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As both Wisconsin and Michigan State are finding out, the difficult step from good program to potential powerhouse must be taken in hostile territory.

Make no mistake: both programs have made significant strides in the past year and a half. They shared a Big Ten championship in 2010. They recently have put players on the national radar such as J.J. Watt, Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Javon Ringer, Montee Ball and Greg Jones. They're both recruiting well and have coaches (Bret Bielema and Mark Dantonio) who are unlikely to jump ship. Since the start of the 2010 season, neither team has lost a game in its own stadium.

But as we've seen the past two weeks, neither Wisconsin nor Michigan State has truly arrived. The reason: The Badgers and Spartans both struggle to win signature road games.

The issue seems more pronounced with Michigan State than Wisconsin -- more on that in a bit -- but it's separating these two programs from truly putting themselves in the upper echelon.

The Spartans and Badgers are not alone in their struggles. Road wins against good teams have been especially hard to come by this season. Home teams are 18-8 in Big Ten play, and the only division title contender with a home defeat is Ohio State, which fell to Michigan State on Oct. 1.

"You know in this league you're going to go in and get punched in the mouth," Michigan coach Brady Hoke said. "You better punch back."

Michigan State and Wisconsin must start punching back more often.

Wisconsin isn't far away from making the jump. The Badgers' past four losses -- three road, one at the Rose Bowl -- have come by only 22 points. Their only losses this season -- at Michigan State and at Ohio State -- ultimately resulted from allowing long pass plays in the final minute of the game. And in each contest, the Badgers rallied furiously in the fourth quarter, erasing deficits of 14 points at Michigan State and 12 points at Ohio State.

But the Badgers aren't doing the little things needed to beat good teams on the road. They had punts blocked in each of the games, leading to touchdowns for their opponents. They struggled to get off the field on defense, as MSU and OSU combined to convert 19 of 36 third-down attempts. They didn't control possession time and struggled on punt and kickoff coverage. And in crunch time, they either failed to execute on defense (Michigan State) or had a communication breakdown (Ohio State).

"Every year on the road, it's tough to get a win," Bielema said. "And if you inflict wounds on yourself, it's nearly impossible. We did too many things that cost us the game."

Wisconsin cleared some of its road hurdles in 2010, rallying to win at Iowa and beating Michigan in the Big House for the first time since 1994. The Badgers recorded three consecutive road wins in the Big Ten for the first time since 2006, Bielema's first season.

But in what many believed was Wisconsin's defining stretch of 2011, the Badgers came up short away from home. It cost them a potential shot at the national title and possibly more.

"It's not like we embarrassed ourselves the last two weeks," Bielema said Monday. "There's plenty of teams around the world of college football that were higher ranked than we were that got pounded pretty good by people that weren't ranked or weren't good teams. So I understand why people are upset. And, believe me, there's no one who will be more upset than me, but we didn't make a fool out of ourselves.

"We lost a couple of plays, a couple of games on the heartaches that will last for a lifetime."

Michigan State can't make the same claim about its struggles away from Sparta.

The Spartans' two losses this season -- at Notre Dame and at Nebraska -- have come by a combined score of 55-16. Their two losses in 2010 -- one road, one at the Capital One Bowl -- came by a combined score of 86-13.

"That's one of the things we talked about ... if we're going to win the conference or have an opportunity to be close to it, we've got to go on the road and win," Dantonio said. "We have won 12 straight games here at home. We've not lost since '09 at home. So we're doing things pretty well here. ... But nevertheless, you've got to go on the road and win. It's a tough environment all over this conference, but you've got to embrace that and be successful there."

Like Wisconsin, Michigan State has taken some steps on the road. It clinched a share of the league title last November with its first win at Penn State since 1965 -- two years after falling to the Nittany Lions 49-18 in a game with similar implications. The win at Ohio State marked Michigan State's first in Columbus since 1998.

But the lopsided losses to Notre Dame and Nebraska signal Michigan State has a long way to go to be a consistently good road team.

"No matter where we play, no matter what stadium, what field, what fan base we have to go against, we still have to be willing to go up and step to the challenge and respond," Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy told ESPN.com. "It's all about a mindset. We just have to go out there, quiet the crowd early and just play your brand of football."

Michigan State's brand this season has been outstanding defense. The Spartans rank in the top six nationally in points allowed, yards allowed and passing yards allowed. Even in the two road losses, Worthy and his fellow defenders have performed well.

The Spartans' problems have come on offense. Michigan State has scored just 26 points and averaged just 288.6 yards on the road. The Spartans have committed six of their 11 turnovers in the three road contests.

It's no wonder Dantonio says his team must take a different mindset on the road -- "more of a defensive posture," he said.

"That's good for him to say," Worthy said. "It shows the confidence he has in our defense."

Of the top six Big Ten title contenders, Wisconsin and Michigan State have the most favorable remaining schedules. Both teams must go on the road twice, and while neither the Badgers nor Spartans face a ranked team away from home -- Wisconsin visits Minnesota and Illinois; Michigan State visits Iowa and Northwestern -- recent history shows they can't take any game for granted.

If both squads survive, they could reunite Dec. 3 in Indianapolis.

We're in the home stretch of the preseason player rankings, based on past performance and potential impact for the 2011 season. Let's check out the next name on the list ...

No. 9: Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State, Jr., 5-9, 210

2010 numbers: Recorded 207 rushes for 1,201 yards and 13 touchdowns; finished fourth in the Big Ten in rushing average (92.4 ypg) and eighth in scoring (6 ppg); had five 100-yard rushing performances; caught three passes for 22 yards.

