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Unbeaten Northwestern gets test vs. Ringer, Michigan State

Oct 11, 2008 - 10:16 AM (19) Michigan State (5-1) at (22) Northwestern (5-0), 3:30 pm EDT

EVANSTON, Illinois (Ticker) -- Northwestern has been winning with defense, but that task gets much tougher this Saturday.

The 22nd-ranked Wildcats seek their first 6-0 start since 1962 when they host Javon Ringer and No. 19 Michigan State in a Big Ten Conference showdown Saturday.

Capitalizing on a somewhat weak schedule, Northwestern has held opponents to a conference-low 62 points against. The defense made plays again two weeks ago to help the Wildcats extend their best start in 46 years.

C.J. Bacher passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns and the defense forced five turnovers as Northwestern overcame a 14-point deficit and defeated Iowa, 22-17, on September 27 in its conference opener.

Rasheed Ward added a career-high 10 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten), who kept the Hawkeyes out of the end zone on four chances inside the 10-yard line with less than two minutes left.

Northwestern cannot afford to get behind against the Spartans (5-1, 2-0), who have won five straight contests after losing their season opener to California.

There has been no secret to Michigan State's success this season. The Spartans will go as far as Ringer can carry them.

Ringer is coming off his worst performance of the campaign, but Michigan State managed a 16-13 triumph over Iowa last Saturday. Ringer was kept out of the end zone for the first time this year, rushing for 91 yards on 25 carries.

Ringer is still tied for the lead in the nation with 12 touchdowns this season, and the Wildcats will be hard-pressed to keep him out of the end zone for a second straight week.

The senior has been the Spartans' workhorse in 2008, rushing for 988 yards on 212 carries. With six regular-season games still left on the schedule, Ringer is just 33 attempts shy of his total from last season.