AP photo Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs past Rutgers linebacker Drew Singleton Saturday in Piscataway, N.J.

Indiana coach Tom Allen is staying relatively quiet this week.

He’s not talking about his options at quarterback for Saturday’s home game against No. 10 Michigan State and he’s certainly not going to provide practice updates on injured starter Michael Penix Jr. or backup Jack Tuttle.

Allen thinks it’s more beneficial to keep his decision secret secret until kickoff.

“Jack, as always, will be ready to go,” he said, declining to expand on Penix’s status. “That’s been something that’s one of his strengths, his ability to be locked in and focused, and prepare at a high level, no matter what role he’s asked to perform.”

Tuttle started two games last season in place of Penix, leading the Hoosiers to a victory at Wisconsin in Indiana’s regular-season finale before losing to Ole Miss in last season’s Outback Bowl, finishing the game with a separated throwing shoulder.

Now it’s Penix with the separated throwing shoulder joint that could keep him out as the Hoosiers (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) try to right their season.

A year ago, Indiana recaptured the Old Brass Spittoon by shutting out Michigan State 24-0 in East Lansing.

But this season, they’ve lost three times to teams currently ranked in the top seven and they’re about to face a foe making one of the nation’s biggest turnarounds.

Kenneth Walker leads the nation in rushing at 152.2 yards per game. Quarterback Payton Thorne and receiver Jalen Nalor appear to be in perfect alignment after last week’s impressive showing against Rutgers.

Add a defense allowing 19.3 points per game and it’s easy to see why Michigan State (6-0, 3-0) shares the East Division lead with No. 6 Ohio State and No. 8 Michigan.

Next up, though, may be he Spartans’ biggest obstacle yet by reclaiming the prized trophy on the road, against a team coming off a bye and hungry to prove last season’s magic was not an aberration.

“As I told the team, we’re expecting them to be better than we’ve seen on tape,” Spartans coach Mel Tucker said. “We’re expecting them to be at their very best, rested and ready.”

Sure, the uncertainty at quarterback could play to the Hoosiers advantage, though Tucker believes the foundation Michigan State has built over the past six weeks will be the key ingredient to an opponent still searching for answers.

THE BIG PROBLEM

Allen spent the bye week poring through game tape, analyzing with coaches and players what’s gone wrong and came up with a simple explanation for the losses.

Penix threw three interceptions at Iowa with two returned for scores, threw three more in a loss to Cincinnati at home and then turned the ball over two more times two weeks ago at Penn State.

STRIKING A BALANCE

Michigan State has been proficient this season by moving the ball and scoring on the ground and through the air this season.

It’s changed the whole look of the Spartans offense and how others, like Indiana, attempt to defend them.

“It’s like pick your poison,” coach Mel Tucker said.