MSU ripped off 338 rushing yards this past weekend against Wyoming, giving the Spartans 674 yards on the ground in its last two games.

Even more positive for MSU was senior running back Jeremy Langford’s performance against the Pokes. Langford rushed for 137 yards on 16 carries, giving him his first 100 yard performance of the season. Football head coach Mark Dantonio said getting Langford’s confidence up this past week was important for MSU going into conference play, and it’s fair to say they achieved that goal this past week.

Big plays against

Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi glossed over big plays being an issue for this Spartan defense, but as Jemele Hill ’s ESPN show states, numbers never lie.

MSU surrendered a number of big plays last week against Wyoming, including a 57-yard touchdown run. Dantonio said every team gives up big plays throughout the game but this appears to be even more noticeable against MSU, as fans saw during the Oregon game.

Nebraska brings a potent offensive attack to Spartan Stadium, an offense that features senior running back and Heisman candidate Ameer Abdullah. If MSU doesn’t wrap up on Abdullah, expect a few more big plays to be added to the list.

Full strength

MSU will look to be back to full strength on the injury front this week. During this week’s Sunday teleconference, Dantonio said he’s still unsure on junior defensive lineman Damon Knox and senior defensive lineman James Kittredge , but is expecting both to practice this week.

Other than those two, Dantonio expects MSU to be “at full capacity here this week.”

Senior guard Connor Kruse got his first playing action this past week after missing the first three games because of an undisclosed injury he suffered during preseason camp. Kruse was expected to start at right guard this season.

Real season begins

It’s no longer fun and games for MSU. It’s time for conference play to start up and undefeated Nebraska will stand as a tough opening challenger.

For the most part, MSU has taken care of business in non-conference and now will need to carry it over into Big Ten play. The No. 1 goal for MSU always has been to win the Big Ten and then let things fall into place, so in many ways the real season begins this week against Nebraska.

“You can do whatever you want out of the conference, but inside the conference there is more on the line,” Dantonio said during his weekly Sunday teleconference. “I just think that’s just the way it is. Certainly our first game versus Nebraska is a big one.”