It seemed all but inevitable, not unlike another round of death and taxes.

But in football, as in life, the truest measure of character often is found in times of adversity.

Few personify this quite like sophomore quarterback Connor Cook, who has grown by learning to take ownership of the successes and failures of MSU’s offense. As a result, the Spartans (5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) now appear as potent as the collective unit has in nearly two years.

Cook was a major factor in the weekend’s 42-28 victory against Indiana at Spartan Stadium, throwing for 235 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-31 passing from the field. Cook’s effectiveness also opened the door for the running game, which produced 238 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the day — three of which came from junior running back Jeremy Langford.

“It is almost more fun to see (the offense) succeed as it is the defense the past couple of weeks,” senior linebacker Max Bullough said. “They have grown up so much with some young players and they have done so well with accepting the coaching. Taking the abuse early on in the year, they really took hold of it and took ownership of that offense.”

Judging the team from where they started to where they are at the midway point of 2013, the difference clearly is Cook, who has developed confidence in the pocket, growing leaps and bounds from when he made his MSU introduction in the team’s Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl win over TCU.

Cook equates much of the newfound success to a conversation he had prior to the team’s game with Iowa with co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner, who advised him to trust his offensive line and wait for plays to develop.

“Just like a whole confidence level, guys having fun out there, not stressing about anything,” Cook said. “Focusing on the play but having fun while at practice. I feel like I have always said this, this is just the beginning. We know what we are capable of. We showed what we were capable of against Iowa and (Saturday) against Indiana.

“We just have to build on our performance.”

There’s a new feeling surrounding the MSU football team. And as Cook’s confidence improves, it becomes contagious for others on offense.

The soft-spoken Langford stepped up for a career-high 109 rushing yards and four total touchdowns against the Hoosiers, turning his slashing ability into heavy production to go along with big runs by freshman running back Delton Williams and freshman wide receiver R.J. Shelton. Senior wide receiver Bennie Fowler and junior wide receiver Tony Lippett also have looked as poised as they have since joining the program, catching the ball and becoming effective options in the passing game.

Even freshman tight end Josiah Price got in on the action with a 39-yard reception, showing the first signs of life at the tight end position since the departure of Dion Sims.

A once listless offensive attack suddenly has weapons, stacking up well with any of the remaining six teams on the schedule.

“I feel like (we’re) back. We were great a couple years ago and then it wasn’t that we fell off a little bit, some things just were not right,” said Williams, who ran for 92 yards on 12 carries against Indiana, noting that the team is making progress.

The Spartans’ offense definitely is making progress, a far cry from the team that buoyed quarterbacks to no avail in an impotent stretch to open the year. And while it’s important to keep a pair of Big Ten wins in context, the Spartans seemingly can do no wrong, finding ways to win with Cook at the helm.

The days of MSU’s offense being written off are over.

Of course, the challenge now is to prove they’re worth it.

Dillon Davis is a State News football reporter. Reach him at ddavis@statenews.com.