Why he's here: Baker emerged as Michigan State's featured back and was one of the more consistent rushers in the Big Ten, eclipsing 85 yards in eight games. A first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media, he displayed explosiveness with 10 rushes of 20 yards or longer but also showed power in the red zone. Despite being just 5-foot-9, Baker is extremely sturdy and excels in the weight room. A lot of people have made the Javon Ringer comparisons, and though Baker likely will share carries more than Ringer did, he displays a similar work ethic to the former Spartans All-American. He needs to show he can attack some of the Big Ten's better defensive lines this fall, and he's setting the bar high for himself. Although teammates Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper will challenge for carries, Baker's experience last year gives him an edge.

Previously

• No. 25: Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin
• No. 24: Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State
• No. 23: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
• No. 22: Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
• No. 21: Nathan Scheelhaase, QB, Illinois
• No. 20: John Simon, DL, Ohio State
• No. 19: Ricardo Allen, CB, Purdue
• No. 18: Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
• No. 17: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
• No. 16: Derek Moye, WR, Penn State
• No. 15: Jeremy Ebert, WR, Northwestern
• No. 14: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
• No. 13: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
• No. 12: David Molk, C, Michigan
• No .11: Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
• No. 10: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan

Edwin Baker's nickname, "Rock," spawned under rather unflattering circumstances.

Baker, the All-Big Ten running back from Michigan State, can thank his dad, Edwin, for the handle.

"I was little and playing around one day," Baker said. "I fell off the porch, hit the back of my head and got right back up and kept playing. My dad said, 'That boy's head is hard as a rock.'"

Baker has worked tirelessly to ensure the nickname applies to the rest of his body.

The junior already is one of Michigan State's top performers in the weight room. He recently increased his squat total to 610 pounds, up from 545 last year. Baker bench-presses 395 pounds.

Timed at 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash and boasting a 38-inch vertical leap, Baker has complemented his natural athleticism with improved strength.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio and Spartans head football strength coach Ken Mannie both liken Baker's weight room performance to that of former All-American running back Javon Ringer.

"Rock is highly self-motivated with a great motor," Mannie said. "He is extremely competitive, and does not allow himself to have a bad day."

Baker first began lifting in eighth grade. As a smaller player -- he's listed at 5-foot-9 -- he knew he had to get stronger for high school ball. He couldn't get by on speed alone.

Baker and his teammates at Oak Park (Mich.) High School had unlimited access to the school's weight room, and Baker took advantage.

"I had more energy throughout the day, knowing I was being healthy," he said. "I was getting the results, knowing I was getting stronger. ... I have to have a strength advantage to compensate for my height."

Ringer faced the same challenge at Michigan State. Despite standing just 5-9, Ringer led the nation in both carries (390) and touchdowns (22) in 2008, becoming a true featured back after sharing the load with Jehuu Caulcrick earlier in his career.

Baker made the biggest weight-room jump after his freshman year at Michigan State. He got off to a slow start in 2009, and though he finished with 427 rush yards on 85 carries, he knew he had to raise the bar -- literally and figuratively.

"After the season, I said I want to push myself to the limit," Baker said. "I'm going to challenge my body, challenge my mind to work hard and do things I haven't done my whole life."

Baker emerged as Michigan State's top back in 2010, rushing for 1,201 yards and 13 touchdowns and averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He became just the sixth Spartans sophomore to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season.

"He's very intense," Dantonio said. "He's got a very good mind-set in terms of how he prepares for everything, not just in the weight room. He has a certain amount of maturity and it shows. He's a worker."

Baker has set definitive on-field goals for himself this fall, but he doesn't get wrapped up in his lifting totals ("I couldn't even tell you my numbers," he said).

He does take pride in the fact his longtime nickname doesn't simply apply from the neck up.

"Most definitely," Baker said, "my body is a rock."

Michigan State went through the previous offseason with a chip on its shoulder, the product of a subpar performance on the field in 2009 and a more disappointing display off it.

Throughout the winter, spring and summer of 2010, Spartans coach Mark Dantonio talked about adversity making a team stronger. His team responded with an 11-win season and a share of its first Big Ten title in 20 years.

So has the mood changed around East Lansing following the success of 2010? Not a chance.

"We have not taken the approach that we're the hunted," Dantonio told me Tuesday morning. "We still feel like there's something we have to prove and work on. We've talked a lot to our players about handling success. For every team that had a good year last year, the opportunity to repeat that same type of success becomes even more difficult.

"But with that being said, we're a more confident team, which should [help], especially when we have to go on the road this year."

Dantonio spent much of May and June meeting individually with every Spartans player for 30-40 minutes. He met Monday with quarterback Kirk Cousins.

"It's more about continuing to gain respect," Dantonio said. "We've got the same type of attitude that we carried in last summer, that we've got to prove our worth on a daily basis."

Recruiting remains a focus for Michigan State after the spring evaluation period, and lately it has been a bit of a touchy subject for Spartans fans. After several years where Michigan State excelled in the local and regional recruiting scene, archrival Michigan has re-established itself under new coach Brady Hoke and his staff.

Michigan already has 16 verbal commits for 2012, including seven in-state prospects and seven from neighboring Ohio. One of Michigan's recruits from Ohio, linebacker Kaleb Ringer, is the nephew of former Michigan State All-American running back Javon Ringer. The Wolverines' class ranks No. 6 nationally according to ESPN Recruiting.

Michigan State isn't exactly struggling on the recruiting trail. The Spartans have five commits, including Ohio quarterback recruit Tyler O'Connor and their lone in-state prospect, linebacker Riley Bullough, the younger brother of Michigan State linebacker Max Bullough.

But not surprisingly, Michigan's rapid start to recruiting has taken away some of the spotlight.

