There's good news for the 1-5 Illini as they head into Saturday's home game against No. 21 Michigan State (11 a.m., espn2).

After they were run over for 631 rushing yards by Wisconsin and Purdue the last two weekends, they get to face Michigan State (5-1), which has the second worst rushing offense in the Big Ten behind Illinois.

Then there's the bad news; in two words — Jeff Smoker.

Smoker, the Spartans senior quarterback who started seven games last year, leads the Big Ten in passing with 250 yards a game and 10 touchdowns this year.

And it seems that he just keeps getting better.

Last week against Indiana, Smoker completed 80 percent of his passes (32-of-40) for 351 yards to tie a school single game completions record. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the effort.

"(Smoker) is as good or the best quarterback we will see all year," Illinois head coach Ron Turner said. "He is special. He's got a very quick release, a strong arm, good accuracy, very good size, great vision down the field. If things aren't there, he'll move around to make plays. He is special."

Smoker will go head to head with Illini quarterback Jon Beutjer, who is also contending for conference passing leader.

Even after a sub-par 107-yard passing performance against Purdue last weekend, Beutjer sits in third place in the Big Ten in passing and total offense. And he could have another big week against a young Spartans secondary.

He may, however, add a few more bruises to his growing count.

While Illinois has allowed opponents 12 sacks this year, Michigan State overwhelmingly leads the Big Ten in sacks with 28 for a total loss of 198 yards. Spartans senior defensive end Greg Taplin also earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after recording three sacks against the Hoosiers.

"Up front they're very athletic, very big and strong," Turner said. "They have four or five outstanding defensive linemen that can really come off the ball and penetrate."

But Beutjer said that even as he and the other beat-up Illini head into another rough Big Ten matchup, their bodies — and confidence — should be fine.

"I'm normal, just like any other guy on this team. We all have bumps and bruises. We all have little owies," Beutjer said on Tuesday. "But every guy on the team has that and we just have to keep getting treatment and play through pain."

And a win would help ease that pain.

"Anytime you win football games, your soreness and sores — they don't hurt as much," Beutjer said.

Series standings

The Illini and Spartans renew their series this weekend after a two-year hiatus.

In the last meeting, on Oct. 28, 2000, in East Lansing, Smoker led State on an 82-yard game-wining drive in the fourth quarter for a 14-10 win over Kurt Kittner and the Illini.

This will be the 39th meeting between the two teams, with Michigan State leading the series 20-16-2. The Spartans have won six in a row, and the last time Illinois won a matchup was 1992.

Another Turner

turnaround?

The Illini head into Saturday's game with the same 1-5 starting record as last year. But they also enter the game knowing that a turnaround is possible.

Illinois won four of its last six games last year to cap off the dismal start with a 5-7 record.

And the Illini said this week that they're not counting out that type of rebound.

"The thing I've seen is we still have a lot of guys that think we can turn it around," Illini linebacker Matt Sinclair said.

Turner echoed his team's unfailing confidence.

"I think we have the talent to win," Turner said. "We just have to find a way to put it together and get the confidence back and believe in one another. Just keep working."