EAST LANSING — Two Michigan State football players earned conference honors for their roles in a 15-6 takedown of rival Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Cornerback NiJhay Burt and kicker Liam Boyd earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors for defense and special teams, the conference announced Monday, Nov. 9. Alongside those MSU players, UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach earned offensive honors, and Wisconsin quarterback Ryan Hopkins earned freshman honors.

Boyd scored every point for Michigan State with field goals from 21, 37, 38, 24 and 49 yards out. Those 15 points set a season-high for a Big Ten player in a game this season. His five makes matched his own high in the season opener against Toledo, when he went 5-for-6. Boyd is 16-for-19 on field goals this season, with his only three misses coming on blocked kicks. The Asheville, N.C. native, transferred in from Charlotte this past offseason.

Burt made six tackles, caught an interception and forced a fumble in a season-best game by Michigan State's defense. The Spartans allowed a season-low 192 yards and forced four takeaways. It helped that the Spartans registered five sacks, plus another on a two-point conversion, on a banner day for the pass rush. The Homestead, Penn., native transferred in from Eastern Illinois last season and has made three straight starts since recovering from an earlier injury.

The last Spartan to earn weekly honors on defense was linebacker Jordan Hall for his efforts against Boston College in 2025. On special teams, kick returner Alante Brown ended the 2025 season with weekly honors for his contributions in MSU's only Big Ten win against Maryland.