NOAH TRISTER
Rutgers linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi (3) knocks the ball away from Michigan State running back Jordan Simmons (22) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
No. 13 Michigan hosts Michigan State in fan-free Big House

By Noah Trister Oct. 29, 2020 01:08 PM EDT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Toward the end of his video conference with reporters

Rutgers defensive lineman Julius Turner (50) tackles Michigan State running back Connor Heyward (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Loss to Rutgers shows how far Michigan State has to go

By Noah Trister Oct. 27, 2020 05:53 PM EDT
If anyone doubted the challenge facing new Michigan State coach Mel Tucker, it

Michigan running back Zach Charbonnet (24) carries for a touchdown against Minnesota in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Minneapolis. (Mark Vancleave/Star Tribune via AP)
No. 13 Michigan's offense was ready for season opener

By Noah Trister Oct. 26, 2020 05:44 PM EDT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Even as Michigan closed the 2019 season with

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, with a mask, is hugged by an assistant after his team defeated Michigan State in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Rutgers snaps Big Ten skid, beats Michigan State 38-27

By Noah Trister Oct. 24, 2020 03:45 PM EDT
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Greg Schiano’s return to Rutgers paid immediate

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)
Tucker, Schiano ready for opener between Spartans, Rutgers

By Noah Trister Oct. 22, 2020 12:33 PM EDT
Mel Tucker is starting a new challenge at Michigan State. Greg Schiano is

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 file photo, Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi (12) throws a pass in front of Nebraska linebacker Dedrick Young II (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb. Mel Tucker's success in his first season as Michigan State's coach may be determined in large part by who is playing quarterback. Lombardi made three starts at quarterback in 2018 as a redshirt freshman, and he threw for 173 yards and a touchdown in a win over Rutgers that year. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
Tucker still mum on QB as Michigan State opener approaches

By Noah Trister Oct. 20, 2020 09:00 PM EDT
Mel Tucker's success in his first season as Michigan State's coach may be

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
Mel Tucker got a late start at Michigan State. Mark Dantonio's retirement didn

FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2019 file photo, Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) carries in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against South Dakota, in Norman, Okla. The coronavirus pandemic has shut down much of Division I football, but with three of the Power Five leagues still playing, there are still some big games to look forward to. Oklahoma takes on Texas on Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
PICK SIX: Plenty of big games still scheduled amid pandemic

By Noah Trister Sep. 06, 2020 12:45 PM EDT
Last year, we published our own version of a dream college football road trip —

Michigan State's Mark Dantonio talks about his retirement from as the NCAA college football team's coach, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Judge recommends dismissing suit against former MSU coach

By Noah Trister Mar. 20, 2020 08:44 PM EDT
DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge has recommended that a former Michigan State

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2012, file photo, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, right, runs out on to the Michigan Stadium field alongside the school mascot, Sparty, before an NCAA college football game with Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. Dantonio announced his retirement Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, ending a 13-year run in which he guided the Spartans to heights they hadn't reached in decades. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio retiring after 13 seasons

By Noah Trister Feb. 04, 2020 02:58 PM EST
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — From “pride comes before the fall” to Little Giants,

Maryland quarterback Josh Jackson, left, looks to throw against Michigan State's Kenny Willekes during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Willekes finishing up remarkable run for Michigan State

By Noah Trister Dec. 25, 2019 01:45 PM EST
Almost a year to the day after breaking his leg, Kenny Willekes is ready for

Central Michigan wide receiver Tyrone Scott walks off the field as the Miami of Ohio team celebrates their 26-21 win over Miami of Ohio in the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Miami, Ohio holds off CMU 26-21 in MAC title game

By Noah Trister Dec. 07, 2019 04:00 PM EST
DETROIT (AP) — As long as Miami of Ohio kept the game close, coach Chuck Martin

FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2019, file photo, Miami of Ohio quarterback Brett Gabbert throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Cincinnati in Cincinnati. Miami faces Central Michigan on Saturday in the Mid-American Conference championship game Saturday, Gabbert has thrown for 1,967 yards as a freshman this season. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
CMU, Miami to meet in unexpected matchup for MAC title

By Noah Trister Dec. 06, 2019 02:44 AM EST
DETROIT (AP) — It was just over a year ago that Central Michigan introduced Jim

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown watches from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Tar Heels bowl eligible in 1st year of Brown’s return

By Noah Trister Dec. 01, 2019 01:13 PM EST
Mack Brown and North Carolina are bowl eligible after routing a rival.

Maryland quarterback Josh Jackson, left, looks to throw against Michigan State's Kenny Willekes during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Michigan State bowl eligible after edging Maryland 19-16

By Noah Trister Nov. 30, 2019 07:01 PM EST
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State players came out to meet reporters

Charlotte becomes bowl eligible for 1st time

By Noah Trister Nov. 24, 2019 11:11 AM EST
In its fifth season in the FBS, Charlotte is bowl eligible for the first time.

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio watches against Michigan in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Dantonio says he plans to return as Michigan State coach

By Noah Trister Nov. 19, 2019 12:51 PM EST
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Mark Dantonio made his clearest statement yet about

Georgia Tech running back Jordan Mason (27) is tackled by Virginia Tech defensive back Divine Deablo (17) in the first half of an NCAA football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Virginia Tech bowl eligible again, Stanford in trouble

By Noah Trister Nov. 17, 2019 07:22 PM EST
The longest active bowl eligibility streak in college football is still intact.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, right, and Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, back to camera, meet after an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
It wasn’t Ohio State, but Michigan has pounded other rivals

By Noah Trister Nov. 17, 2019 02:39 PM EST
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The knock on Jim Harbaugh at Michigan is that he hasn’t

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, center, congratulates Giles Jackson after he returned the opening kickoff from Maryland for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Michigan-Michigan State rivalry goes beyond just the games

By Noah Trister Nov. 15, 2019 03:50 AM EST
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — When Michigan faces Michigan State, the actual 60