Don't look now, but Michigan State is 2-0.

Albeit it's a 2-0 mark against questionable competition, but the Spartans are still undefeated after beating Illinois 31-10 last week and Minnesota 36-22 the week before. For MSU, that's a big improvement over last year, when the team finished 1-5 in the Big Ten.

"We have had the best start to a season since I've been here," Spartans senior Michael Nyland said. "I must credit most of our improvements to our new coaching staff. Since I've been here we've gone through four coaching changes. Our new head coach, Tim Britain, has pushed us harder then we ever have been before. We also have our assistant coaches Neville Williams and Mark Bankes who are supporting us day in and day out."

So all this enthusiastic group of players needed was a little direction -- and that direction now seems to be up.

But, wait a minute. Minnesota isn't exactly unbeatable (the Gophers gave up 80 to Wisconsin this past weekend), and Illinois isn't exactly Indiana. The Spartans know this, too. As one of the lower-tier Big Ten teams, they will play each of the other five lower-tier opponents once and then face one of the top three (Indiana, Wisconsin, or Ohio State) once. 

In Michigan State's case, that top-tier game is Oct. 21 at Wisconsin. Win that game, and we can talk.

"Obviously, I can't ignore that the new Big Ten format means that we haven't seen any of the conferences perennial powers yet," Nyland said. "But I'm confident when we do see them, they will be playing a brand new MSURFC."

Nyland said the his team's confidence is bolstered by simple hard work.

"For me, our conditioning is what has been giving us an edge," he said. "We condition every day at the beginning of practice. At the beginning of the fall, I must admit, it was a bit of a shock to our systems. But now, a month later, we are doing the same exercises with much greater ease. That improved fitness level translates during the games. 

"Last week against Illinois, for example, we went down 10 points early. But as the game continued you could see our fast pace of play staying consistent. We never slowed down. That is what we keep saying to ourselves: We're not going to outsize anyone, but we will outrun them."

Jarrod Polk was MSU's player of the game against Illinois, while Samy Shelbaya scored two tries and Adam Barber, Michael Gieselman, and Jacob Richmond each touched down once.

Next up for Michigan State is a home matchup against annual rival Michigan on Friday night. Usually it's the Wolverines who are thought to be in position to push the top three. This time? Maybe it's the Spartans' turn.