HEADLINE

No. 25 Michigan State seeks consistency against Indiana

Field Level Media

September 24, 2019 at 6:30 pm.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio opened his weekly press conference looking ahead to his team’s home matchup with Indiana by making a simple statement.

“I thought they got back on track, as well,” Dantonio said.

He was referring to Indiana’s 38-3 victory last week over UConn, a nice rebound after a 41-point loss in the Big Ten opener against Ohio State. However, he did say “as well.” That part was referring to his team’s 31-10 win at Northwestern, a week after the Spartans sputtered in a 10-7 loss at home to Arizona State.

It was critical for Indiana and Michigan State to get back on the winning path as the race for the Big Ten East title starts to heat up. The teams meet Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.

For No. 25 Michigan State (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten), the key will be not having another letdown similar to the one it had against Arizona State. The offense responded against Northwestern but will need to build off that against Indiana with critical games against Ohio State and Wisconsin in the next two weeks.

“We need to be consistent. I go back to what I said last week, consistency in performance,” said Dantonio, who then referenced former Michigan State coach Nick Saban.

“That’s what he always said, and I believe it totally. You know, Coach Saban — consistency in performance, that’s where you’re going to have to do it over and over and over and be on the front end of things in a consistent basis.”

While consistency has eluded the offense through four games, the Spartans defense continues to be among the best in the nation. Michigan State is fifth nationally in total defense (228.3 yards per game) and tied for 10th in scoring defense (11.0 points per game).

Senior linebacker Joe Bachie is the heart of that unit, collecting a career-high 14 tackles, along with a sack and an interception, in the win over Northwestern.

“Their linebacker is just one of the best in the country and just plays so hard, fundamental,” Indiana coach Tom Allen said. “The D-line’s impressive, whole unit’s really impressive as a group.”

The Hoosiers (3-1, 0-1) have won just once in the past 10 meetings with Michigan State, earning an overtime victory in 2016, when Michigan State endured a three-win season.

Indiana will have to buck that trend while being down a left tackle and facing uncertainty at quarterback.

Redshirt freshman Michael Penix Jr. began the season as Indiana’s starting quarterback, but an injury has kept him out of the past two games. He has been replaced by junior Peyton Ramsey, who had started every game last season before losing out to Penix in fall camp.

“There will be a game-time decision for that position,” Allen said.

“Really pleased with Peyton’s play and the way he’s led and continues to do great job. Michael’s been rehabbing and that’s continued to go well and we’ll find out more here throughout the week and then make a decision for that position on game day.”

Whichever quarterback starts, the Hoosiers will be protecting him with a new left tackle after senior Coy Cronk — who has 40 career starts — was lost for the season after suffering a leg injury last week. DaVondre Love filled in last week, although moving right tackle Caleb Jones to the left side is another option. Either way, there is a lack of inexperience.

“That’s a tall task against that type of an opponent,” Allen said.