Now the Spartans have a non-conference game sandwiched between Big Ten play, and head coach Mark Dantonio made it clear that the team still has the opportunity to achieve their goals, even with two losses.

“Well, first of all, we're not cashing out this year yet,” Dantonio said. “We're a 2-2 football team. As far as the out-of-conference game, we'd need to win the football game, so we're going to do what we have to do to win the football game. It's paramount that we win.”

MSU will have to step it up across the field on both sides of the ball and win match ups in Dantonio’s key areas, which include third-down conversions on offense, limiting them on defense and getting an edge in the turnover battle.

INJURY REPORT

BYU: 

OUT: OL Ului Lapuaho (undisclosed), LB Sae Tautu (suspension, out for first half)

QUESTIONABLE: CB Troy Warner (hamstring), LB Butch Pau'u (knee), K Jake Oldroyd (back)

MSU

OUT: LB Riley Bullough (shoulder), LB Jon Reschke (ankle), DT Malik McDowell (suspension, out for first half), DT Raequan Williams (shoulder)

QUESTIONABLE: OL Collin Caflisch (leg)

PROBABLE: LB Chris Frey (arm), CB Darian Hicks (hip), RB LJ Scott (leg) 

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE MSU OFFENSE

Fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor had arguably his best outing of the season in a road loss to Indiana, completing 21-of-35 pass attempts for 263 yards and three touchdowns. He was the victim of receivers running wrong routes, dropped passes and an offensive line that gave him slightly less time in the pocket then accustomed.

Speaking of the MSU offensive line, Dantonio made more adjustments, with fifth-year senior Kodi Kieler shifting to left tackle in place of David Beedle and Brian Allen sliding to the center position for the second straight week.

“I don’t know that we are necessarily looking for the right combination,” offensive line coach Mark Staten said. “We are just trying to make sure that the right people are playing the right positions. When your flaws are figured out and they use them against you, then you can struggle.”

The three-headed running back rotation with junior Gerald Holmes and sophomores LJ Scott and Madre London all saw action against Indiana, and Holmes looked like the most efficient runner in the contest. Scott should still start for MSU, but Holmes might receive a few more carries this time around, especially out of conference.

“It's hard to work three of them into the rotation and get them enough reps or carries, I guess you would say,” Dantonio said. “I think LJ (Scott) has been the guy that probably carried most of the load. Gerald (Holmes) has had his moments. I thought Madre (London) had his moments in the game as well. So all three of those guys are very, very capable players. So that's a positive thing.”

For the past two weeks, O’Connor has been looking to freshman Donnie Corley and senior Monty Madaris often, but against Indiana he clicked with senior R.J. Shelton, who had seven catches for 141 yards and a long 86-yard touchdown. Expect Shelton to get involved more again this week.

MSU DEFENSE

The interior of MSU’s defensive line took a few big hits this week, as junior Malik McDowell will have to sit for the first half following his targeting call against Indiana and sophomore Raequan Williams will be out for a week or two with injury.

Offensive lineman Brandon Clemons is a “for sure” to play defense on Saturday, and Dantonio also mentioned freshman Auston Robertson as a guy who could step in and play defensive tackle. But all in all, the defensive line needs to get a better rush. Period.

“We might practice a one-on-one block, but in the game, we might see something totally different,” senior defensive end Demetrius Cooper said. “You've just got to adjust to it. ... We just have to be better at it, and at the same time just go with the flow of the game plan, because some teams will block you different than other teams.”

The linebacking situation will be similar to last week. Senior and captain Riley Bullough is out again, as is junior Jon Reschke. That means Andrew Dowell and Chris Frey will start on the sides and junior Shane Jones will play the middle for the third straight week. Frey is currently tied for the team-lead in tackles with 27.

The other player with 27 is senior safety Demetrious Cox, who leads a secondary that after losing cornerback Darian Hicks to injury in the Indiana game. He gave up three consecutive scoring drives all resulting in touchdowns through the passing game. Hicks is ready to go against BYU, and will have to be, as BYU’s offense averaging 425.2 yards per game rolls into East Lansing.

“As a defensive back, you've got to play the ball in the deep part of the field,” Dantonio said. “That's probably the most critical thing and biggest thing you see right now in college football across the board, regardless of where you're at, you're seeing guys making plays on deep balls either defensively or offensively.”

