If Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio’s assessment of rival Michigan is true, Wolverines fans have reason to hope.

“What I see from the University of Michigan is an offense that does not get stopped, it stops itself,” Dantonio said yesterday.

If this is indeed the case, if the Wolverines’ problems offensively are self inflicted (they’re ranked 108th in total offense), then the solutions can also be found within. Perhaps UM will find what it’s looking for this Saturday against Dantonio’s Spartans.

The Wolverines have defeated Michigan State six straight times and haven’t lost to the Spartans in Ann Arbor — the site of Saturday’s game — since 1990. One constant in this rivalry lately has been the war of words fought in addition to the on-field battle.

UM players have predicted victory over the Spartans since last week’s 46-17 loss at Penn State, and last year then-Wolverines running back Mike Hart called Sparty “little brother.”

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Dantonio, who retorted “pride comes before the fall” in response to Hart’s comments last year, hinted that the name-calling is still on Michigan State’s mind.

“Well, you know, we’re going to keep those things in-house,” Dantonio said yesterday.

This is UM coach Rich Rodriguez’s first taste of this in-state rivalry. Rodriguez lost his first rivalry game as coach of the Wolverines — a 35-17 setback Sept. 13 at Notre Dame — and said yesterday his staff is addressing the importance of UM’s series with the Spartans.

“We talk about it,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve talked about it early in the season, the preseason, and obviously we’ll talk about it this week. It’s a long-standing rivalry. I think it is important for us as coaches to stress the importance of it. But I don’t think I have to.

“Our players know and the guys who have been here know. But for the freshmen and for everybody that’s new we’re going to talk about it all week.

“We will never understate it. It’s a big game each year.”

Dantonio is in his second season as Michigan State’s head coach, but was an assistant there from 1995-2000.

Additionally, he was the defensive coordinator at Ohio State from 2001-03, so he knows what it means to beopposite the Wolverines.

“I think it’s good for college football,” he said of the rivalry. “I think it gives you something to look forward to as a coach, as a player.”

NO HUDDLE: Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald and Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema exchanged text messages following last weekend’s games. The Wildcats beat Purdue to improve to 6-1 overall, while the Badgers fell to 0-4 in the Big Ten with a loss to Iowa. “I think he sent me a text first saying ‘congrats on the win,’” Fitzgerald said. “I sent him a text back saying ‘just keep fighting’ or something like that.” … The Big Ten has five players ranked in the top 30 in the country in rushing. They are Michigan State’s Javon Ringer (No. 2, 147.38 yards per game), Iowa’s Shonn Greene (No. 3, 144.25), Penn State’s Evan Royster (No. 14, 111.63), Purdue’s Kory Sheets (No. 24, 104.71), and Northwestern’s Tyrell Sutton (No. 26, 99.86). … UM’s game at Purdue on Nov. 1 is scheduled for noon and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Contact Joe Vardon at: jvardon@theblade.com or 419-410-5055.