Michigan State has played in two of the three Big Ten title games, is the defending Rose Bowl champion and on the best run in program history with 42 wins in four years. Yet the Spartans cling to an underdog mentality. It’s the product of being overshadowed historically by Michigan and Ohio State. Coach Mark Dantonio never wants his team to stop playing with that edge.

The Spartans likely will have to beat the Buckeyes to win the East Division. They also have a major September test with a road game against Oregon. Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin are the top contenders in the West.

University of Iowa junior quarterback Jake Rudock is excited to get back to practice, and says it’s a whole new start. “Summer is a long time, it’s a long time before we start to play again, but I mean you can’t really build off of what you did last year, because last year is over, it’s done,” Rudock says. He says the momentum of the season stops at the end and it is up to the team to get it going and get back on track. Rudock comes in this year as the starter. He says that makes a big difference.

“To put a specific thing on it is kind of hard, but game planning is a little bit different when you know you are the guy instead of trying to be like the guy, being a second-string guy,” Rudock says. He says having another year, whether starting or not, you come into the fall with more experience in the system. Rudock has some key things he will continue working on heading into the first game.

“Obviously timing with receivers, that’s a big one, protection checks, all that good stuff. Decision making is always a big thing, you can never stop working on that. Decision making is always really pivotal for quarterbacks,” Rudock says. Coach Kirk Ferentz says Rudock is the solid starter coming in and he’ll be back up again by sophomore C-J Beathard

(Radio Iowa)

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith brushed aside any notion that the deal reached between the Bengals and Andy Dalton could affect negotiations on his own long-term contract. Dalton and Smith are considered on a similar tier of quarterbacks, and many believe that they would receive comparable deals. Dalton signed a six-year extension that is reportedly worth up to $115 million, and now the wait is on to see what kind of deal Smith will receive.

The Chiefs have been negotiating with his representatives on a long-term deal for several months, though the sides remain far apart. Smith would be a free agent after this season. Smith said after Monday’s practice that he is focused on the season rather than his contract status, and that “I haven’t given that stuff much thought.”

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — At some point this season, likely within the first couple of games, Jamaal Charles will slide past Larry Johnson and breeze past Priest Holmes to become the Chiefs’ career rushing leader. It’s a goal, sure. But it’s only a rest-stop on the way to loftier expectations.

After arguably the best season of his career and now armed with a new contract extension, Charles has his sights set on the Hall of Fame. The two-time All-Pro running back wants his name to be mentioned in the same breath as Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders, players he grew up idolizing in Port Arthur, Texas, and who will forever be considered some of the best to play the game.

“It’s all about staying consistent,” Charles said. “I want to be in the Hall of Fame when I retire. I want to win a championship. That’s what it’s all about.”

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals say they have found a perfect fit for closer in Trevor Rosenthal. The 24-year-old right-hander leads the major leagues with 34 saves in his first season as the closer. The former 21st-round draft pick out of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, took charge last September when Edward Mujica faltered. He has been a key piece ever since for the defending National League champions, who were a game back in the Central after taking two of three from first-place Milwaukee over the weekend.

Rosenthal has been durable, leading the team with 51 appearances. He has also calmly taken responsibility after some infrequent tough outings.

DENVER (AP) — Touted prospect Javier Baez will join the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in Colorado and could make his major league debut in the three-game series against the Rockies. The 21-year-old Baez got off to a slow start this year in the minors, but has been playing well of late. The middle infielder, who is known for his tremendous bat speed, hit .300 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs in his last 32 games for Triple-A Iowa.

Baez will have his contract purchased from the minors before the series opener against Colorado. There was no word Monday on a corresponding roster move. Baez is part of a loaded minor league system for Chicago that Cubs fans are hoping will lead the team back to respectability after a string of down years. The Cubs are 47-63 this season and in last in the NL Central.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The uncertainty that hung over Iowa heading into last year’s fall camp has been replaced by stability and reasonably high expectations. That doesn’t mean the Hawkeyes can afford to cruise through August. Iowa has five starters to replace on the back end of its defense, including three linebackers that reached the NFL. The Hawkeyes also need to sort out playing time at running back, wide receiver and tight end, and the new starters on the offensive line need to be ready by the end of the month because the program’s depth isn’t what it used to be.

But the good news for the Hawkeyes is that they appear to have solid options at every position. The task for the next three weeks will be to settle on starters for the opener on Aug. 30 against Northern Iowa and beyond. “This is a very, very pivotal three weeks for our football team,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Monday. “It’s a great time for development. And we’ve got a lot of things that we’re curious to learn and curious to see.”

