Spartans move into top 10 after easy win

Instead, the Spartans won easily and gave coach Mark Dantonio a chance to use pretty much anyone he wanted.

"I was very impressed with my team's performance, especially considering that we played 65 out of the 70 guys that traveled," Dantonio said.

Michigan State beat Central Michigan 41-7 on Saturday, then moved up a spot to No. 10 in the AP poll a day later. That ranking will be tested right way when the Spartans host No. 20 Notre Dame next weekend. It will be the second big night game at Spartan Stadium in three weeks — the Spartans opened with a 17-13 victory over Boise State.

In between, they traveled about 70 miles to play at Central Michigan, part of a decade-long series of games against the Chippewas, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan.

Andrew Maxwell threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns for Michigan State, a promising sign after he was intercepted three times by Boise State. The Spartans scored 10 points in the final minute of the first half to take a 24-0 lead.

After an early touchdown in the third quarter, Dantonio could substitute liberally.

Perhaps as important as who played was who didn't. After 44 carries in the opener, Le'Veon Bell had only 18 for 70 yards against the Chippewas. There was more offensive balance this time.

"I think it was a great stride," Bell said. "Now teams can't just prep for me. This offense is going to be dynamic by the end of the season."

But the question is how it will look this coming Saturday. Michigan State beat Notre Dame two years ago on a fake field goal in overtime, but the Irish avenged that with a 31-13 rout last season.

The Spartans are the highest-ranked team in the Big Ten, and their defense hasn't allowed an offensive touchdown yet.