Total Yards
Michigan State519
Western Kentucky560
← Back to Game Stats Explorer
Standard
Data sourced from NCAA game stats archive (2021)
Game Center
Western Kentucky at Michigan State
Oct 2, 2021 • Completed
Season 2021RegularWeek 5
Away
Western Kentucky
Conference USA
Final Score
31 - 48
WKMS
Home
Michigan State
Big Ten
Game Pulse
Immediate edge indicators from the box score.
Passing Yards
Michigan State327
Western Kentucky488
Rushing Yards
Michigan State192
Western Kentucky72
Turnovers
Michigan State0
Western Kentucky1
Game Conditions
Temperature66°F
Wind7 mph S
Humidity
91%
Precipitation
0.00 in
Player Game Leaders
Top individual performers and full player box data.
Full Player Box
Box Score Comparison
Michigan State vs Western Kentucky box score comparison chart
Possession Split
Possession split chart
Michigan State30:25
Western Kentucky29:35
Stat Dominance
Team comparison across key performance areas
Radar chart comparing team performance across key metrics
Game Story
Michigan State beats Western Kentucky 48-31
Michigan State defeated Western Kentucky 48-31 in Week 5 of the 2021 regular slate, finishing with a 519-560 edge in total yards, and scoring 1 passing touchdowns and 4 rushing touchdowns.
Michigan State set the terms early in a game that finished 48-31. Bailey Zappe pass complete to Joey Beljan for 4 yds for a TD, (Brayden Narveson KICK) came with {'seconds': 57, 'minutes': 2} left in the first quarter, giving Western Kentucky the first major swing.
Michigan State's box score carried the story: 519 total yards, 192 rushing yards, and 327 passing yards. Western Kentucky finished with 560 total yards, including 72 on the ground and 488 through the air.
Michigan State converted 5-11 on third down, went 0-1 on fourth down, the turnover count was 0-1, Michigan State led 42-16 at halftime. The explosive highlight was Payton Thorne pass complete to Jayden Reed for 46 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK).
Key Moments
Passing Touchdown
Bailey Zappe pass complete to Joey Beljan for 4 yds for a TD, (Brayden Narveson KICK) (Western Kentucky led 10-21 over Michigan State).
Passing Touchdown
Payton Thorne pass complete to Jayden Reed for 46 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK) (Michigan State led 21-3 over Western Kentucky).
Field Goal Good
Brayden Narveson 37 yd FG GOOD (Western Kentucky led 3-14 over Michigan State).
Punt
John Haggerty III punt for 61 yds , Jayden Reed returns for 88 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK) (Western Kentucky led 0-7 over Michigan State).
Rushing Touchdown
Kenneth Walker III run for 5 yds for a TD, (Matt Coghlin KICK) (Michigan State led 14-0 over Western Kentucky).
Field Goal Good
Brayden Narveson 35 yd FG GOOD (Western Kentucky led 16-28 over Michigan State).
Stat Callouts
Final score
48-31
Michigan State defeated Western Kentucky.
Total yards
519-560
Michigan State held the yardage advantage.
Rushing yards
192
Michigan State averaged 4.5 yards per rush attempt.
Passing yards
327
Michigan State averaged 10.9 yards per pass attempt.
Third downs
5-11
Michigan State's conversion rate helped sustain possessions.
Opponent third downs
7-17
Western Kentucky's offense worked through that conversion rate.
Turnovers
0-1
Turnover totals are listed winner first.
Analysis
Game Breakdown
| Statistic | Michigan State | Western Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 519 | 560 |
| Passing Yards | 327 | 488 |
| Rushing Yards | 192 | 72 |
| First Downs | 26 | 31 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 5-11 | 7-17 |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 0-1 | 2-4 |
| Total Penalties (Yards) | 6-60 | 8-75 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Completions / Attempts | 20-30 | 46-65 |
| Rushing Attempts | 43 | 26 |
| Passing TDs | 1 | 3 |
| Rushing TDs | 4 | 0 |
| Kicking Points | 12 | 11 |
| Possession Time | 30:25 | 29:35 |