BRANDON PETERS

Note: This is the seventh part of a series previewing Michigan State football’s 2022 schedule. All-time series: Michigan State leads 26-19-2. Illinois returns its top two receivers in Isaiah Williams (47 catches, 525, four touchdowns) and Casey Washington (21 catches, 294 yards). Defensive tackles Jer’zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. return up front after the two combined for 92 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss, and seven sacks. Related Michigan State football stories:Former Michigan State CB likely retiring after seven years in NFLMichigan State football pushing through scorching summer strength and conditioning programColts safety Khari Willis, a former Michigan State standout, retires after 3 NFL seasons4-star OL Clay Wedin commits to Michigan State4-star CB Jaylon Braxton commits to Michigan State

Brandon Peters threw for 242 yards and a touchdown and Illinois rolled over Big Ten rival Northwestern 47-14 on Saturday. With the resounding win to end the regular season, Illinois hopes to secure its second bowl bid in five years. “It's been fun to build this thing,” first-year Illinois coach Bret Bielema said.

Casey Washington caught a 2-point conversion pass from Brandon Peters to end the first nine-overtime game in NCAA history and lift Illinois over No. 7 Penn State 20-18.

Iowa needed a rally to beat a subpar Colorado State team last week, as its offense continues to underwhelm. MLive staff picksOhio State (-15): Wenzel, KahnRutgers (+15): Austin, McMann, ZukePenn State quarterback Sean Clifford throws during the third quarter on Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)APWESTERN KENTUCKY at MICHIGAN STATEWenzel’s pick: Western Kentucky is coming off a pair of near-upset wins in losses against Army and Indiana by five points combined. Expect a big day for running back Kenneth Walker III and quarterback Payton Thorne to rebound from a shaky second half against Nebraska. Michigan State 38, Western Kentucky 24MLive staff picks

Nine of the 14 Big Ten football teams appear set at quarterback heading into the fall.

As if they need more ammo, critics of Jim Harbaugh took to social media this week amid news that another quarterback he recruited to Michigan was transferring. Meanwhile, the results with Harbaugh’s 2017 and 2018 quarterback recruits, both four-star prospects out of high school, have been similar. Harbaugh has had much better success in the transfer market, plucking quarterbacks with years under their belt at the college level and inserting them in at Michigan. Harbaugh also relied on another transfer, John O’Korn from Houston, to help plug the gap at quarterback in 2016 and 2017. Which brings us back to Milton, the third straight high school quarterback recruited to Michigan under Harbaugh to transfer.

And so hopefully, they’ve made the right choice this time and that he will upgrade the position.”RELATED: What to expect from Michigan football during early signing periodMilton, the No. 9 pro-style quarterback in the 2018 class, was Harbaugh’s first quarterback recruit to open a season as the starter during his six-year tenure in Ann Arbor. 6 pro-style quarterback in the 2016 class, started four games in 2017, while Cade McNamara, ranked No. IMG won all six games that the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder quarterback started this season by at least 31 points. MORE: Michigan football back practicing, with plans to play Iowa‘Negative recruiting’ won’t stop at Michigan until resolution on Harbaugh’s future, ESPN analyst saysWhy is 6th-place Michigan playing 2nd-place Iowa in Big Ten football’s final week?

The Terps were also missing RB Jake Funk, and WR Rakim Jarrett, but they’re expected back against a Scarlet Knights team that struggled mightily against Penn State last week. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.comMICHIGAN STATE at PENN STATEWhen: 3:30 p.m. SaturdayTV: ESPNLatest line: Penn State -15.5JS: After an 0-5 start, the Nittany Lions are trending up thanks to their defense. Meanwhile, Michigan State has a QB decision to make if Rocky Lombardi is even healthy. Penn State 30, Michigan State 10Matt Wenzel: Michigan State faces more uncertainty at quarterback following Rocky Lombardi’s continued struggles and injury in last week’s blowout loss against Ohio State and Payton Thorne made a case for the starting job after taking over. Penn State 27, Michigan State 17MLive staff picks:

He also missed seven games in 2018 and finished his Michigan career with 40 catches for 507 yards and two touchdowns. The former four-star prospect appeared in three games for the Wolverines as a redshirt freshman in 2018 before transferring. Receiver Oliver Martin (Nebraska)The four-star prospect in the 2017 class is now with his third program in three years. In 2018 with Michigan, Martin had 11 receptions for 125 yards and a score in seven games. The former four-star prospect has 12 tackles and two pass breakups in seven games for 3-4 Georgia Tech.

