2006.

Date/time: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2:30 p.m. CST

Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

Surface: Grass

Capacity: 75,005

Schedule/records: Illinois 5-4 overall, 3-3 Big Ten, 4-8 in 2018 (2-7 in Big Ten); Michigan State 4-4 overall, 2-3 in Big Ten, 7-6 (5-4 in Big Ten) in 2018.

Series notes: Michigan State leads the all-time series against Illinois, 26-18-2, and holds a 13-8-1 edge in East Lansing. The two teams have met only once in the last six seasons, a 31-27 Illinois win in Champaign on Nov. 5, 2016.

TV: FS1

Early line: Michigan State by 13

Michigan State will be without its best linebacker

Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie (35) prepares for the snap of the ball during the second half of a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Spartan Stadium :: Mike Carter/USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State senior linebacker and co-captain Joe Bachie was declared ineligible by the Big Ten Conference last week after he reportedly failed a drug test.

According to the university, which plans to appeal the suspension, Bachie tested positive “for a substance that is classified as a performance-enhancing substance banned by the league." 

“Joe Bachie has built himself into an All-Big Ten middle linebacker and two-time team captain through his incredible work ethic and leadership skills,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said in a statement. “This situation breaks my heart, but I know Joe is resilient and accountable. No one feels worse than Joe does, a sentiment he expressed when he spoke to the team earlier (Thursday).”

Bachie leads the Spartans defense this season with 71 tackles this season, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and an interception.

Illinois natives lead Spartans' elite defensive front

Michigan State Spartans defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk (72) sacks Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Hunter Johnson (15) during the first half at Ryan Field :: Matt Marton/USA TODAY Sports

Defensive tackles Mike Panasiuk and Raequan Williams have started alongside each other on the interior of the defensive line for 37 consecutive games, dating back to the Ohio State game on Nov. 19, 2016. The duo was a big reason why MSU ranked No. 1 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing defense in 2018 and rank 25th in the nation in that category this season. 

Williams, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by The Associated Press in 2018, recorded career bests in tackles (53), tackles for loss (10.5) and pass break-ups (5) as a junior. The Chicago native ranks second among active Spartans with 26.5 career tackles for loss, including 10.0 career sacks, in 45 career games. Williams currently ranks tied for second on the Spartans in sacks (3.5) and sixth in tackles for loss (5.0).

Panasiuk has 37 straight starts at defensive tackle, was named honorable mention All-Big Ten for the second year in a row in 2018. The Roselle, Illinois, native is a big reason why MSU remains difficult to run against and has 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks this season. 

Spartans TB Elijah Collins slowed in Big Ten play

Redshirt freshman Elijah Collins is averaging a team-best 68.1 yards rushing per game (115 carries for 545 yards; 4.7 avg.), which ranks seventh in the Big Ten. His 68.1 yards per game also ranks second in the conference and 11th among Football Bowl Subdivision schools for freshman running backs. However, most of that yardage has come in one game, his first start. 

Michigan State running back Elijah Collins (24) is tackled by Penn State safety Lamont Wade (38) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium :: Mike Carter/USA TODAY Sports

In his first career start at tailback on Sept. 7 against Western Michigan, Collins recorded 192 rushing yards on 17 carries, the second-most by a Spartan freshman in a single game (Javon Ringer had 194 yards at Illinois in 2005). In addition, Collins’ 192 rushing yards were the most by a freshman starting running back in school history. Collins had three rushes of 20-plus yards (career-long 58-yarder in the third quarter; 29-yarder on the second play from scrimmage; 24-yarder in the second quarter). Collins has only 264 yards in five Big Ten games and in his last two games (at Wisconsin and vs. Penn State), he's been contained to 69 yards on 25 carries.

Lovie Smith on this game (his 46th at Illinois) at Michigan State:

"I'm not downplaying it all. This is the biggest game we've had here since I've been here. I told the team that after the (Rutgers) game."