It’s a new week of The State!

Today’s weather forecast is predicting mostly cloudy with a high of 42 degrees and a low of 26 degrees.

FINAL: Second straight win for Michigan State, defeats Rutgers 27-21

Michigan State football is one game closer to bowl eligibility. The Spartans defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 27-21 Saturday in East Lansing thanks to solid offensive performances from both the run and the pass game.

Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns.

The Spartans had a promising opening drive and started with a solid field position after freshman wide receiver Germie Bernard returned the initial kickoff for 32 yards. The run and pass game then worked together to pick up some extra yardage before being stopped at the Rutgers 38-yard line.

The MSU defense was able to hold off Rutgers offense for the entirety of the first quarter, but the Scarlet Knights found holes in the second.

MSU took back the lead with just over two minutes to play in the first half.

The Spartans opened the second half with some explosive plays. Thorne found redshirt senior wide receiver Jayden Reed once again for a 25-yard catch before handing off the ball to redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger on the next play, who then ran for 22 yards.

The Scarlet Knights scored one last touchdown in the final minute of play in a drive that covered 75 yards but MSU was able to maintain possession for the rest of the game and come away with the win.

The Spartans remain home this Saturday to take on Indiana before traveling to Happy Valley to end the season on the road against Penn State.

If you got a parking ticket on campus on Election Day, don’t pay it

All parking tickets received by voters or volunteers on campus on Election Day have been waived by the MSU police, according to a Tweet by Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum.

About 2,690 students voted across the four locations last Tuesday, according to a university press release.

“Our goal this year was to make sure our students made a plan to vote and that we reduced barriers to exercising their rights,” MSU interim president Teresa K. Woodruff said in the press release. “We more than succeeded; together, our students made history.”

Experts share advice for MSU, East Lansing community at start of flu season

Michigan State University physicians are encouraging members of the university and East Lansing community to get their influenza shot and take other safety precautions as flu season sets in.

After two winters of being protected from flu season by mask mandates and physical distancing, experts say this season might see more cases as our immune systems are reintroduced to the virus.

This season’s influenza immunization protects against four strains of the virus. When choosing which strains to develop vaccinations against, experts look at data from Australia, whose flu season is earlier in the calendar year, said Dr. Pete Gulick, an associate professor of medicine in MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Despite the rapid spread that experts anticipate due to the social patterns of college students, it is predicted that the symptoms will not lead to severe cases.

MSU is offering opportunities for the community to get ahead of flu season and become prepared.

MSU spokesperson Dan Olsen said the university is being proactive. He recommends becoming vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19, washing your hands frequently and disinfecting high-touch surfaces.

A vaccine clinic will be held on Nov. 16 at the Breslin Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering both influenza and COVID-19 doses. Vaccinations are also available through appointment at Olin Health Center.

Based on original reporting by Jenna Malinowski, Kayla Nelsen and Maggie George.