Michigan State’s bid for its first B1G win will have to come without its best player.

The Spartans will be without star defensive tackle Malik McDowell on Saturday. He came into the day as a game-time decision, but he didn’t dress on Saturday.

McDowell injured his knee last Saturday against Illinois and was sidelined for the rest of the day. MSU struggled without its junior star down the stretch and lost its seventh straight game.

The Spartans will also be without defensive end Auston Robertson, who didn’t dress, either.

MSU will look to get its first win of the season against fellow winless-conference foe Rutgers.