Michigan State hammers Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Michigan State's record book needs updating.

Drew Stanton set a school record with five touchdown passes and the 17th-ranked Spartans set marks with 705 yards of offense and seven touchdowns in a 61-14 romp over Illinois in the Big Ten opener for both schools Saturday.

Stanton tied the record by halftime, doing whatever he pleased during a 28-point second quarter that turned a 10-7 game into a rout. Illinois (2-2) gave up 318 yards in the first half.

"It was a pretty good outing. He had a good day," Michigan State coach John L. Smith said.

The Spartans (4-0) entered the game with the fourth-ranked offense in the nation and will likely move up after increasing their average to 594 yards per game.

Michigan State last opened a season with four wins in 1999.

"I apologize to all the Illini fans," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "We didn't coach very well and we didn't play very well."

Stanton's second pass of the day was a 75-yard TD strike to Kyle Brown, and he hit Dwayne Holmes, Jerramy Scott and Matt Trannon in the second quarter to tie the record held by seven others, most recently by Jeff Smoker in a 41-10 win over Penn State on Nov. 22, 2003.

Stanton broke the record with a 2-yard toss to Kellen Davis on the Spartans' first possession of the second half.

"It's a nice thing to have," he said, "but it's a tribute to our wide receivers getting open. It kind of looked easy out there at times. Those guys worked getting open."

Stanton left the game early in the third quarter, finishing 20-of-26 for 259 yards. He was 11-of-14 for 107 yards in the deciding second quarter.

The Spartans' Javon Ringer had 194 yards on 13 carries.

Michigan State has now won nine straight against Illinois.

"There's really no way to put a finger on it," Illini linebacker J Leman said. "It was just awful, awful. Pathetic."