Everything was set for MSU to take the stage Saturday and not only win bragging rights over rival University of Michigan, but put itself in prime position for the Big Ten conference crown.

Yet No. 8 U-M (8-2 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) stole the show as the No. 14 Spartans (7-2, 4-1) choked, getting stage fright in their 27-20 loss.

But have the curtains closed on MSU's fairy-tale season? Does the shoe still fit on Cinderella?

The Spartans say there is still light at the end of the tunnel.

Senior linebacker Mike Labinjo remained confident in the Spartans' chances for the Big Ten title even after their loss to the Wolverines.

"We're still tied at the top of the Big Ten," Labinjo said. "We just need to get to work; all we can do now is win our last three games."

MSU, the only team in the Big Ten that entered the weekend with a perfect conference record, now stands even with Ohio State (8-1, 4-1) and Purdue (7-2, 4-1) for second place, while the Wolverines have sole possession of the lead.

"We had a streak and hit a bump," sophomore running back Jaren Hayes said. "At this point, we look forward to Ohio State."

It will be tough for the Spartans to rebound after giving up 439 yards of total offense to the Wolverines.

But it's not only the defense that needs to improve, because many of senior quarterback Jeff Smoker's 19 incomplete passes were dropped by his receivers.

And that's something that can't happen for Smoker to be effective in the Spartans' spread offense.

"It really kind of stops the drive (to drop balls) when you are a passing offense," Smoker said. "Every time you think you have something going, you drop one here or there and stop the drive."

Labinjo agreed that the receivers' dropped balls and the defense's poor play are things MSU will need to fix.

"There were too many missed opportunities on our part - guys dropping balls, people missing coverages and pretty much allowing them to run the ball down our throats," Labinjo said.

Both teams averaged 5.1 yards per play on the day, yet U-M was able to make the most of its yardage because of its advantage in the offensive plays - 86 to 57.

So how will the Spartans reclaim the "magic" head coach John L. Smith credited to their early season success?

"I think that our success so far this season is because we have worked our tails off," Smith said. "The only thing that we know is that we are going to come back (to practice) tomorrow with a renewed enthusiasm, and we are going to work as hard as we have been or even harder."

And Smith wants members of the team to stop and judge their performance.

"I want them to look in the mirror and, first of all, know that we did not play like we should have, like we could have or like we can," Smith said. "We still control our own destiny and we can still have a great year."

The Spartans will go on the road in the next two games, first traveling to Columbus, Ohio, to face the No. 7 Buckeyes, the defending national champion. Next, they head to Madison, Wis., where the Wisconsin Badgers (6-3, 3-2) loom. MSU will close out the 2003 season with a homestand against Penn State (2-7, 0-5).