EAST LANSING, Mich. - The quarterbacks for Michigan State and Michigan are headed in opposite directions.
Michigan State's Drew Stanton is mentioned as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate, while Michigan's Chad Henne is mentioned as a possible candidate for benching - although his teammates and coaches steadfastly support him.
The two QBs will meet face-to-face in Saturday's showdown between the Spartans (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) and Wolverines (2-2, 0-1).
Stanton has the nation's highest passing efficiency rating, leading No. 11 Michigan State to an unblemished start. Henne ranks 64th on the quarterback rating list, a middle-of-the-pack performance that mirrors the early season showing of the unranked Wolverines.
Saturday's game at Spartan Stadium will likely reveal a lot about both young men.
"This is one of the games that can define your career," Stanton said.
Michigan State finds itself in the rare position of being expected to beat Michigan. The last time Michigan State was ranked and Michigan wasn't when they met was 1968.
Michigan State is third in the nation in total offense and fifth in scoring at 49 points per game. Stanton has been spectacular, completing 73 percent of his passes for 1,184 yards and 13 touchdowns with just two interceptions.
Just over a year ago, Stanton was rehabilitating a serious knee injury. Now the junior from suburban Detroit ranks as Michigan State's all-time leader in passing accuracy, although the Wolverines might be more concerned about his running ability because of their history against mobile quarterbacks.
"Like everyone knows, it all starts with Stanton, a guy who can do it all - pass, run, he's a mobile quarterback," Michigan defensive tackle Pat Massey said. "If you watch film on him, he's a tough kid, he's going to come to play. He wants to win so it all starts and stops with Stanton."
Stanton has been talked about as a Heisman candidate, but doesn't appear to have bought into the hype. His choice for the honor at this point in the season is Southern California running back Reggie Bush.
Michigan State coach John L. Smith also appears to be trying to keep his high-flying quarterback grounded. Smith noted that Stanton is "starting to blossom" but dismissed the Heisman talk as premature.
Henne, a sophomore from Wyomissing, Pa., has struggled somewhat along with the Wolverines, who were ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll. Henne completed 60 percent of his passes as a freshman, but his completion rate has dipped to 53 percent this season for 855 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
In losses to Wisconsin and Notre Dame this season, Henne was a combined 35-of-78 for 481 yards, three TDs and two interceptions.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr defended Henne when asked whether backup Matt Gutierrez could factor in at quarterback.
"I don't think I can make this any more clear," Carr said. "I have great confidence in Chad Henne."
But Carr said that Henne, like the rest of the team, must improve for the Wolverines to bounce back.
"I'm not saying he's throwing the football right now as well as he's capable, because he isn't," Carr said. "But I think there are some things we can do to help him from a mechanical standpoint. But I don't think he's the problem. I think he's part of the problem. We're all part of the problem."
Both Henne and Stanton played key roles in last year's dramatic 45-37, triple-overtime Michigan victory in Ann Arbor.
Henne led a late comeback and finished 24-of-35 for 273 yards and four TDs to give Michigan its third straight win in the series.
Stanton helped Michigan State to a 17-10 halftime lead with 80 yards rushing and a TD and 95 yards passing. But he missed the second half with a separated shoulder and watched the lead slip away from the sidelines.
"I know it killed him not being able to finish the game the way he started it," Michigan State center Chris Morris said. "Coming away with a loss. ... I'm sure that's been boiling in his mind over the past year. He's going to be ready to prove he can finish the game."