“This is the only football team that we have not beaten in this conference in the four years that we’ve been here thus far,” Dantonio said Tuesday at a press conference. “You have to point toward those things and say, ‘Hey, we can beat anybody in this conference, and we can measure up against anybody in this conference.’”

For the Spartans to say that, it will mean taking care of business in Ohio Stadium, a place where the team hasn’t won since 1998.

This season, though, Ohio State finds itself in a transition period. The Buckeyes are in the process of breaking in new head coach Luke Fickell, who took over the position from Jim Tressel in the offseason.

Tressel, who led the Buckeyes to BCS National Championship in 2002 and six Big Ten Championships, was suspended two games for violating NCAA rules and later resigned. The Buckeyes will also be without three suspended offensive starters.

For MSU linebackers and special teams coach Mike Tressel — whose uncle is Jim Tressel, and his father is Dick Tressel, the current Ohio State running backs coach — the situation will be motivating rather than uncomfortable, he said.

“It’s a huge game because the team we’re playing has won so many Big Ten Championships,” Tressel said. “Secondly, I’m playing against my dad, but I want to beat Ohio State. Obviously with everything that is going on there, it’s just one more reason to beat them.”

Tressel’s linebackers likely will be busy Saturday. Ohio State will start freshman quarterback Braxton Miller, who is known more for his speed and ability to make plays outside of the pocket than his passing.

Miller made his first start last Saturday against Colorado and rushed for 83 yards on 17 carries. On the season, Miller’s 30 carries are just two less than running back Jordan Hall.

“You can’t let him make things happen in broken plays,” Tressel said. “You have to be able to run down whoever has the ball in his hands, and Miller can run. There’s no doubt about it; he can run. But I do feel like our speed is upgraded, and we should be able to hang with him.”

Dantonio seemingly is doing everything in his power so his team doesn’t feel as much pressure, including locking out the media from the players. With 24 players from Ohio, the head coach said the pressure to perform in front of their home crowd is enough.

“I just think that sometimes when players get interviewed they get compromised a little bit and maybe say something they shouldn’t say,” Dantonio said.

He said the decision not to speak with the media will keep them relaxed.

For senior safety and captain Trenton Robinson, he already knows he can’t relax. He came off the field after beating Central Michigan 45-7 and zoned in on the Buckeyes.

“This is the Big Ten,” Robinson said after last Saturday’s game.

“It’s Big Ten time now. We have goals, and starting (this) Saturday, that’s the first challenge for us to get where we want to be.”