The Spartans may still have their heads down, but they can't feel sorry for themselves much longer. They have a date coming up with powerful Ohio State at Columbus this week.

The sting of the overtime loss to Michigan was still fresh in John L. Smith's players' minds and they have to find a way to put that painful defeat in the rear-view mirror.

People definitely have their heads down, but we have to get them back up with Ohio State coming up," said middle linebacker Kaleb Thornhill. "We've got to pick it up and move on."

The big problem for the Spartans was the inability to stop the Michigan ground game. Antonio Pittman and Troy Smith have the ability to cause plenty of problems for the Spartans defense -- just as Mike Hart did for the Wolverines.

Michigan State couldn't stop UM's running attack even though Smith said that was his No. 1 priority going into the game. The Wolverines rushed for 232 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Hart's 64-yard run was the longest play against the Spartans this season, and his 45-yarder is tied for the third-longest.

The Wolverines out-rushed Michigan State by 59 yards, marking the 34th time in the last 36 games in the series that the team with ground superiority also won the game.

"It wasn't that we weren't in shape or that the game plan wasn't right," said strong safety Eric Smith. "You have to give credit to Michigan for running the ball, but if we're going to let a team get 3, 4 or 5 yards a carry, we aren't going to win the football game. It's tough losing like that. We just can't make the little mistakes here and there."

Smith's analysis aside, it wasn't little mistakes that lost that game. The Michigan offensive line got good push against the Spartans and the Buckeyes have the wherewithal to do the same. Michigan State's defensive line must at least get a stalemate if the Spartans are going to slow down Ohio State in this one.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: It would be difficult to complain about the top-ranked offense in the conference. Michigan State ranks first in scoring (45.4 ppg), total yards (566.4) and passing (314). QB Drew Stanton has completed 99-of-138 passes for 1,466 yards and a 14-3 TD-interception ratio. He has extremely quick feet and throws very well on the run. Freshman RB Javon Ringer is the team's leading rusher with 404 yards and an average of 7.9 yards per carry.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Spartans played hard against Michigan, but were extremely ineffective in the early going when they fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter. Michigan State had no clue as how to stop Mike Hart, who torched them for 218 yards. Michigan State allows 405.4 total yards per game, ranking eighth in the Big Ten.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're not as good as what people thought we are. That team down there still has five recruiting classes that were in the Top 10 throughout the country for the last five years. We're getting better and better, but if we don't execute to the best of our ability we're not a very good football team." -- Michigan State head coach John L. Smith on his assessment of his team during the bye week.

THIS WEEK'S GAME: at Ohio State, Oct. 15 -- There may have been time for a breather in the bye week, but there can be no let-up in intensity as the Spartans face one of the tallest tasks in the country in trying to win at Columbus.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Drew Stanton -- He took the loss to Michigan hard and had an extra week to think about it before playing Ohio State. If Stanton can come through with an outstanding performance vs. the Buckeyes, he should be a serious Heisman Trophy candidate for the rest of the season.

WR Kyle Brown -- Caught four passes for 53 yards against Michigan. Brown knows how to get open and is dangerous when he catches the ball in stride. He has caught 21 passes for 315 yards and two TDs.

RB Jason Teague -- Freshman stud Javon Ringer has 404 yards and averages 7.9 yards per carry, but Teague can still get the job done. He had 72 yards and looked solid vs. Michigan.

DT Domata Peko -- His 74-yard return of a fumble in the fourth quarter for a touchdown allowed the Spartans to tie the game and send it to overtime. Peko plays with fire and is very stout in the middle of the defensive line. He has 26 tackles, one TFL and one sack.

ROSTER REPORT: LB David Herron Jr. is still getting dizzy after coming out of the Sept. 24 game at Illinois, while fellow Kaleb Thornhill has "chronic knees." They should be ready for Ohio State. ... DL David Stanton and RB Javon Ringer are expected to recover fully from slight shoulder injuries. ... CB Irving Campbell and WR Aaron Alexander, who have spent considerable time on the bench with injuries, also are expected to re-join the team shortly.