What have we learned since Northwestern lost 35-27 Saturday to Michigan State?

We've learned that coach Pat Fitzgerald is still being a sport about the fake punt MSU ran on the Wildcats in the fourth quarter. Spartans coach Mark Dantonio had his team called for a delay of game penalty to get NU "to take the cheese" and then successfully executed the fake punt called "the mousetrap."

"Like I said, kudos to them and good luck the rest of the way," Fitzgerald said Monday.

And Fitzgerald also took responsibility for MSU's success in pulling off the fake.

"I didn't do a good enough job and you cover your guys until the ball is kicked," he said.

Does that mean deconstructing how NU reacted to the mousetrap ends? Hopefully.

* Looking at the bright side, Fitz said the bye week before the MSU game helped the Cats shore up some issues and he saw improvement in the following: the kicking game, punt returns and the performances of Hunter Bates and Venric Mark in those punt return roles, the running game and impact plays on defense.

* The Iowa game on Nov. 13 and the Illinois game at Wrigley Field on Nov. 20 are both sold out.