Michigan State is the aggressor, the instate bully and almost always the more well-prepared team in this matchup. (Last week: 9)Up next: Iowa vs. Michigan State, 12 p.m. Saturday11. MICHIGAN STATE (1-1)Maybe this is why Tucker didn’t seem particularly fazed about the Spartans' seven-turnover debut against Rutgers. That belief clearly resonated with his players, as Michigan State started aggressive and gained confidence with each snap Saturday. (Last week: 1)Up next: Ohio State vs. Rutgers, 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Both tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and will be sidelined 21 days per Big Ten protocol. Both would be eligible to return for the Nov. 21 game at Nebraska. Illinois also announced that contact tracing sidelined several other players for the Purdue game and next week’s game against Minnesota. Sophomore Matt Robinson started at quarterback for the Ilini. The Illini opened the season last week at Wisconsin, whose team has had 22 players and staff test positive for COVID-19 this week.

14 Badgers beat Illinois 45-7 on Friday night to open the pandemic-delayed Big Ten football season. Mertz became the first-team quarterback after returning starter Jack Coan underwent foot surgery on Oct. 7, leaving him out indefinitely. After Illinois fumbled the ball away on the game’s second play from scrimmage, Mertz hit fullback Jason Stokke for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Mertz responded to Illinois’ touchdown by throwing a 34-yard completion to Ferguson and then hitting the senior tight end again for a 14-yard score with 1:06 left in the half. After Illinois went three-and-out on its next series, Mertz threw deep and found Danny Davis for a 53-yard touchdown pass with 28 seconds left until halftime.

We’re past the midway point of October, and Mel Tucker still is undefeated in his first season at Michigan State. After the opener against Northwestern, it’s Minnesota, Penn State and Ohio State in consecutive weeks. Michigan State running back Elijah Collins ran for 988 yards as a freshman. There was a big upset of Wisconsin, a stirring comeback at Michigan State and a general good vibe around the program that hasn’t existed in a long time. A three-game start of Purdue, Northwestern and Michigan State gives Kirk Ferentz’s a chance to get settled in and make a run at a division title.

The play was built that if they played zone to look to the back of the end zone. We moved the ball effectively, had 500-plus yards, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. The Spartans (4-5, 2-4) then lost a fumble, giving the Illini the ball at the Michigan State 8-yard line. But Reams and Josh Butler got tangled, and the Michigan State defensive back was called for pass interference. Michigan State: The Spartans play at rival Michigan on Saturday.

The unbeaten Badgers, following a 38-0 victory against Michigan State in Week 7, hope to continue their mastery of the Fighting Illini by notching their 10th consecutive victory in the series. LINE: Wisconsin -31.5"It's special when we're clicking on all cylinders," Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor told reporters. Illinois scored 25 unanswered points after falling behind 28-0 before eventually suffering a 42-25 defeat to 16th-ranked Michigan last week. Wisconsin has won 13 of the last 14 meetings with Illinois. PREDICTION: Wisconsin 48, Illinois 13More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

Christian Turner #3 of the Michigan Wolverines looks for running room between Daviyon Nixon #54 and Jack Koerner #28 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during a first quarter run at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo byCHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Michigan defeated Illinois 42-25. LINE: Michigan -21.5"We're right where we want to be as we're getting better, learning and growing every single week," Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson told reporters. "He's getting better and we're hopeful because we'll need everyone to beat a team like Michigan," Illinois coach Lovie Smith told reporters. PREDICTION: Michigan 31, Illinois 10More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

