The Spartans will look to extend that to double digits when they head to Bloomington, Ind. for an 8 p.m. kickoff to be televised on the Big Ten Network.

INJURY REPORT

INDIANA:

Questionable:

Offensive lineman Dan Feeney (concussion)

Offensive lineman Dimitric Camiel (back)

Kicker Aaron Del Grosso (legal problems, potential suspension)

Out:

Wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. (ankle)

Tight end Jordan Fuchs (ankle)

Defensive back Wesley Green (suspension)

Wide receiver J’Shun Harris II (Knee)

MSU

Questionable:

Linebacker Riley Bullough (shoulder)

Out:

Linebacker Jon Reschke (ankle)

Five Things to Watch

1. Indiana’s speedy receivers

Indiana quarterback Richard Lagow, a transfer student from Cisco Community College in Texas, has plenty of options on the outside and in the slot, and it has helped him throw for 1,002 yards and seven touchdowns already this season.

Indiana averages 516.7 yards of offense per game this year, and 334 of those yards come through the Hoosier aerial attack. Even without Cobbs Jr., who was expected to be Indiana’s top offensive threat, receivers like sophomore Nick Westbrook and redshirt-seniors Ricky Jones and Mitchell Paige, the Hoosiers are still stocked outside the hash marks.

Dantonio said a lot of that comes down to Lagow.

“From the perspective of IU and their quarterback, yeah, he makes it happen,” Dantonio said. “He's a big, tall guy. He throws the ball very well. They're the same football team that they've been in terms of asking him what to do. (Indiana head coach) Kevin Wilson has a system. It's a very good system. It's a very well-run system. He's had a lot of success with it. So he (Lagow) plays within the system. I think that's what all great football players do, play in the system.”

Sophomore Vayante Copeland and senior Darian Hicks will have to be on top of their game in Bloomington to stop those three receivers, who all average more than 10 yards per catch. For the over-the-top coverage on deep throws provided by Cox and junior Montae Nicholson, Westbrook and Jones each average more than 20 yards per catch.

2. McDowell and defensive line to use frustration as fuel

Junior defensive lineman Malik McDowell expressed some frustration with the double teams and lack of calls he has been getting following the Spartans' loss to Wisconsin. McDowell, a preseason All-American candidate, only has eight tackles so far this year and zero sacks.

The good news? Indiana starts a freshman and redshirt-sophomore on the left side of their offensive line, and the right side has both Camiel and Feeney questionable to play with injuries. The Hoosiers have already given up seven sacks this year in three games, and Lagow has thrown five interceptions, some of which caused by pressure generated by the opposing defense.

Nevertheless, defensive line coach Ron Burton expressed that the team has to generate more pressure up front to take some weight off the linebacker’s shoulders and give the secondary a better shot at forcing turnovers.

“How we generate pressure is continue to beat your 1-on-1s,” Burton said. “That's what the key is to the game and that opportunity presents itself to all of our defensive line, as well as our linebackers and that opportunity will come. That is part of the game on a weekly basis, is you winning your 1-on-1s. That is how you generate pressure and you have to take that as an individual."

3. Playing for something more

The Spartans have a plan to honor Mylan Hicks for the game, and the players expressed how much Hicks meant to them earlier this week. In addition, the Big Ten announced that they would use a commemorative coin for the opening toss, with former MSU punter Mike Sadler and former Nebraska punter Sam Foltz as the two sides. Both died in a car accident during the summer this past year.

When the Spartans take the field on Saturday, they hope to have both Hicks and Sadler watching over them when they play.

“He'll be with us,” Dantonio said regarding Hicks. “Again, it just speaks to how life can change on people very, very quickly. We experienced that with Mike Sadler and now experience that again with Mylan Hicks. It's a tragic event. Just take into account what you have now and cherish it.”

4. Running game to get back on track

The Spartans failed to run the ball successfully against the Badgers last Saturday, finishing with less than 100 yards rushing for the first time all season and only sophomore running back LJ Scott getting more than three carries out of the position.

Junior Gerald Holmes and sophomore Madre London didn’t see much of the field as MSU had to play catch up through the air for most of the second half. That being said, MSU will have to establish their running game early and get more guys involved in the backfield.

“The problem was, as I said after the game, is we were never able to establish it because we were on and off the field quickly,” co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner said. “Our third down consistency was very, very poor and it kept us from getting in any rhythm and getting anything going. Our run game was not good, but I don't think it was bad either. I think our guys ran hard.”

Look for Scott, Holmes, and London to all see the field, with Scott getting the majority of reps, and for MSU to try and establish that running game right off the back.

5. O’Connor to Price early and often

Fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor struggled mightily last weekend against the Badgers and will be looking to bounce back against an Indiana defense that gives up just more than 350 yards of total offense per game.

It starts with Indiana native and senior tight end Josiah Price, who just so happens to be MSU’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions for a tight end. Two of those touchdown grabs for Price have come against Indiana, and he is looking forward to making it a third time, and has confidence that O’Connor and the passing game will recover nicely.

“You've just got to focus up, stay true to your roots, stay true to your fundamentals,” Price said. “Focus on a great week of practice and just build on that. There’s no real magic formula I think, you've just got to bounce back and be mentally tough.”

Price was one of the favorite targets of O’Connor in the Wisconsin game and connected with him a few times against Furman as well, one of those for Price’s lone touchdown of the season. With focus drawn to the outside receivers of MSU like Donnie Corley and Monty Madaris, the middle of the field could be opened up for Price. If the run game gets established, the play-action pass could see a lot of work, making Price another viable target in that situation.

PREDICTIONS:

NATHANIEL BOTT

This game is going to come down to MSU’s defense. Under Dantonio, the Spartans are 7-0 against the Hoosiers and have put points up on the board against them, including a 52-point performance last season. MSU wins this game if they can generate enough pass rush and prevent the big plays from Westbrook and Lagow.

MVP: Montae Nicholson

Nicholson had 10 tackles last week against Wisconsin and was MSU’s most efficient secondary player in a game that didn’t see many solid performances from the Spartans. Nicholson gets double digit tackles again as well as an interception that gets taken to the house.

FINAL SCORE: MSU 38, Indiana 21

STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI

All week players talked about bouncing back from a loss and the challenge of facing adversity. For MSU to bounce back the secondary will have to hone in on stopping Indiana's three primary passing targets and O'Connor will have to shake the turnovers. If the offense can create space on the edge, MSU will take this one. Indiana, however, is capable of moving the ball and will get its points in this one. MSU pulls away late.

MVP: Chris Frey 

Frey is the only remaining starter to not fall to injury in the linebacking corps. He's proven he can takeover as the leader and will be a big factor in stopping IU's targets underneath. He records a sack, a pass breakup and has at least eight tackles. 

FINAL SCORE: MSU 31, Indiana 24