The Hoosiers have one of the most dangerous offenses in the Big Ten. Indiana currently leads the Big Ten in both total yardage (478.9 ypg.) and passing yardage (284.0 ypg.).

Indiana's senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld is 119-of-189 passing for 1,741 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions this year.

"Indiana has an outstanding football team. I think they are extremely well-coached, Kevin Wilson does an unbelievable job," head coach Mark Dantonio said. "They have a big-time quarterback in Sudfeld who leads the league in passing."

Connections with coaches

MSU defensive line coach Ron Burton spent five seasons as the Hoosiers linebackers coach from 1997-01.

Burton (1982-86) and Indiana's head coach Kevin Wilson (1980-83) played together at the University of North Carolina.

MSU offensive line coach Mark Staten (1989-92) played at Miami-Ohio while Wilson was an assistant coach there (1990-98).

Flawless Dantonio

Dantonio has not lost to the Hoosiers in his time as the head coach at MSU. He is a perfect 6-0 and 3-0 at Spartan Stadium.

Overall, MSU leads the all time series for the Old Brass Spittoon 44-15-2. MSU has won 14 of the last 16 matchups including a 56-17 win last year.

After a win against blue

The last time the Spartans played Indiana after a win over University of Michigan, MSU was shocked by the Hoosiers by a score of 37-28 in 2001.

Many upsets come after the hangover of a big win, but Dantonio doesn't think that will be an issue for his team.

"After big games, after wins and losses after big games, we'll paint the picture of what we have been, and the standard that is expected," Dantonio said. "So to me, the worst -- obviously the worst thing we can do is fall backwards here, so we need to continue to move forward and you know, our dreams are ahead of us, and they start this Saturday. So I think our players will be ready to play.

"I think what's important is, I talked with before, about handling success and being able to move forward. I think 2001, I wasn't here; they weren't here; different time, different place."

Cook's connection

Senior quarterback Connor Cook's father Chris Cook is a former Hoosier tight end. Chris was a three-year letterman from 1982-84 and he played for three different head coaches in that time, most notably Lee Corso in 1982.

Cook, who is MSU's winningest quarterback of all time, is just six touchdowns passes away from the passing TD record, was not offered a scholarship from the Hoosiers.

"It's not like I have a chip on my shoulder that I'm going to go out there and try to play angry against them," Cook said. "I'll treat it like any other game ... as long as I keep doing what I'm doing I think we'll be just fine."