"Michigan's got a great program," Dantonio said. "When somebody new takes over, there's always going to be an influx of energy into that program. They have a lot of positives to draw from. In many ways, you grow up in this state and you're green or you're blue. That's the way it goes sometimes, but we'll continue to recruit Michigan hard. They have great high school football here, and we'll get our guys."

Dantonio described Michigan State's 2012 recruiting progress as "very, very good."

One state both Michigan State and Michigan will continue to recruit is Ohio, which could be more vulnerable because of the recent turmoil at Ohio State.

"I don't see that right now because it's so new," Dantonio said, referring to the changes at Ohio State. "We have an opportunity every single day to recruit people from all over the country."

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- When Mark Dantonio studies the red-letter games that have ended badly during his Michigan State tenure -- Ohio State and Penn State in 2008, Iowa and Alabama in 2010 -- two reasons stand out for the Spartans' shortcomings.

The first is the most common culprit: turnovers. Any team trying to move up in class -- or "measure up," as Dantonio often says -- can't give the ball away as often as Michigan State did in those games and expect to win.

Every team focuses on limiting turnovers, but the second reason is more Spartans-specific. It also underscores how Michigan State can take the next step after four consecutive bowl appearances under Dantonio.

"We didn't win up front," Dantonio said. "Winning at the point of attack, being able to run the ball effectively against a great football team and stop the run against a great football team, that enters into it."

In recent years Michigan State has proven it can both recruit and develop top-end offensive skill players (Javon Ringer, Devin Thomas, Edwin Baker and Kirk Cousins, to name a few). The Spartans have had outstanding linebackers (Greg Jones, Eric Gordon) and talented defensive backs (Otis Wiley, Chris L. Rucker).

But to truly join the Big Ten's elite, the Spartans must close the gap up front on both sides of the ball. They need offensive linemen and pass rushers that strike fear in opponents.

It's no secret how teams like Wisconsin and Iowa, which typically face bigger recruiting obstacles than Michigan State, have upgraded their programs. The Badgers and Hawkeyes both excel in line play, which has helped them make up for potential deficiencies elsewhere.

The Spartans now must do the same.

"You look at the three teams that won the Big Ten a year ago," offensive coordinator Dan Roushar said, "and you would certainly say Ohio State had a tremendous offensive line. You would echo those comments with Wisconsin. I would leave for others to judge what Michigan State's offensive line was or is.

"You go back to years past. Ohio State's established themselves at the top of this league. Penn State has played very well up front. That's the fundamental of football: you win up front."

Michigan State's offensive line had its moments in 2010, especially early on as the team eclipsed 200 rushing yards in five of the first six games. But the rushing production tailed off down the stretch and the Spartans finished with minus-48 yards on the ground against Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.

Three starters depart, and the competition along the offensive line has ramped up in spring practice. Michigan State's pre-spring depth chart listed four potential starters at center, two potential starters at right guard and a redshirt freshman (Skyler Schofner) as the starting right tackle.

"There's more numbers," Dantonio said, "and I just see more overall athleticism."

The increased athleticism comes in part from moving players like Dan France and Blake Treadwell from defense to offense. Treadwell started five games at nose tackle last season, while the 6-6, 304-pound France was a reserve defensive tackle before moving to left tackle.

Young linemen like Schofner and Travis Jackson also excite the coaches.

"We have an opportunity to develop some quality play up there," said Roushar, who coached the line the past four seasons before being promoted to coordinator. "But there may be some growing pains."

The bar has been raised for Michigan State's defensive line this fall. Defensive tackle Jerel Worthy is the bell cow after recording eight tackles for loss and four sacks in 2010. There's depth inside with senior Kevin Pickelman and Anthony Rashad White, who has turned things up in spring ball.

The problem is Worthy's sacks total led the team in 2010, and Jones was the Spartans' sacks leader in 2009. Michigan State needs some true pass rushers to emerge, and the spotlight will be on ends William Gholston, Tyler Hoover, Denzel Drone and Marcus Rush this fall. Gholston, a heralded recruit who spent time at both linebacker and end last year, has found a home with his hand on the ground.

"It starts up front," defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said, "and the further coach Dantonio gets in his tenure here, the better we're going to be up front. We might stay the same in the secondary, we might stay the same at receiver.

"But we're going to get better every year on the lines."

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Several days after Michigan State's disheartening loss in the Capital One Bowl, running back Edwin Baker turned his focus toward the 2011 season.

Baker always has motivated himself with tangible goals, and the coming season would be no different.

In high school, Baker set the bar at 1,000 rushing yards per season. He racked up 1,295 yards as a prep junior and finished with 863 yards as a senior despite missing four games with a hyper-extended knee. Before last season, he once again targeted 1,000 rushing yards and finished with 1,201 to go along with 13 touchdowns.

But Baker really raised the stakes for himself in 2011. His magic numbers are 2,000 rush yards and 21 touchdowns.

"It's definitely a big difference," Baker said. "But if I want to be an elite player, I have to make elite goals."

Baker's goals aren't totally random. He knows that Michigan State has had only one 2,000-yard rusher in a season, as Lorenzo White racked up 2,066 yards in 1985.

The 21 touchdowns would tie Baker for second on Michigan State's single-season list with former bruiser Jehuu Caulcrick. Former Spartans All-American Javon Ringer holds the record with 22 scores in 2008.

Baker understands the lofty goals mean nothing unless he backs them up this fall. And it'll take a lot of work to come close to his magic numbers.

The 5-foot-9, 208-pound Baker always has stood out in the weight room, earning the nickname "Rock" for his physique. His body hasn't changed, but Baker spent much of the offseason working on his mind.

"I've been watching a lot more film, trying to get my football IQ up," Baker said. "I'm trying to read defenses with [quarterback] Kirk Cousins, and I'm picking up more and more every day at practice. Just trying to become a complete football player."

