EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — No. 14 Michigan State is heavily favored to extend its home winning streak to eight games when it hosts Akron on Saturday. The Spartans are coming off a 35-13 season-opening win over Western Michigan. Joe Moorhead's debut as Akron's head coach was hardly an impressive one as the Zips needed overtime to beat Football Championship Subdivision St. Francis University 30-23.
Akron (1-0) at No. 14 Michigan State (1-0), Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)
Line: Michigan State by 34 1/2 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Michigan State leads 2-0.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Michigan State is hoping to improve to 2-0 this season against Mid-American Conference schools before its big showdown at Washington. Akron is looking to start out 2-0 for the first time since 2018, which is also the last time it beat a Power Five team at Northwestern.
KEY MATCHUP
The Zips' offensive line against vs. the Spartans' defensive front. Michigan State started the season with seven sacks against Western Michigan while Akron gave up six in its season opener vs. St. Francis.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Akron: WR Shocky Jacques-Louis. The graduate transfer from Pittsburgh had nine catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in the season opener.
Michigan State: QB Payton Thorne. The junior quarterback completed 12 of 24 passes for 233 yards and tied a career-high with four touchdown throws against Western Michigan.
FACTS & FIGURES
Michigan State's Jacoby Windmon was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation defensive player of the week after registering seven tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble vs. Western Michigan. … Akron has a 1-30 record vs. ranked teams with its lone win coming against Marshall in 2002. … The two schools last met in 1914 which ended in a 75-6 win for Michigan State — known then as Michigan Agricultural College. … Michigan State has won 14 straight regular-season games against Mid-American Conference teams. … Akron has two Michigan State transfers in redshirt junior linebacker Jeslord Boateng and sophomore running back Anthony Williams Jr., who both transferred to Akron after the 2020 season.
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