Christian Turner #3 of the Michigan Wolverines looks for running room between Daviyon Nixon #54 and Jack Koerner #28 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during a first quarter run at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 16 Michigan looks for its third consecutive win when it visits Illinois in Big Ten play on Saturday. LINE: Michigan -21.5"We're right where we want to be as we're getting better, learning and growing every single week," Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson told reporters. "He's getting better and we're hopeful because we'll need everyone to beat a team like Michigan," Illinois coach Lovie Smith told reporters. PREDICTION: Michigan 31, Illinois 10More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

Jim Harbaugh and his players say they often see their new-look offense clicking behind closed doors, taking advantage of speed in space. 16 Michigan (4-1, 2-1 Big Ten) is hoping to carry over success with the ball into games when everyone is watching. The Fighting Illini havent put up much resistance during their three-game losing streak, giving up nearly 39 points per game to Eastern Michigan, Nebraska and Minnesota. Michigan may need a boost of confidence, coming off a 10-3 victory against Iowa in which it was held scoreless over the last three quarters. I know hes pumped up and of course hoping hell be ready to go this week, Lovie Smith said.

The transfer portal is a major part of college sports now, and no team has seen more roster turnover than Michigan in that department.

Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Brandon Peters, Eddie McDoom and Kareem Walker are among the Michigan football transfers still on active rosters this season. He's made 25 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks this season for the Bulldogs while returning the occasional kickoff. After appearing in just one game for Michigan last season, Singleton was granted immediate eligibility for Rutgers this season and has appeared in all five games. Singleton has 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack this season, including five tackles against Michigan. Washington made 40 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while picking off two passes and defending nine more passes in 2018.

Jordan Glasgow #29 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a 10-3 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. State of the Wolverines after win over IowaFor the time being, Michigan avoided a second loss that would have brought further outrage and increased calls for Jim Harbaugh's job. While Iowa's offense won't ever be confused for Ohio State or Alabama's, the U-M defense did dominate by forcing four turnovers and registering eight sacks in a 10-3 victory. Central Michigan gets win in other rivalry gameCentral Michigan lost one rivalry game at Western Michigan on Sept. 28, but responded a week later at home against its other in-state rival with a 42-16 win over Eastern Michigan. But that didn't matter to Hemlock, which produced a stunning 30-6 win over Ithaca to end that 66-game conference winning streak.

The Minnesota Gophers dance on the bench as they await a kick against the Georgia Southern Eagles during the game at TCF Bank Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by HannahMINNEAPOLIS - After a run of close games to start the season, Minnesota will be in search of an emphatic win when it hosts Illinois on Saturday in a Big Ten contest. 18 Michigan next on the docket, the Fighting Illini are in must-win mode against the Gophers after letting two wins slip away. Minnesota, which has won six of the last eight games with Illinois to take a 38-30-3 lead in the series, needs one win to become the 28th school to reach 700 victories. PREDICTION: Minnesota 47, Illinois 34More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

AJ Bush #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs the ball during the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Oluwole Betiku Jr. will have Mike Glass III in his cross hairs Saturday when Illinois welcomes Eastern Michigan for a nonconference game. Glass will try to become the first quarterback to throw a touchdown pass this season against Illinois, which has allowed one rushing score. Eastern Michigan, which took down Rutgers in 2017 and Purdue last season, has the same number of wins over Big Ten teams in the last two seasons as Illinois. PREDICTION: Illinois 37, Eastern Michigan 23More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

AJ Bush #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs the ball during the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. The Illini lost their final game in 2018 to Northwestern to finish the season with six losses in their last seven games. ABOUT AKRON (2018: 4-8)The Zips lost their final five games last season and coach Terry Bowden lost his job after seven years, replaced by Tom Arth of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Illinois finished with a losing record in 14 of the past 17 seasons and hasn't appeared in a bowl game since 2011. PREDICTION: Illinois 31, Akron 21More college football scoresCopyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.