The Hoosiers (3-2 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) will offer a different challenge from what MSU (4-1, 1-0) has seen so far this season with their up-tempo spread attack. Averaging 44.4 points and 535 yards per game, Indiana has one of the conference’s most lethal offenses under third-year coach Kevin Wilson, previously the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.

“They’re moving the ball down the field very quickly, and it only takes about three or four plays of you being tired and not being able to match up, or not playing sound football, or being lazy and bad things can happen,” said Dantonio, who is 4-0 against Indiana.

“So that’s the challenge for our football team.”

Fortunately for MSU, its defense is playing as well as any unit in the nation. The Spartans lead the NCAA in total defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and third-down conversion defense. They also check in at No. 2 in first downs allowed and No. 8 in passing defense.

Six defenders that started against the Hoosiers in last year’s 31-27 win for MSU, which Dantonio noted as a positive for combating Indiana’s fast-paced philosophy. On that day, 282 of Indiana’s 317 total yards came through the air.

“One thing that we do have, we have the experience at working against it from last year so our players know that it is real, that they’re not going to blink when they’re running at play at you every 10 seconds,” he said. “So that simulates that aspect of it, but then the attention to detail and the technique that you use has to be consistent.

We need to work on that, and we’ll have to adjust out here.”

Dantonio also directed a message toward fans for the Homecoming matchup: the louder the better. Indiana’s style heavily relies on making calls quickly at the line of scrimmage, and that becomes more challenging as the decibels rise.

“If you’re sitting back and watching this week, I would say that’s probably a negative and that’s not helping,” he said. “We need to get those guys, get our people moving in that direction as well.

“Pack this place and make it loud. (It) should be an exciting atmosphere, (noon) kick game, so get to bed early. I don’t know if that’s possible for our youth of today, but get up early.”

Family Fun

Those that tuned in to the MSU-Iowa broadcast on ESPN2 saw some candid glimpses of Dantonio following his gutsy fake punt decision to begin the fourth quarter, including his trademark grin once the call was successful.

Fans also saw a shot of Dantonio giving his daughter, Kristen, a fist bump on the sideline, which he explained further on Tuesday.

“No, she didn’t (call the play), but she did say to me, ‘Dad, dad, don’t forget trickery,’” Dantonio recalled.

“I said, ‘It’s coming.’”