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One loss to an under-.500 team has Michigan State's playoff hopes in serious doubt. Another will end them altogether, though that doesn't seem like a legitimate concern this weekend.
The 14th-ranked Spartans are back home Saturday to take on Maryland, which remains winless in the Big Ten and already knows it won't be participating in any kind of postseason, much less a playoff.
A soft opponent, however, does nothing to ease the pain of last Saturday's 39-38 loss at Nebraska with the Spartans (8-1, 4-1) watching as the then 3-6 Cornhuskers drove 91 yards in the final minute for a game-winning touchdown that withstood a controversial video review with 17 seconds left.
It ended a 12-game winning streak that dated to a 37-15 victory at Maryland on Nov. 15 - the schools' first meeting as conference foes.
"We're going to collect ourselves and understand that our destiny is in our hands," said coach Mark Dantonio, whose team fell to 13th in the College Football Playoff rankings. "We control our own fate in terms of winning the (Big Ten) East and that's the thing we've got to focus on."
The specific focus might be on defensive execution after giving up a season-high 499 yards of total offense to Nebraska, which is the most the Spartans have allowed to an unranked opponent since Texas Tech went for 579 on Jan. 2, 2010 in the Alamo Bowl.
Michigan State's secondary, which had been considered a strength, has now become a concern after injuries to Vayante Copeland and RJ Williamson forced the Spartans to lean on less experienced players. Michigan State started three freshman defensive backs against Nebraska, but Dantonio said the entire unit needs to be better.
"I would say we were inconsistent versus the pass on Saturday and inconsistent versus the run, as well," Dantonio said. "But there's a lot of things that lead into that. It's preparation. Are they doing the same thing you saw them do? Were you prepared for it? Did you make plays?"
Offensively, they've been fine with Connor Cook throwing for an average of 357.0 yards and 11 touchdowns with two interceptions in the last four games, and top receiver Aaron Burbridge has 37 catches for 580 yards in that time.
Maryland (2-7, 0-5) may present the Spartans with an opportunity to recover in blowout fashion, but Dantonio isn't necessarily concerning himself with embarrassing anyone to dig themselves out of the hole.
"Well, our first goal always is to win the football game," he said. "So after that we're going to play until we're comfortable as best we can. Obviously we've had a lot of close games, as well as the last game. But I really haven't concerned myself with that. I sort of feel like if we win, good things happen. When you lose, negative things tend to happen. We're going to concentrate on trying to win a football game, not worry about the style points. I don't think we've ever piled it on a football team here. That's not my intention."
It might not take a whole lot for it to happen anyway. The Terrapins have lost six straight and last Saturday's 31-24 home loss to Wisconsin ended their chances of a bowl game. They're now hoping to work toward being the upstart Michigan State was a few seasons ago while also ending a 13-game losing streak to ranked opponents. The last five have come against Big Ten opponents by an average of 23.0 points.
"Obviously your goal is to prolong your season," interim coach Mike Locksley said. "We won't be able to extend our season with a bowl opportunity, but as I told the guys, this is the start for young players. I feel this is the nucleus or could be the nucleus for a team that would contend for a Big Ten championship and that they need to continue to prepare (and) give the effort of that type of team."
That kind of improvement won't come with the current turnover issues. The Terrapins' 30 giveaways are the most in the FBS with Caleb Rowe and Perry Hills combining for 24 interceptions. Michigan State, meanwhile, has a plus-11 differential.
