EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Mark Dantonio thinks Michigan State has gained confidence during its bye week, looking ahead to its Big Ten opener at Iowa this weekend. The Spartans (3-1) lost at Notre Dame headed into its off week. Dantonio says his team spent the past nine days in search of consistency and big plays on offense. They scored more than one offensive touchdown just once in non-conference play.

Quarterback Connor Cook, relieved by Andrew Maxwell on Michigan State’s last possession at Notre Dame, will be back in control at Iowa. Defensively, there isn’t much more to ask from the nation’s top-ranked unit, other than some takeaways that disappeared against the Fighting Irish.