Michigan State Hosts Illinois With Key Players Unavailable

Michigan State hosts Illinois at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, with the Spartans seeking to end a three-game losing streak while adjusting to injuries before the homecoming matchup. The game begins at 3:30 p.m. ET and features two 2-3 teams in Big Ten play.

According to the Detroit News, Michigan State backup quarterback Cam Fancher is unavailable after leaving the previous loss at Wisconsin with a right knee injury. Fancher had provided situational plays that added variety to an offense averaging 18.2 points per game.

Michigan State will also regain linebacker Jordan Hall, a two-year captain who missed the Wisconsin game after an ankle injury suffered against Nebraska. The Detroit News reported that Hall and Brady Pretzlaff return as the team's starting linebackers together for the first time since the Sept. 19 loss to Notre Dame.

The Spartans enter the matchup at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten, while Illinois also holds a 2-3 record and is 0-2 in conference play. The Detroit News reported that ESPN Analytics gave Illinois a 53.6% chance to win before kickoff.

Michigan State's injury report also listed backup Caleb Wheatland, running backs Darrin Jones Jr. and Cam Edwards, fullback Jay Coyne, tight end Joe Caudill, and offensive lineman Tristan Comer as unavailable, according to the Detroit News.

Tre Bell was removed from the availability report and remained available after playing 42 snaps against Wisconsin, while starting cornerback Tyran Chappell and backups NiJhay Burt and Keshawn Williams were unavailable, the Detroit News reported.

The Illinois game is part of Michigan State's annual homecoming event at Spartan Stadium. The Lansing State Journal reported that the forecast called for sunny conditions with temperatures around 73 degrees at kickoff.

The Lansing State Journal reported that Michigan State leads the all-time series against Illinois 27-20-2 across 49 meetings dating back to Oct. 22, 1955. The game will air on FS1 and be available through the Spartans Media Network.

Michigan State is scheduled to face Northwestern in week seven at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, according to the Lansing State Journal.