EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Something had to give at Spartan Stadium on Saturday as Michigan State and Rutgers, the only teams without a conference victory in the Big Ten this season, squared off in a game that meant little more than pride.

Michigan State, a team many believed would contend in the Big Ten East title before opening conference play 0-6, walked away feeling far better than Rutgers as it rolled to a 49-0 victory in front of a relieved crowd of 73,701.

Fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler O'Connor threw three touchdown passes while sophomore running back LJ Scott gained 122 yards on 20 carries and added a touchdown run for the Spartans.

Fifth-year senior tight end Josiah Price had two touchdown catches and sophomore running back Madre London scored twice. Michigan State also got a touchdown from fifth-year senior safety Demetrious Cox, who had a 30-yard interception returned for a score.

Rutgers managed only eight first downs and gained 149 total yards as the Scarlet Knights (2-8, 0-7 in the Big Ten) were shut out for the third time this season.

It didn't take long for the Spartans (3-7, 1-6) to get rolling, as O'Connor found Price for a 2-yard touchdown pass that put Michigan State ahead 7-0.

The interception return by Cox followed to put Michigan State ahead 14-0 before O'Connor connected with freshman Trishton Jackson on a 50-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0 barely halfway through the first quarter.

The Spartans added another touchdown connection from O'Connor to Price in the second quarter and a 1-yard scoring run from Scott to lead by 35 at the break.

The second half opened much like the first, as Michigan State forced a Rutgers punt then went on an 11-play drive as Scott started things before London closed it with a 2-yard touchdown run to put the Spartans ahead 42-0 with 6:54 left in the third quarter.

Rutgers sophomore quarterback Giovanni Rescigno threw his second interception on the ensuing drive as Michigan State safety Montae Nicholson grabbed an overthrow to set up the next Spartans scoring drive.

This one was all London, who scored from 7 yards for his second touchdown of the game and gave the Spartans a 49-0 lead with 1:33 left in the third quarter.