BYU OFFENSE

For the past few seasons, BYU has been hovering around the top of the ranks in total offense and passing offense. The team has their 26-year-old senior quarterback Taysom Hill back from an injury last season, and it seemingly appeared that would happen again.

For the Cougars, the rushing attack has been what has kept their offense on the field. Senior running back and potential Heisman Trophy candidate Jamaal Williams is coming off a BYU-record 286 yards rushing and five touchdowns in a 55-53 win over Toledo last week. Williams on the year has 703 rushing yards, which is second in the nation, and eight touchdowns.

Dantonio also mentioned that Williams is the number one rusher in yards after contact in the country, and the defensive front seven will have a tough assignment containing his explosiveness.

“Like any Big Ten back here, he is a guy that has done a tremendous job as far as running the ball,” defensive line coach Ron Burton said. “He is a stiff arm runner and gets yards after contact. That is our challenge is to be able to stop it. He is a good back and we are looking forward to the challenge against Mr. Williams.”

Hill is a dual-threat quarterback who has thrown for 1,117 yards and five touchdowns, but has also rushed 55 times for 228 yards and two scores. Hill spreads the ball around to a number of receivers, the most deadly being downfield target Nick Kurtz. The 6-foot-5 receiver has reeled in a team-high 18 catches for 205 yards and a touchdown this season.

Hill’s mobility allows him to escape a lot of pressure, but the offensive line has still given up 12 sacks on the season, a potential moment for MSU’s defensive front to rebound.

BYU DEFENSE

BYU’s defense has given up some big numbers to opponents, allowing 442 yards of total offense per game to the opposition. But despite the yards, only two of BYU’s first five opponents have scored more than 20 points on the Cougars.

The defense does have some strong players, led by safety Kai Nacua, who leads the NCAA with four interceptions and has added 20 total tackles on the year. Sophomore linebacker Butch Pau’u is 13th in the nation with 10.5 tackles per contest, including six tackles for loss and an interception.

“Defensively, they play a lot of different people, a lot of different people,” Dantonio said. “So they're going to keep their guys fresh. (BYU head coach) Kalani Sitake is in his first year there. I think he'll be very successful there, and looking to build a program.”

Sitake is a defensive mind, formerly being  the defensive coordinator at Utah and Oregon State before accepting the head coaching position at BYU. BYU has wrapped up eight sacks on the season and has allowed the opposition to convert red zone opportunities into points 82 percent of the time.

SPECIAL TEAMS

MSU’s special teams have been woeful, as kicker Michael Geiger missed his two attempts against Indiana, putting him at 2-5 on the year. The return game has lacked explosion, their longest kick return being 27 yards and their longest punt return just 13.

Sophomore Jake Hartbarger hasn't had many problems lately, but some lengthy returns by the opposition puts his average at a hair under 42 percent. For comparison, BYU kickers Jake Oldroyd and Rhett Almond are 8-9 on the season.

“I mean, Mike's been a good kicker,” Dantonio said. “He's been a good competitor. He's made big kicks for us, but he's got to be more consistent. I don't think there is any doubt about that. So we'll take a look at that as well, analyze that. I think he's a competitor, and he needs to bounce back when he has that opportunity.”

MSU's coverage unit had major penalties in the loss to Indiana, including a leaping call on Drake Martinez that gave the Hoosiers another shot to win the game, which they eventually converted. 

PREDICTIONS

NATHANIEL BOTT

MSU can pull this out if the offensive line cuts down on penalties and the running game can keep the offense rolling, and more importantly, keep Hill and Williams on the sideline. The defense has struggled and will have to wrap up Williams, the aforementioned top rusher in the NCAA in yards after contact.

SCORE AND MVP

MSU 21, BYU 20

MVP: Tyler O’Connor

O’Connor has gotten some hate from the Spartan fanbase, but he goes up against a BYU defense that takes risks in the secondary, and so far, it hasn’t paid off for them. The 310 yards of passing yards given up per game is a hefty number, and O’Connor should feel confident despite criticism after his best performance of the year against Indiana.

STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI

SCORE AND MVP