Despite Baker's production as the team's featured back in 2010, Michigan State's spring depth chart showed three co-starters in the backfield: Baker, sophomore Le'Veon Bell and junior Larry Caper, Baker's roommate. Bell was extremely impressive in the first half of the 2010 season, while Caper looked like the team's running back of the future in 2009.

Coach Mark Dantonio calls the running back situation "very competitive," but Baker has only helped himself this spring.

"He gained a lot of confidence a year ago in his play," offensive coordinator Dan Roushar said of Baker. "He has a whole other level of maturity. He's going into his third season here, and it's showing in the way he's playing."

Several ex-Spartans now in the NFL have spent time around the Skandalaris Football Center this spring, including Ringer. Baker has latched onto the former Michigan State star, who had 390 carries and 1,637 rush yards in 2008.

"I always want to know, what can I do to get better?" Baker said. "He says, 'Go out there and be you. Play hard and run hard and don't try to make things that aren't there.' Like [running backs coach Brad] Salem always says, 'You've got to get four [yards] to get 44.' The big plays are going to happen."

Baker will need plenty to reach his goals this fall.

"I reached my goal last year," he said. "Now I'm going to reach for a much bigger goal."

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Mark Dantonio stepped into the lobby outside Michigan State's football offices and looked at the 2010 Big Ten championship banner unveiled Thursday at the Skandalaris Football Center.

"Now we've got to get another," Dantonio said with a smile.

Michigan State isn't satisfied with its first Big Ten title in 20 years. The Spartans know that to be truly considered an elite team in this league, they need an impressive follow-up act, especially after the poor performance against Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.

Dantonio thinks he has a better team than the 2010 version, but he's also mindful of a challenging schedule and an improving conference.

"We've got to still measure up," Dantonio said. "This is a process. There is no beginning time, there is no end time. It just goes. We need to move the process forward."

It has been a very productive day here in Sparta, as I've visited with Dantonio, coordinators Dan Roushar (offense) and Pat Narduzzi (defense) and several players.

Here are some notes:

• Linebacker was Michigan State's strength on defense throughout the Greg Jones/Eric Gordon Era, but the spotlight might be shifting to the defensive line this season. Narduzzi really likes the depth at both line spots. Jerel Worthy is a proven commodity, and the coaches really like what they've seen from junior Anthony Rashad White. The Spartans feel they're three-deep at end with Tyler Hoover, William Gholston and Denzel Drone, and Marcus Rush also is working on the edge. After blitzing Jones a ton the past few years, the Spartans need a true pass-rusher or two to emerge from this group.
• The offensive line has more question marks. Michigan State is young up front but both Dantonio and Roushar noted the line will be more athletic in 2011. Part of that is moving defensive linemen like Dan France and Blake Treadwell over to the offensive side. Redshirt freshman tackle Skyler Schofner, at 6-7 and 305 pounds, has been impressive along with classmate Travis Jackson. Dantonio described many of his linemen as "very fluid." Michigan State really has only two senior linemen in guard Joel Foreman and tackle Jared McGaha, so this group has a long time to unite and come together. I'll have more on both lines next week, but these two units are vital to the Spartans becoming a consistent top-tier Big Ten program.
• Dantonio called the running back situation "very competitive," but Edwin Baker hasn't taken a step back this spring after starting throughout 2011. Roushar noted that Baker has been spending a lot of time with former Spartans star back Javon Ringer, a frequent visitor throughout spring ball whom I caught up with today. "It's a whole other level of maturity," Roushar said of Baker. Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper continue to work, and don't count out redshirt freshman Nick Hill, who adds a different dimension to the group. There's a lot to like about the depth Michigan State has at running back, receiver and tight end.
• Although the defenses loses multiyear starters like Jones, Gordon and cornerback Chris L. Rucker, Narduzzi hasn't had to slow down the learning curve this spring. Just the opposite. "We're amazed at how well they've picked it up," he said. "We're a much smarter defense right now than we were a year ago. Those young kids have been paying attention. They may not have had those reps, but they understand what we're doing." As for the linebackers, junior Chris Norman has been limited this spring following elbow surgery. Sophomore Denicos Allen and junior Steve Gardiner have impressed the coaches, and sophomores Max Bullough and TyQuan Hammock are competing at middle linebacker. "Bullough might be a little bit ahead right now," Narduzzi said.
• Roushar's transition to coordinator seems to be going smoothly. Cousins noted that in reviewing the film from 2010, Michigan State had several successful plays that it didn't run very often. "We're working on trying to get those plays involved more in our offense," Cousins said. "If we're so successful at them, why are we not doing them two or three times a game rather than once every two games?"

It's time to hit the road now, but I'll have more on the Spartans in the coming days and weeks before they wrap up spring practice April 30.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The image will ring a bell for Michigan State fans: a triumphant running back bringing his entire offensive line into the interview room after a huge performance against an archrival.

In 2008, Javon Ringer did it after gashing Notre Dame for 201 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries in a suffocating 23-7 victory at Spartan Stadium. Standing in front of his top five trailblazers, Ringer declared, "I can do nothing without these guys paving the way for me. ... I told y'all they should be doing the interviews instead of me."

As you might remember, Ringer went on to earn All-America honors and the Spartans made their strongest push for a Big Ten title since 1999. Michigan State embodied the "pound green pound" philosophy Mark Dantonio espoused after becoming the team's coach, as Ringer led the nation in carries (390) and scoring (10.2 points per game).

Fast forward to late Saturday afternoon, moments after No. 17 Michigan State finished off a 34-17 win against No. 18 Michigan.

