Joe Bachie Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

EAST LANSING, Mich. – For the third time in his career, Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

Bachie was all over the field in MSU's 24-3 victory at Maryland last Saturday. The Brook Park, Ohio, native forced a career-high three fumbles, recovering one, and also had seven tackles, two tackles for loss (5 yards) and tied a career-high with two pass break-ups.

Bachie's impressive performance helped Michigan State hold Maryland to season lows in total yards (100) and rushing yards (26). MSU has limited seven of its nine opponents to under 100 yards rushing this season, and it also marked the first time the Spartans have held an opponent under 100 yards passing (74) in 2018. The 74 yards passing were the fewest by a Spartan opponent since Rutgers had 40 on Nov. 12, 2016. In addition, the Spartans recorded five sacks (43 yards) and nine tackles for loss (54 yards).

For the season, Bachie leads the Spartans with 68 tackles and also ranks among the team leaders in tackles for loss (third with 6.5) and pass break-ups (fourth with five). He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week twice last season (vs. Michigan on Oct. 7 and against Indiana on Oct. 21).

No. 24 Michigan State (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) returns to action Saturday, Nov. 10 to face No. 8 Ohio State (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) at noon in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on FOX.

BIG TEN SCHEDULE UPDATE: The Big Ten has announced that the TV networks have chosen to use the second of their allotted six-day selections for the games of Nov. 17; however, no games will be selected for prime time on that day. MSU plays at Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 17. The game times for the Nov. 17 games will be announced following the games on Nov. 10.
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