INSIDE SLANT

Michigan State is bowl eligible for the third straight season under third-year coach Mark Dantonio—just the third such streak in school history.

The first came from 1987-90 under George Perles, including the school’s last trip to the Rose Bowl, in 1988. The second came from 1995-97 under Nick Saban, with Dantonio coaching the defensive backs.

This streak still could have an unhappy ending, depending on how several games go Saturday. The Spartans are not guaranteed a bowl game unless they upset Penn State on senior day at Spartan Stadium, or unless Ohio State beats Michigan as expected—or unless the Big Ten gets two BCS bids.

A Wolverines win would give the Big Ten eight eligible teams for seven spots, and a 6-6 Michigan State team could get left out in that scenario. If Penn State or Iowa joins Ohio State in the BCS, everyone would have a spot.

The Spartans will know the result of the Michigan-Ohio State game when they kick off at 3:30 p.m. against Penn State, but they’d rather earn it on their own.

“It’s never a guarantee, obviously,” MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “With seven wins, you’re guaranteed one. But at 6-6, we have to think we’ll be able to play somewhere in December—and it’s a great thing to be able to get six wins.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• The Spartans will say goodbye to 19 seniors before Saturday’s game against Penn State. The notables include DE Trevor Anderson, LT Rocco Cironi, C Joel Nitchman, RG Brendon Moss, WR Blair White, PK Brett Swenson, S Danny Fortener and LB Brandon Denson.

“These guys are special,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said. “All you have to do is look to that. I think your seniors set the bar for people. I believe that your seniors are the biggest indication of what kind of success you will have that particular season, because experience means so much. So when you look at this senior group, with an opportunity to win seven games, you know, I believe that would be quite a milestone for this group in terms of I’m not sure how many senior groups have won seven games for three straight years.”

MSU’s senior day tradition includes allowing one parent per player to attend the pre-game meal.

• The Spartans finally busted out the wildcat against Purdue, after preseason talk that it might creep into the playbook. WR Keshawn Martin had a 19-yard run out of the formation, which may show up every once in a while moving forward.

“We really haven’t done much with it because Keshawn is a young player,” Mark Dantonio said.

• Mark Dantonio still remembers the “surreal” experience of coaching against Joe Paterno as a first-year head coach at Cincinnati in 2005. The thrill remains in year six as a head coach, Dantonio said.

“It makes coaching special,” Dantonio said. “It’s something that I’ll always remember because I think he is truly one of the icons in college football, all-time icons, not just now, but all-time.”

• Michigan State is looking to duplicate what it did two years ago. The Spartans were 5-5 in Dantonio’s first season, facing a trip to Purdue and a home game with Penn State. They scored upset wins in both, earning a trip the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Mark Dantonio said he is using that as an example to motivate his team. The Spartans are halfway there.

Scouting The Offense:   Coordinator Don Treadwell put together an aggressive game plan against Purdue, throwing deep often and weaving in reverses and wildcat formations. More of the same would be a good idea against a stingy Penn State defense.

Scouting The Defense:   The Spartans were mostly porous on the road again, but they seem to play better at home. The key Saturday will be whether the Spartans can shut down RB Evan Royster and put QB Daryll Clark in obvious passing situations.

Quote To Note:   “We had our goals set high for this year, obviously. But each week, we have to take it step by step, kind of change our goals around. Our goal was get bowl eligible (against Purdue), and we did it. It feels great to reach our goal.”—Michigan State junior LB Eric Gordon

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Penn State at Michigan State, Nov. 21—The Nittany Lions crushed the Spartans 49-18 a year ago in a battle for the Big Ten championship, but the Spartans usually play Penn State well at home. MSU is 8-4 in the series at Spartan Stadium.

Players To Watch:   WR Keshawn Martin—After getting 85 on a kick return, 45 on a reverse and 19 on a wildcat run, Martin is on fire. Is he ready yet to start making plays as a pass catcher?

LB Chris Norman—The highly touted true freshman saw extensive action against Purdue, often as an edge rusher in MSU’s nickel defense. He appears to be slowly coming around.

C Joel Nitchman—In his final game at Spartan Stadium, Nitchman will be one of the keys in containing star Penn State DT Jared Odrick.

DE Tyler Hoover—A redshirt freshman with great promise, Hoover looks good on the field and has been close to making a lot of plays. He’s getting more chances as the season gets later.

Roster Report:  

• Senior LB Brandon Denson sat out last week’s game with an undisclosed injury, but he tops the depth chart this week. Junior Jon Misch took his place and had seven tackles against Purdue.

• Ashton Leggett was a co-starter at RB after running for 110 yards against Western Michigan, but he has dropped below freshmen Edwin Baker and Larry Caper again. They are listed as co-starters, with Leggett No. 3.

• The Spartans are uncommonly healthy for this time of year. Starting DTs Jerel Worthy and Oren Wilson were banged up against Western Michigan but returned and played at full speed against Purdue. There are no other known injuries at this time.