After holding the conference's top rushing team to less than half of its season average on the ground, MSU's rush defense looked like the real deal.
The Spartans slowed up the No. 24 Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-2 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) and held them to 148 yards. But then Michigan rolled into town and ran all over the Spartans.
U-M running back Chris Perry rushed 51 times for 219 yards during the Spartans' loss last weekend. The Spartans' (7-2, 4-1) rush defense, which was battered and bruised, allowed Perry to control the game in the 27-20 loss.
"We didn't dominate (that) game, and to be honest with you, we actually got dominated," MSU senior defensive end Greg Taplin said. "We kind of challenged ourselves this week to play Michigan State football."
Taplin said he and his teammates know stopping the run is a must to win in the Big Ten.
Timing couldn't be better for the Spartans to redeem themselves. They face defending national champions Ohio State, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten in rushing offense (117.5 yards per game).
Last season, the Buckeyes relied heavily on their run game and the young legs of Maurice Clarett. But after some off-season scandals, which are being investigated by the NCAA, Clarett, along with Ohio State's dangerous run attack, have hit the curb.
Still, junior tailback Lydell Ross insists the Buckeyes will enjoy success and further expose the weakness in the Spartans' rush defense that U-M revealed last weekend.
"We take advantage of everything, whatever it takes to win. That's what we do," Ross said.
"If we see that they're going to put men in the box, we're just going to try and mix it up (with the) run and pass," he said.
The Buckeyes ran for a total of 2,678 yards last season - good enough for sixth in the conference. Clarett rushed for 1,237 of those yards.
After their title run last season, Ross knows how important a good running game is to winning conference games.
"I think running period is an important factor in the Big Ten because every team in the Big Ten runs the ball," Ross said. "And you're going to be going against opposing defenses that are going to be trying to stop the run, so I think it's very important (to be able to run well)."
Heading into Saturday's matchup, Ross said the Buckeyes aren't feeling a sense of urgency but realize playing well in their last three games against MSU, Purdue and U-M will be important.
No matter how successful Ohio State has been in running the ball in the past or how many rushing yards MSU allowed last weekend, the Spartans aren't intimidated by the Buckeyes' running game.
"Their offense is kind of struggling right now, but they're physical," junior defensive tackle Matthias Askew said.
Yet MSU's defensive players realize opposing teams probably noticed how well the Wolverines' repetitive run attack worked and might try to imitate the game plan.
"I'm sure (opponents) watch film and they see what works for other teams, they're going to do the same things," senior defensive tackle Kyle Rasmussen said.
One factor that might slow the return of the Spartans' dominating rush defense is injuries. Junior defensive tackle Greg Yeaster and sophomore strong safety Eric Smith were hurt against U-M. Yeaster is out for the remainder of the season, and Smith, the team's leading tackler, is questionable to play against Ohio State.
On the positive side, the Spartans might have more success against the run this weekend because the secondary might not have to play so conservatively. Michigan has the top passing offense in the Big Ten, while the Buckeyes sit near the bottom at ninth.
"Last week, we pulled a man out of the box and tried to help against the pass because (Michigan's) a pretty rounded team," junior linebacker Ronald Stanley said. "We're going to put an extra man in the box this week and hopefully get the run stopped."