The door opened to the visitors' interview room at Michigan Stadium, and Spartans running back Edwin Baker entered, followed by the team's starting offensive line. Baker racked up 147 rushing yards and a touchdown.

What was the plan on offense?

"Pound green pound," Baker said. "Today we showcased to everybody in the world that we're going to run the ball. We're going to be Big Ten champions."

Bold words from Baker, but after Michigan State pounded Michigan into submission Saturday, he might be onto something.

The Spartans' offense is rediscovering its identity after a season of new faces in key places. And this year's unit might have both the balance and firepower Michigan State lacked in 2008, enough to take the team one step further.

Want to see balance? Don Treadwell's offense racked up 287 pass yards and 249 rush yards against Michigan.

Want to see power? Simply watch Michigan State's 10-play, 93-yard scoring drive in the third quarter, which featured eight run plays, capped fittingly by a bruising 8-yard scoring run by Larry Caper that pushed Michigan defenders past their own goal line.

"It got to a point where we could impose our will on them," Spartans guard Joel Foreman said. "We were dominating this line of scrimmage, and that's what we wanted to work for."

Last season, Michigan State finished second in the Big Ten in passing (269.4 yards per game) and first in passing touchdowns (28). But the rushing offense ranked a middling sixth in the league and 73rd nationally.

The Spartans had no clear successor for Ringer and tried several young players, namely both Caper and Baker, as their featured backs.

"That was our main goal this season," Baker said, "establish the run game and run hard and get over 100 yards every game. We didn't do that last season."

The Spartans have returned to the run this fall, eclipsing 200 rushing yards in five of their first six games. Baker on Saturday recorded his third 100-yard effort of the season, and true freshman Le'Veon Bell, who had a 41-yard touchdown dash against Michigan, has twice reached triple digits.

The ground swell hasn't diminished Michigan State's pass attack. Far from it.

Junior quarterback Kirk Cousins dissected Michigan's weak secondary for 284 yards, completing 18 of 25 passes and spreading the ball to eight different receivers. Cousins has improved with each game, executing the play-action to perfection and boosting his completion percentage to 68.2 percent.

"That's what makes our offense so deadly, the ability we have to balance," said receiver Mark Dell, who had a 41-yard touchdown grab and 93 receiving yards in the game. "We can come out all day and run, and still execute, and we can come out and pass and execute.

"The variety that we have and the balance that we show makes our offense dangerous."

Arguably no group came out of Saturday more satisfied than the offensive line, a group heavily doubted before the season. After allowing two first-half sacks, the line kept Cousins clean and wore down Michigan's front, the strength of the Wolverines' defense.

"Every game is a statement game for our offensive line," Foreman said.

And even at the end, with the game well in hand, Michigan State continued to pound away. Facing a fourth-and-2, fifth-year senior center John Stipek told the huddle, "Guys, let's get this first down. I want to beat Michigan."

Baker ran up the gut for 5 yards and then the Spartans took a knee.

The statement?

"We are Big Ten contenders," Baker said. "And we're going to showcase that every week."

How many yards will Denard Robinson, the nation's leading rusher, put up Saturday against No. 17 Michigan State?

What about Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell? Both Spartans backs are capable of gashing a weak Michigan defense.

If Robinson, Baker or Bell have a big day on the ground Saturday, it wouldn't be the first time in the Michigan-Michigan State series. In fact, most of the recent meetings have featured impressive performances by ball carriers.

Thanks to ESPN's Stats & Information for this list ...

2008 -- Javon Ringer (MSU): 37 rush, 194 yards, 2 TD in 35-21 win

2005 -- Mike Hart (MICH): 36 rush, 218 yards, TD in 34-31 (OT) win

2004 -- Mike Hart (MICH): 33 rush, 224 yards, TD in 45-37 (3OT) win

2004 -- DeAndra Cobb (MSU): 22 rush, 205 yards, 2 TD in 45-37 (3OT) loss

2003 -- Chris Perry (MICH): 51 rush, 219 yards, TD in 27-20 win

2001 -- T.J. Duckett (MSU): 27 rush, 211 yards, TD in 26-24 win

Michigan State achieved nearly perfect offensive balance in 2009 with 419 rushes and 423 passes.

So why did the Spartans seem so lopsided?

Nearly two-thirds of Michigan State's total yards (3,502 out of 5,281, 66.3 percent) and touchdowns scored (28 of 44, 63.6 percent) came through the air. The Spartans boasted the Big Ten's No. 2 pass offense but finished a middling sixth in rushing average.

Something didn't feel right, especially for a team coached by Mark Dantonio, a disciple of Jim Tressel and Nick Saban.

When freshman running back Le'Veon Bell enrolled early this past winter, Dantonio had a message for him.

"He basically said he wanted to run the ball this year," Bell said. "He wanted to get back to the 'Pound Green Pound.'"

That was the motto Dantonio espoused after becoming Spartans coach. Michigan State finished 25th nationally in rushing in his first season as head coach in 2007. The following year, running back Javon Ringer earned All-America honors after finishing fourth nationally in rushing (1,637 yards) and leading the nation in carries (390).

Michigan State's ground game took a step back last fall, in part because its best backs, Larry Caper and Edwin Baker, were true freshmen. But things are changing so far this season.

"I knew we had some very capable running backs," Dantonio said. "I also knew we needed to assert ourselves a little bit more in the running game than we did last year. We're doing that."

Through two games, Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten and 11th nationally in rushing average (261 ypg), boasting a whopping 7.8 yards-per-carry average and six touchdowns. More impressive is the fact that the Spartans are doing it without Caper, who started five games last season but has sat out the first two contests with a hand injury.

