B1G Rewind: Beast Lansing

Since his arrival at Michigan State in 2007, Mark Dantonio has dedicated resources to a defense designed to smack the taste from its opponent's mouth.

While the defense has shifted between solid and extraordinary, Michigan State's offense has determined where the Spartans finish in the final standings. When Michigan State had a veteran quarterback, talented wide receivers and a solid running back, it has won titles. When Michigan State didn't have those skill players, it lost several tough, often close, games.

This year started like the latter but has become the former. Behind quarterback Connor Cook, the Spartans have grown offensively. Michigan State has won every Big Ten game by double digits. The latest was a 29-6 pounding of rival Michigan on Saturday, keeping the Spartans in sole possession of first place in the Legends Division.

"We believe on offense," Dantonio said. "We've got a quarterback who's resilient, who can make plays. He's young; he's still growing with a big opportunity to grow this game. We've got our receivers catching the football. We've got a running back running, a couple guys in there, and our offensive line is playing pretty well."

As Michigan State's offense has caught up, its defense has remained steadfast. Michigan kicked just two field goals, one more than Illinois last week against the Spartans. Purdue was shut out two weeks ago against Michigan State. Saturday, Michigan rushed for minus-48 yards on 29 carries, and the Spartans generated seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

"Defensively, we've just been dominant," Dantonio said. "They haven't scored a touchdown in the last three weeks, so we really have been dominant. In modern football, you just don't see that very often and that's a credit to our staff."

The Spartans (8-1, 5-0) could have virtually locked up the Legends title had Nebraska quarterback Ron Kellogg III not completed a 49-yard Hail Mary pass on the game's final play to beat Northwestern 27-24. The Wildcats led 21-7 in the first half before Nebraska tied the score midway through the third quarter. Northwestern's Tyler Scott put the Wildcats in a great spot to win by intercepting a Tommie Armstrong pass with 2:25 left. He returned it to the Nebraska 7.

But the Wildcats advanced only three yards and settled for a go-ahead 21-yard field goal. Nebraska switched to Kellogg, and the final launch to Jordan Westerkamp was epic.

"I didn't even know I could throw it that far," Kellogg said. "But thank God for Jordan Westerkamp. I think everybody busted their butt on that play, so it was great to get a touchdown off of it.

"It sounded like thunder. People were just in awe when I was running in the opposite direction. I didn't even know what happened. I really don't know. I'm still stunned by it myself."

The win kept Nebraska (6-2, 3-1) within pace of Michigan State. The Cornhuskers are one game behind the Spartans in the loss column and play host to Michigan State in two weeks.

"Hopefully the momentum will carry over into next week and, hopefully, help propel us forward as the season goes on," Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini said. "When our guys are young, especially on the defensive side, they don't even know what they don't know sometimes. That helps you as a football team. That was a fun locker room to be in. Those guys were excited. That's what college football is all about: their experience."

The Wolverines (6-2, 2-2) now are two games behind Michigan State. Barring a collapse by the Spartans, it's almost certain Michigan will miss out on a Big Ten title for the ninth straight season.

"I think our kids played hard. I didn't think we executed very well," Michigan Coach Brady Hoke said. "And there's eight-to-six plays in a game like this that are going to make a difference. And when you go back and when you watch it again, you'll see that there's eight-to-six plays that made a difference in the game; that from a standpoint of momentum, standpoint of confidence and what you want to do, that's part of it."

SATURDAY'S STARS

Penn State running back Bill Belton rushed for 201 yards on 36 carries. ... Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson passed for 298 yards and four touchdowns, including the game winner with 3:06 left. ... Michigan State linebacker Denicos Allen had nine tackles, including three for loss, and a quarterback hurry.  ... Purdue punter Cody Webster averaged 49.5 yards on eight punts.

NOTEWORTHY

Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase threw for 321 yards and rushed for another 35. ... Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller passed for 233 yards and four touchdowns. ... Wisconsin's Marcus Trotter had nine tackles, including 1.5 for loss, while replacing all-Big Ten linebacker Chris Borland. ... Iowa linebacker James Morris had 12 tackles, including two for loss. ... Indiana running back Stephen Houston rushed for 111 yards and a score. ... Michigan cornerback Raymon Taylor had 12 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. ... Northwestern running back Treyvon Green rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns. ... Nebraska wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp caught four passes for 104 yards, including the game-winning touchdown on the final play.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Ohio State (1) 9-0 5-0

• Has scored 119 points the last two games, topped 31 points in every outing

2. Wisconsin (2) 6-2 4-1

• Badgers manhandled Iowa in the second half, stay in contention for potential Orange Bowl bid

3. Michigan State (3) 8-1 5-0

• Can hang with anybody in the country when its offense is right

4. Minnesota (6) 7-2 3-2

• Feel-good story of the year in college football

5. Nebraska (7) 6-2 3-1

• A Hail Mary is the difference between fifth and eighth

6. Michigan (4) 6-2 2-2

• Has Michigan improved since Rich Rod was canned three years ago?

7. Iowa (5) 5-4 2-3

• Losses come to opponents with combined record of 32-3

8. Northwestern (8) 4-5 0-5

• Another excruciating loss but wouldn't be shocked if Wildcats still notch one major upset

9. Indiana (9) 3-5 1-3

• Must hold serve against Purdue and Illinois and upset either OSU or Wisconsin to earn bowl bid

10. Penn State (10) 5-3 2-2

• Continues to fight in a season with no chance at a bowl

11. Illinois (11) 3-5 0-4

• The Illini have lost 18 straight Big Ten games, worst streak in school history

12. Purdue (12) 1-7 0-4

• Boilermakers have been outscored 114-7 in last three games

STANDINGS

LEGENDS

• Michigan State 8-1 5-0
• Nebraska 6-2 3-1
• Minnesota 7-2 3-2
• Michigan 6-2 2-2
• Iowa 5-4 2-3
• Northwestern 4-5 0-5

LEADERS

• Ohio State 9-0 5-0
• Wisconsin 6-2 4-1
• Penn State 5-3 2-2
• Indiana 3-5 1-3
• Illinois 3-5 0-4
• Purdue 1-7 0-4

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

• Wisconsin 28, Iowa 9
• Nebraska 27, Northwestern 24
• Minnesota 42, Indiana 39
• Ohio State 56, Purdue 0
• Michigan State 29, Michigan 6
• Penn State 24, Illinois 17 (OT)

UP NEXT

• Iowa at Purdue, 11 a.m. (BTN)
• Penn State at Minnesota, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
• Nebraska at Michigan, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
• BYU at Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
• Illinois at Indiana, 2:30 p.m. (BTN)