Michigan State missing suspended players, other starters at Illinois

© Joel Bissell | MLive.com/mlive.com/TNS Michigan State Spartans offensive tackle Jarrett Horst (79) is called for holding against Wisconsin Badgers during the first quarter at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Michigan State is facing a top-25 team on the road for the second straight week and is very shorthanded.

The Spartans (3-5, 1-4 Big Ten) play at No. 14 Illinois (7-1, 4-1) on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, BTN) and are without eight players who are suspended indefinitely due to violent postgame instances in a loss at Michigan last week, along with other starters.

Michigan State left tackle Jarrett Horst, who started the last seven games, is unavailable to play against Illinois. So is starting defensive end Jeff Pietrowski, who missed the last five games. Pietrowski dressed but didn’t play in the loss at Michigan.

Among those also out for the Spartans are defensive end Khris Bogle, starting long snapper Hank Pepper, receiver Christian Fitzpatrick and safety Tate Hallock. Linebacker Darius Snow suffered a season-ending injury in the opener.

Live updates: Michigan State travels to take on ranked Illinois

Linebacker Ben VanSumeren, who didn’t travel to Michigan, was in uniform for warmups at Illinois. So was cornerback Marqui Lowery, who hasn’t played this season.

Redshirt freshman Hamp Fay, who moved from quarterback to safety during fall camp, made the travel roster and was wearing No. 88 and warming up with tight ends. True freshman defensive end James Schott made the travel roster for the first time this season with the Spartans thin at the position.

The eight players suspended are all on defense in linebacker/defensive end Jacoby Windmon, defensive ends Zion Young and Brandon Wright, linebacker Itayvion “Tank” Brown and defensive backs Angelo Grose, Khary Crump, Justin White and Malcom Jones. Five of those eight have started at least one game this season while Windmon and Grose started all eight.

Michigan State has lost five of the last six games while Illinois has won six straight.

Related Michigan State football stories:

University of Michigan police still investigating postgame tunnel incidents

5 things to watch in Michigan State vs. Illinois and a final score prediction

How suspensions will affect Michigan State on the field vs. Illinois

After leaving team, Michigan State WR Terry Lockett Jr. to enter transfer portal

What Illinois coaches said about facing Michigan State

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