Baker and Bell both rank among the Big Ten's top eight rushers. Baker, who didn't eclipse 100 yards in any game as a freshman, already has two 100-yard yard performances this fall and ranks fifth nationally in rushing average (150 ypg).

More good news should come Saturday night, as Caper likely will make his season debut against Notre Dame (ABC, 8 p.m. ET). The Spartans will be able to spread out the carries and keep their backs fresh.

"That was our main goal, to establish a run game," Baker said. "Last year, we didn't establish that. We took it upon ourselves -- me, Larry and Le'Veon -- and we said, 'We're going to make this run game a big deal.'"

Baker admitted to being overwhelmed last season.

After appearing in the opener against Montana State, he experienced soreness in his surgically repaired knee and sat out the next five games. Michigan State considered redshirting Baker, but he returned to the field in October.

When he did, his head was swimming.

"I was thinking a lot, thinking about my assignment too much, thinking, ‘Dang, am I really supposed to do this?’" Baker recalled. "I had a lot of emotions and a lot of things going around me, from my injury, then me [possibly] getting redshirted.

"Now I'm out here, I'm 100 percent, I'm free-minded. I feel great."

He's playing great, too. Baker's goal is to produce at least one big play per game, and he achieved it last week with an 80-yard touchdown run against Florida Atlantic.

Bell also recorded his first breakaway run, a 75-yarder in the opener against Western Michigan. But at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, Bell understands his primary role.

"I'm a bigger guy," Bell said. "I can be used in short-down situations. I can catch the ball out of the backfield. I can get a lot of the tough yardage. I think I'm a very patient runner, and I'm a great pass protector."

Bell has a similar makeup to the 5-11, 220-pound Caper, while Baker, at 5-9 and 208 pounds, draws more comparisons to Ringer in both body type and running style.

Dantonio provides the scouting report for each back.

Baker: "Extremely powerful, quick, explosive in the hole, great balance."

Bell: "Power, vision, ability to hit a hole square, runs through tackles."

Caper: "A power-type runner, sort of a slashing-type runner and great speed, great athlete."

"They all complement each other," Dantonio said.

After two fairly easy wins, Michigan State needs a boost from its backs Saturday night as the competition gets tougher. Notre Dame held Purdue to 102 rush yards in a Sept. 4 victory, but the Irish had no answer for Michigan's Denard Robinson (258 rush yards) last week.

Baker saw snippets of the Michigan-Notre Dame game, and while he'll never heap too much praise on a Wolverine, he liked what he saw.

"That's a key thing that [Robinson] was running on them," Baker said. "That shows me that I can run on them, and so can our other running backs. We're going to take that to our advantage.”

The Big Ten preseason player rankings, based on past performance and 2010 potential, continue with ...

No. 21: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State, Jr., 6-3, 202

2009 numbers: Finished third in the Big Ten in pass efficiency (142.6 rating) last season after throwing 19 touchdowns and only nine interceptions (second fewest among Big Ten starters); ranked seventh in the league in both passing average (206.2 ypg) and total offense (210.8 ypg).

Most recent ranking: Unranked in the 2009 postseason player rankings.

Making the case for Cousins: All in all, Cousins had a very solid performance in his first season as Michigan State's starting quarterback. Without the services of a top-of-the-line running back like Javon Ringer, Cousins guided a Michigan State offense that led the Big Ten in passing touchdowns (28) and ranked second in pass offense (269.4 ypg). A few mistakes stood out, namely his late interception against Notre Dame, but Cousins managed the game well and avoided picks in seven contests. He should be even better this season, and he'll have the Big Ten's deepest group of wide receivers and tight ends at his disposal, not to mention an improved running game with Larry Caper and Edwin Baker. Cousins also has the makings of an excellent on-field leader after serving as just the second sophomore captain in Michigan State history in 2009.

The rundown

• No. 25: Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt
• No. 24: Illinois RB Mikel LeShoure
• No. 23: Iowa DT Karl Klug
• No. 22: Northwestern LB Quentin Davie

From the moment Larry Caper and Edwin Baker arrived at Michigan State, the running backs have pushed each other.

Their competition extends far beyond the football field.

"If we’re just walking down the hallway, I call him, 'Little guy,' 'cause he’s little," Caper said.

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Caper has two inches and about 20 pounds on Baker, but Baker has a compact, sculpted frame, earning the nickname "Rock." That brings up another frequent debate between the two backs: Who's stronger?

"He’s pretty strong," Caper admits, before adding, "He thinks he’s stronger than he is."

Baker makes it clear: "I'm stronger."

For most of us, the constant competition would get a bit tiresome, even if most of it is friendly in nature. But Caper and Baker would have things no other way.

The two sophomores chose to room together at Michigan State and intend to do so for the remainder of their college careers. They will compete for carries this fall -- head coach Mark Dantonio wants to divide things 50-50 or as close to it as possible -- and possibly for the next two seasons as well.

"That’s going to be my roommate for the next three years," Caper said, "One and two, me and him, Cape and Bake."

After losing All-American Javon Ringer following the 2008 season, Michigan State used a committee of backs last fall, as four players recorded 40 or more carries. Caper led the way with 120 carries for 468 yards and six touchdowns, and Baker followed with 85 carries for 427 yards and a score.

The Spartans ranked second in the league in passing but just sixth in rushing and ninth in rushing attempts with 419. The coaches expect things to balance out this fall, in large because because both Caper and Baker have a year under their belts.

The two players bring different styles to the backfield. Caper is a pure power back -- head coach Mark Dantonio likened him to former Iowa star Shonn Greene -- while Baker describes himself as "somewhat power [back], somewhat scat back," and adds, "real quick."

