BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Indiana knows exactly what it will be hit with Saturday by Michigan State.

Javon Ringer, a massive offensive line and a strong dose of power football. The challenge: Stopping it.

Coach Bill Lynch has seen this combination decimate his Hoosiers defense before, and if it has any chance of changing those results in this weekend's Big Ten opener against the Spartans, Indiana must prove it's mastered the art of counterpunching.

"He's quick, he hits the hole, he follows his linemen," Indiana linebacker Geno Johnson said of Ringer. "But we're a good defense and I have the belief and faith in everyone here to get the job done."

No, Indiana hasn't forgotten last year's nightmare in East Lansing.

Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick led a two-pronged attack that combined for 368 yards rushing in an embarrassing 52-27 Spartans victory.

This season, Ringer is the star of a one-man show that continues to create consternation. The 5-foot-9, 202-pound junior averages 174.8 yards per game, second in the nation.

Meanwhile, Indiana (2-1) allowed Ball State to grind out 224 yards last week in its first big challenge of the season — hardly the momentum-builder Indiana wanted heading into their biggest challenge yet.

"This is kind of a traditional old offense where you see the tailback carry the ball 35 times a game," Lynch said. "He doesn't get very much pounding, though, because of the horses they have up front."

But this is a challenge Indiana welcomes.

Defenders routinely acknowledged over the summer they had to improve on their biggest weakness, run defense, and in the first two games it appeared the Hoosiers made progress. They were fourth in the nation after limiting Western Kentucky and Murray State to a total of 91 on the ground.

Then came Ball State, which used its passing game to open up the running lanes. MiQuale Lewis took advantage with a 166-yard, four-touchdown performance.

Now comes the rematch with Ringer and a Michigan State team that isn't masquerading its plans.

"This is a conference that knows each other," coach Mark Dantonio said. "Even though we've only been here a year, they know us a little bit because there's a past history or a past history in playing our players."

Indiana will look a bit different, though.

Two starters in the secondary, and perhaps three, won't play Saturday. Cornerback Chris Phillips injured his ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Safety Nick Polk already has been ruled out of Saturday's game, and the Hoosiers other starting safety, Austin Thomas, may sit out a second straight game with a shoulder injury.

The good news is the Hoosiers may not need the secondary much this week.

The bad news is when Ringer doesn't have the ball, Spartans quarterback Brian Hoyer can exploit Indiana's less-experienced replacements.

The Spartans (3-1) have produced good results so far this season.

They nearly upset California in the opener before reeling off three straight wins, including a 23-7 victory over Notre Dame last week when Ringer rang up 201 yards and two TDs — his second straight 200-yard game.

He's won or shared the Big Ten's offensive player of the week honors for a record three straight weeks and some are already talking about the Heisman Trophy.

"I guess you get a little card, a little sticker, something, you put it on your refrigerator," Dantonio said of other schools' media campaigns. "I don't know, I don't think that's going to get him the Heisman. I think running downhill, breaking tackles, scoring touchdowns, getting yards would do something to help him."

Unfortunately, it's a script the Hoosiers are familiar with.

This week, they'll try to alter the script.

"I don't even remember what happened last year. It's in the past, and we're moving on," Johnson said. "We're ready right now to keep pushing forward."