Illinois and Michigan State Seek to Break Losing Streaks

Both teams aim to improve bowl prospects with a win in their upcoming matchup.

Illinois, after losing to Oregon and Minnesota, looks to rebound against Michigan State, Rutgers, and Northwestern to enhance their bowl game prospects.
Michigan State, under first-year coach Jonathan Smith, needs two wins in their last three games to become bowl eligible.
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer focuses on improving ball security after turnovers contributed to recent losses.
Michigan State's offense struggles, ranking 104th in total yards and 119th in points per game, but hopes to capitalize on Illinois' defensive vulnerabilities.
Key players include Illinois' kicker David Alano, perfect on PATs, and Michigan State's freshman receiver Nick Marsh, who leads the team in receiving yards.