Michigan State built its record with a mix of home and neutral-site games. If the Spartans want to pass Ohio State and Purdue in the Big Ten standings, they'll have to do it the hard way.
The No. 9 Spartans, who have only played two true road games, finish the regular-season schedule with seven of their last 11 games in hostile environments. That stretch begins against struggling Illinois on Monday night.
"You've never seen anything like that, have you? Where seven of the last 11 are on the road?" Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "Our job is to get better every day so we can handle the road.