Here are five things to watch as Iowa opened fall practice on Monday.

NEW LINEBACKERS: The Iowa coaching staff has long been high on senior Quinton Alston whose playing time had previously been limited because of the presence of standouts Christian Kirksey, Anthony Hitchens and James Morris. Alston is expected to lead a unit featuring sophomore Reggie Spearman, junior Travis Perry and as many as four redshirt freshmen in the rotation. “Some guys just make you feel good,” Ferentz said of Alston, who struggled earlier in his career. “When you see that light come on or the switch flip a little bit, it’s fun.”

FREE LOMAX: Junior defensive back Jordan Lomax was expected to start at cornerback for Iowa a year ago, but injuries and the emergence of freshman Desmond King scuttled those plans. The Hawkeyes felt strongly enough about finding a spot for Lomax that they moved him to free safety though, and he’s expected to start there this season. Lomax, a 5-foot-10 junior, should be able to lean on senior strong safety John Lowdermilk as he navigates his first fall camp in a new position.

SKILL QUESTIONS: The Hawkeyes will likely split most of their carries between senior Mark Weisman and junior Jordan Canzeri this season. Iowa is deep and experienced at wide receiver as well, though rising redshirt freshman Derrick Willies could earn a starting spot over the next three weeks after an electrifying spring camp. Senior Ray Hamilton will finally get his chance as Iowa’s top tight end following C.J. Fiedorowicz’s graduation, but Jake Duzey will also get a chance to be a major factor for the Hawkeyes. “Ray Hamilton is a guy, in my opinion, that is probably better than we think maybe he is,” Ferentz said.

LINED UP: Iowa returns three starting offensive linemen, including All-America candidate Brandon Scherff at left tackle, and senior Andrew Donnal has been installed at right tackle after playing both guard and tackle a year ago. Redshirt freshman Sean Walsh will open camp as the starting left guard, and the Hawkeyes will be counting on Walsh to prove he belongs there because their rotation behind him is filled with untested underclassmen. “We’ve got to focus on the smaller details, because that’s what got us in trouble last year, with false starts. We’ve all got to be on the same page,” Scherff said.

EXTRA POINTS: Wide receiver Damond Powell suffered a sports hernia injury this summer, but he said Monday that he should be ready for the opener…The competition between Maurice Fleming and Sean Draper for the left cornerback spot might be the closest of any starting job in the program…True freshman Tyler Wiegers will likely start the season as Iowa’s third quarterback after Nic Shimonek left the program to walk on at Texas Tech.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has revised a promotion offering free tuition to five students buying season tickets for football by making the offer available to all students. The Hawkeyes were forced to suspend a plan that offered $8,000 in free tuition to randomly selected student ticket holders after it ran afoul of state raffle laws.

But Iowa brought it back Monday. It now says that any student who wants to participate in the promotion simply has to notify the athletic department by 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Iowa’s revised plan was approved by the state’s Attorney General’s office.

The tuition promotion was one of a number of plans by Iowa to combat lagging student attendance.

w/ Jim Field

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry and starting cornerback Marcus Cooper are practicing again at training camp following minor injuries. Berry missed time with a sore right heel. Cooper tweaked a hamstring. Their return Sunday was the first positive injury news in a while for the Chiefs. They have been struggling with injuries, especially in their suspect secondary.

Backup safety Sanders Commings is out after surgery for a severe high ankle sprain and fractured fibula. Reserve defensive backs David Van Dyke, DeMarcus Van Dyke and Phillip Gaines also have missed time with various injuries.

Linebacker Dezman Moses left Sunday’s workout after hurting his elbow.

ST. LOUIS (AP) – John Lackey won his St. Louis debut when the Cardinals rallied for three runs in the seventh inning, capped by a go-ahead from rookie Oscar Taveras to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Sunday. The Cardinals took two of three from NL Central-leading Milwaukee and pulled within one game of the division lead.

Lackey (1-0) was the Cardinals’ big catch at the trade deadline that capitalized on Boston’s sell-off. The right-hander won the clinching Game 6 of the World Series against St. Louis last fall allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings and is 12-7 overall. Trevor Rosenthal struck out Carlos Gomez with two on for his major league-leading 34th save in 38 chances.

Milwaukee starter Matt Garza was pulled after allowing one hit in six innings. Matt Holliday homered off Zach Duke with one out in the seventh. Recently acquired A.J. Pierzynski hit a tying single off Jeremy Jeffress (0-1) and Taveras singled up the middle.