"His initial from A to C is just tremendous," offensive coordinator Don Treadwell said. "He just has that burst, but he also has a lot of strength with that, a very compact build."

Caper had a nice stretch early in Big Ten play last fall, scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Michigan and following with 158 rushing yards and two touchdowns in wins against Illinois and Northwestern. Baker played in the opener before missing five games with an injury. (He underwent knee surgery in high school.) He started in place of Caper against Western Michigan and recorded 78 rush yards on only 15 carries.

Baker finished his freshman season with his best performance, rushing for 97 yards and a touchdown on only 12 carries against Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl.

"Both those young men, you could see a difference even from the regular season to the time we played Texas Tech in the bowl," Treadwell said. "They were understanding where to hit the hole, 'What’s my footwork? What am I supposed to be reading?' And it showed itself. Now you spin it forward into spring football, and you see it even more.

"They’re a tremendous duo."

Treadwell calls the running backs "good friends" and notes that it's not always the case with two strong competitors.

Baker has some extra motivation the season after being snubbed in Michigan State's player draft for the spring game. Caper was the first running back drafted, but next came freshman Le'Veon Bell, not Baker.

Then again, Baker doesn't need to prove much to the team. Just his roommate.

"We compete at everything," Baker said. "That's how we want to get better."

Our decade recap continues with a look at the top players in the Big Ten from 2000-09. The league produced just one Heisman Trophy winner, Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith in 2006, but many other national award recipients on both sides of the ball.

We saw outstanding one-year performances from players like Brad Banks (2002), Larry Johnson (2002), James Hardy (2007) and Shonn Greene (2008), and impressive four-year career efforts from Paul Posluszny, James Laurinaitis, Mike Hart, Javon Ringer, Taylor Stubblefield and others.

The league produced solid linemen and linebackers the entire decade, while star quarterbacks and running backs were sprinkled throughout.

Believe me, it wasn't easy to get this list down to 10 players, but here goes.

I put more weight on players who had multiple outstanding seasons. Also, players who had most of their production in the 1990s didn't make the cut.

1. Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State: The league's lone Heisman Trophy winner tops the list. Smith took home the Heisman, the Walter Camp and the Big Ten MVP awards in 2006. He also led Ohio State to a Fiesta Bowl championship following the 2005 season.

2. Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan: The 2004 Biletnikoff Award winner earned consensus All-America honors that year, completing a terrific four-year run in Ann Arbor. Edwards still holds the Big Ten record for career touchdown receptions with 39, two more than fellow Wolverine Anthony Carter.

3. A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State: Hawk was the face of a ferocious Buckeyes defense during the mid part of the decade. The two-time All-American (unanimous in 2005) won the Rotary Lombardi Award and helped Ohio State to a Fiesta Bowl victory.

4. Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin: The Thomas-Jake Long debate is a good one, but I'm giving the edge to Thomas, the 2006 Outland Trophy winner. Thomas anchored several powerful Wisconsin offensive lines, earned consensus All-America honors in 2006 and twice made the All-Big Ten squad.

5. Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State: Posluszny is one of only two Big Ten players to win the Bednarik Award two times. He also took home the Butkus Award in 2005 and helped restore Penn State after the program had slipped from 2000-04.

6. James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State: Laurinaitis was quite possibly the most decorated Big Ten player of the decade on either side of the ball. He joined select company at Ohio State in earning All-America honors three times (unanimous in 2007). Laurinaitis won the Butkus and Nagurski awards and twice earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors.

7. Greg Eslinger, C, Minnesota: Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III shared the rushing load, but Eslinger was the mainstay who created rushing lanes no matter who had the ball. The 2005 Rimington Trophy winner was Minnesota's only three-time All-Big Ten selection this decade.

8. Bob Sanders, S, Iowa: No player meant more to Iowa's renaissance this decade than Sanders, the team's only three-time All-Big Ten selection in the aughts. Nicknamed "The Hitman," Sanders epitomized a program that got the most from its players for the majority of the decade.

9. Mike Hart, RB, Michigan: We witnessed lot of great one-year performances from Big Ten running backs, but Hart was one of the league's few mainstays this decade. Despite being plagued by injuries as a sophomore, Hart finished fourth on the Big Ten's all-time rushing list (5,040 yards) and had 28 career 100-yard rushing games.

10. Antwaan Randle El, QB, Indiana: Randle El brought a new brand of football to the Big Ten and had a record-setting career despite never reaching a bowl game. The dual-threat star won Big Ten MVP honors in 2001 and ranks fourth on the league's career total offense list with 11,364 yards.

Also considered: Michigan T Jake Long, Michigan State WR Charles Rogers, Michigan State RB Javon Ringer, Iowa QB Brad Banks, Iowa T Robert Gallery, Purdue WR Taylor Stubblefield, Ohio State WR Ted Ginn Jr., Michigan DE LaMarr Woodley, Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall, Penn State QB Michael Robinson, Penn State RB Larry Johnson, Purdue WR Dorien Bryant, Purdue WR John Standeford, Ohio State S Mike Doss, Wisconsin DE Erasmus James, Iowa RB Shonn Greene, Northwestern QB Brett Basanez, Illinois LB J Leman, Penn State LB Dan Connor.

Mark Dantonio often attributes his early success at Michigan State to coaching continuity. Since his arrival in 2007, Dantonio has kept his staff fully intact, a rarity in today's college football.

But nothing lasts forever, and for the first time at MSU, Dantonio must replace one of his top assistants.

Michigan State running backs coach Dan Enos has reportedly landed the head-coaching job at Central Michigan, where he's expected to be introduced Tuesday. Enos, a former Michigan State quarterback, looks like an excellent choice for the Chippewas, and a big loss for the Spartans.

