EAST LANSING - Michigan State has three victories over top-ranked teams in 17 tries. The Spartans have a chance to make it four out of 18.

They face No.1 Ohio State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes took over the No. 1 ranking this week, after starting the season at No. 11. A 7-0 record, combined with losses to former No. 1 teams USC and LSU, has pushed Ohio State into the top spot.

"That's an exciting place for us to go," MSU coach Mark Dantonio said. "That's why you come to Michigan State - to play in games like this. ... Players will be able to say to their children, 'I remember when we went down and played the No. 1 team in America.' "

Two of MSU's wins over No. 1 teams came against Ohio State. On Nov. 9, 1974, the Spartans beat the No. 1 Buckeyes at Spartan Stadium, 16-13.

Dantonio was on the coaching staff for MSU's other win against a No. 1 Ohio State team. On Nov. 7, 1998, the Spartans overcame a 24-9 third-quarter deficit to beat the Buckeyes by a 28-24 score, with Dantonio serving as the Spartans' defensive backs coach.

"We went down there in '98, and it was the eighth game of the year ...," Dantonio said. "Here, we have an opportunity to go down and see where we're at as a program."

The Spartans are aware of the rare opportunity Saturday's game presents.

"You try to approach every game the same, but that's the No. 1 team in the country," senor defensive tackle Ogemdi Nwagbuo said. "The stakes are higher."

Michigan State's other win over a No. 1 team came on Oct. 13, 1990, when the Spartans beat No. 1 Michigan, 28-27 in Ann Arbor.

MSU is 3-13-1 all-time against top-ranked teams. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 when they beat the Spartans in East Lansing last season, 38-7.

"When you get the chance to play No. 1, that's incentive enough to play as hard as you can," junior quarterback Brian Hoyer said.

Wanted: Tickets

Several players on the MSU roster grew up in Ohio, and it's created a scramble for tickets.

Each player is given four tickets per game. Hoyer and junior running back Javon Ringer, both of whom grew up in Ohio, are expecting a large contingent of friends and family to attend the game and are searching for extra tickets. Players from California or Florida have tickets to spare.

Nwagbuo, who lists San Diego as his hometown, said players were coming for his Ohio State tickets the moment he arrived on campus. His roommate, defensive end Justin Kershaw, grew up in Columbus.

"He asked for my tickets when I first got here from junior college," said Nwagbuo, who transferred to MSU in January 2006.

Big Ten lauds Ringer

Ringer was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. He ran for a career-high 203 yards on 29 carries in MSU's 52-27 win over Indiana on Saturday, and scored two touchdowns.

He shared the honor with Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher, who completed 41-of-58 pass attempts for 470 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-48 double-overtime victory over Minnesota.

Bacher also won the award last week for his performance against MSU on Oct. 6.

Eric Gordon could get start

Redshirt freshman linebacker Eric Gordon, who did not play against Indiana, is listed as a starter on the depth chart for the Ohio State game.

Dantonio said Eric Gordon's starting spot is not guaranteed and will depend on how he performs in practice this week.

He'll be 'clubbing'

Nwagbuo is still wearing a cast on his right hand, as he recovers from surgery stemming from an injury he sustained on Sept. 29 against Wisconsin. The cast is wrapped for games, turning Nwagbuo's hand into a club.

"It's harder to make tackles," Nwagbuo said. "You have to make sure you wrap the guy up."

Iowa game on ESPN2

Michigan State's Oct. 27 game at Iowa has been scheduled for a noon kickoff. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

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