So, here the Spartans sit again. Undefeated in conference play with a daunting trip down to Columbus to play No. 4 Ohio State (7:30 p.m., ABC). Through five games, the Buckeyes, under first-year Head Coach Ryan Day, have looked downright unbeatable.

But, if the Spartans want more than a successful but forgettable nine or 10 win season, the journey begins Saturday.

"Our deal is, as coaches, to make sure we are motivated, make sure we have a great plan, and then from our players' perspective, they've got to be motivated as well and also we have to execute," Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio said in his Tuesday press conference.

With wins over Northwestern and Indiana, the Spartans opened conference play 2-0 for the first time in two years, largely due to better execution. MSU gained over 770 yards of offense in its last two games, while going 4 of 4 in the red zone last Saturday against the Hoosiers.

Those two games have given the Spartans — specifically MSU's offense — tons of confidence heading into its showdown with the Buckeyes. And for Michigan State to pull off the upset, that trend will have to continue.

“(We've) had success down there in the past. We’ll look forward to trying to replicate that," Dantonio said. "But, again it will be a challenge as we go, but that’s what this is about. At the end of the day, if you want to be Big Ten champions or the East Division champions, that goes through Columbus, Ohio. We know that and we expect that. That’s been the norm here, pretty much for some time now.” 

In the history of Dantonio at MSU, a win against Ohio State has usually correlated with a successful season. A 10-7 win against the Buckeyes in 2011 began a three game winning streak that also included victories against Wisconsin and Michigan. The Spartans went on to finish the year 11-3, took their first trip to the Big Ten title game, and concluded the season by beating Georgia in the Outback Bowl.

In 2013, the Spartans out-dueled OSU in Lucas Oil Stadium to win the 2013 Big Ten Championship, sending MSU to Pasadena, California for their first Rose Bowl Game appearance since 1988.

And in 2015, a game-winning Michael Geiger field goal catapulted the Spartans to the top of the Big Ten East standings, leading the Spartans to Indianapolis for a third time. Michigan State of course defeated Iowa to earn its first trip to the College Football Playoff.

None of these instances are coincidences. To be the best, the Spartans had to beat the best — which is exactly what the Buckeyes have been for the better of the last two decades.

Saturday night's game falls right in line.

If the Spartans want a chance at a conference title, they once again have to maneuver around the Ohio State roadblock.

“I really think that any time you're in a conference, you're trying to become the best at your conference, so you've got to measure up," Dantonio said. "Ohio State has been a dominant program in this conference ... I don't think I'm letting the cat out of the bag there. That's been in the '90s into the early 2000s. Coach Tressel was there as well, and certainly when Coach Meyer was there.

"You've got to be able to measure up to win your share there, or win some there if you want to be a Big Ten Champion.” 

Homeless Heyward

Former Michigan State running back Connor Heyward is officially a free agent. The decision became public Sunday afternoon that Heyward, a junior out of Georgia, would enter his name into the transfer portal, joining former Spartan linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle, who made the same decision a week ago.

"I'm always going to take the position that, hey, whatever you think is best for you," Dantonio said. "If you don't think it's best to be here, then it probably isn't because you're not all in. We've got competition at running back. I don't think there's any question about that, that there's been competition there. I think at this point in time we have a No. 1 running back.

"But we wish Connor the best. He's a tremendous young man. He's a good football player. He brings value to our football program, but it just sort of is what it is, and you have to deal with it from that perspective, and I'm going to deal with it in a positive way. That's the only way that I can approach things."

Heyward, who only played in four games this season for MSU, will have the opportunity to redshirt this season and still have two years of eligibility with his new team.

Badger Battle

The Big Ten announced Monday that the official game time for when Michigan State travels to Camp Randall Stadium to take on Wisconsin is set for 3:30 p.m. The television network will not be announced until after the conclusions of the games on October 5.

The Spartans and Badgers have met up just once since 2012, when in 2016 Wisconsin defeated MSU 30-6. It was a game that began a seven game losing streak for the Spartans. Michigan State, of course finished that season with a 3-9 record.

The Spartans defeated Wisconsin 16-13 in overtime in their 2012 meeting, the last time MSU traveled to Madison. Former Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell connected with Bennie Fowler for a game-winning 12-yard touchdown.