He was the biggest reason for Michigan State's recent in-state recruiting surge. Enos served as Dantonio's lead recruiter in the Detroit area and helped to land top prospects like Edwin Baker, Larry Caper, Dion Sims and Keshawn Martin. He also coached star back Javon Ringer and helped Caper and Baker develop nicely this fall.

Michigan State certainly lost some momentum on the field this season, but the program must continue to be a major player in recruiting within the state. Expect Enos' replacement to have strong ties to the Detroit area and some of the top high school programs there.

Illinois defensive backs coach Curt Mallory also was a finalist for the Central Michigan job. Rivals.com's Tom Dienhart reports that Mallory, who recently was demoted from a co-defensive coordinator spot, likey will land at Akron as the Zips' new defensive coordinator.

The FedEx Orange Bowl is finally here!

Please join me and ACC blogger Heather Dinich (who's in South Florida) tonight in the Virtual PressBox to discuss the game. We'll get started at 8 p.m. ET.

Kyle from Columbia, S.C., writes: Love the blog, Adam. As great as Bill Martin has been for Michigan, by raising cash and expanding the programs in important places, how do you think David Brandon will compare as the new AD?

Adam Rittenberg: Brandon looks like a strong hire for Michigan, Kyle. He has been about as involved in Michigan athletics as you can be without being an employee. He knows how to raise funds. As a successful CEO, he knows how to delegate responsibility and surround himself with good people. Brandon fits the mold of the new athletic director in college sports, someone who didn't necessarily spend their career in athletics, but has a connection to an institution and had success in other areas (business, law). You see similar guys at Notre Dame, Indiana and Purdue. Being an AD of a major department like Michigan is a lot like being a CEO, a role Brandon clearly understands. His biggest challenge will be uniting Michigan fans around a struggling football program. He talked today about how there's no place for factions and divisiveness around the program, and as a Michigan man, he can unite people. But he also can't feed into the old guard that seems dead set against Rich Rodriguez.

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JJ from Madison, Wis., writes: Hey Adam. How about that Rose Bowl!? I was hoping to get your opinion on a college football playoff. In my opinion, the best part of college football is the fact that there ISN'T a playoff. I don't see how anyone as a true fan could be in favor. The beauty of college football is that half the decent teams can finish the season with a bowl win and feel decent about their season; while also giving all the fans a chance to vacation, party, and route for their favorite team. As an Ohio State grad, a national championship would be perfect, but I can still feel great about the season and had an absolutely awesome time in Southern California (I'm probably remembering it even better than it was now that I'm back in Wisconsin). What do you think?

Adam Rittenberg: I respect your opinion, JJ, and it's one shared by a lot of folks around the Big Ten. I'm in favor of keeping the bowl system and using a small playoff (four or eight teams). A bunch of teams would still finish the season with wins, and fans could, for the most part, plan their bowl trips in advance. It's definitely a tricky situation, but we demand clear definition from our sports, and college football doesn't really give us that each year. After being in California for Rose Bowl week, I see how special it is for players and fans. You might lose that with a playoff system, but something like a plus-one format probably doesn't take too much away.

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Adam from Hershey, Pa., writes: Adam,I'm sure you are busy preparing for the Orange bowl, but when you have a moment, can you address my question: Was Chip Kelly's statement that "Terrelle beat us (Oregon)" a cop out? From what I watched, it was not just Terrelle, but a whole team effort...not to take anything away from Terrelle incredible performance.

Adam Rittenberg: No, definitely not a cop out, Adam. Kelly acknowledged other areas of Ohio State's performance that contributed to the win, like the way the Buckeyes contained Jeremiah Masoli. But he was also admitting the obvious, and Terrelle Pryor played a huge role in Ohio State's win, especially with his clutch third-down passes.

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Dave from Saginaw, Mich., writes: Adam, now seeing how Michigan State's season played out, do you think they were a little overrated coming into the season? I hate to say this in hindsight, but in the beginning of the season I didn't really believe they'd live up to the expectations. Not just because of the "same old sparty" mentality which Dantonio seems to have eliminated to some extent, but because we lost Javon Ringer and Brian Hoyer, Otis Wiley, and many other excellent starters on both sides of the ball. Coming in to the season I didn't really expect them to be competing for any kind of title.

Adam Rittenberg: Dave, you bring up some good points about the players Michigan State lost. I remember being concerned about the Spartans' line play on both sides of the ball after seeing them in spring practice. You knew there was youth in the offensive backfield, but for the most part, Kirk Cousins and the running backs did OK. The wide receivers were a pleasant surprise. The secondary was a major disappointment, any way you slice it. Mark Dantonio talked up this group throughout the preseason, and they really let him down. Wiley definitely was a major loss. And neither line was particularly great, as I had feared. Still, I think Michigan State is in pretty decent shape heading into 2010.

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Scott from the Quad Cities writes: Adam,I appreciate your work on the blog. There have been many interesting articles many of which I have commented on myself. I'd just like to ask you: "Why all the love for Iowa?" Do we really need 6 articles on them over three days? I know the Orange Bowl is coming, but there are other items to report on, i.e. finishing up the recap of the best case / worst case series. Honestly, there are very few people outside the state of Iowa that care about the Hawkeyes and are tired of all the attention you have paid to them all year long. Can you change the subject and give some attention to other teams?

Adam Rittenberg: I just can't win, can I, Scott? Last week, I was writing too much about Ohio State. Now I'm writing too much about Iowa. Here's the deal. There are certain times of the year when the blog will be unbalanced with the coverage, especially around BCS games. That's just the way it is. I'll still finish best case-worst case, re-rank the Big Ten's top 30 players and weigh in on recruiting. But for the past few days, Iowa has been the focus, and deservedly so.