How can the Buckeyes beat Michigan State? Three keys for Ohio State football road opener

Ohio State football hits the road for the first time this season when the No. 3-ranked Buckeyes (5-2 overall, 2-0 in Big Ten) travel to East Lansing to play one of college football's most disappointing teams in 2022.

Michigan State (2-3, 0-2) began the season in the AP Top 25 and Saturday's matchup was expected to be one of the toughest games on the Ohio State schedule. But the Spartans have started Big Ten play with a blowout loss to Minnesota 34-7 and a 27-13 loss to Maryland.

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Ohio State, meanwhile, has crushed its first two conference opponents this season, beating Wisconsin 52-21 and Rutgers 49-10. The Buckeyes have scored at least 45 points in every game since their 21-10 win over Notre Dame in Week 1.

How can Ohio State keep the momentum going? Here are three keys for No. 3 Ohio State against Michigan State on Saturday:

Handle road environment

The Buckeyes have nearly reached the midpoint of their regular-season schedule without having to venture beyond the Horseshoe. It’s made for a favorable stretch for a team managing injuries among key starters. But the lengthy homestand to begin this fall has also left them without any road tests or chances to test their mettle in hostile environments. Spartan Stadium will likely feature large swaths of visiting Ohio State fans, but leaving their friendly confines still presents a challenge.

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Air it out

In 17 starts behind center for the Buckeyes, C.J. Stroud has twice thrown for six touchdowns in a game. The first came in November when he picked apart the back end of the Spartans’ defense, throwing for 432 yards and a half-dozen scores. Things aren’t much improved from last year, when Michigan State ranked last in the Football Bowl Subdivision in pass defense. Through five weeks, it ranks 115^th out of 131 teams, and on its recent three-game losing skid, it’s given up 326 yards per game. The conditions favor Stroud and the Buckeyes’ receiving corps, even without Jaxon Smith-Njigba, taking advantage.

Limit big plays

Ohio State’s defense has been susceptible to big plays, though it’s shown recent improvement. In each of the first three games, the Buckeyes surrendered passes of at least 50 yards. The recent trend will need to continue as Michigan State will push it downfield. Payton Thorne has attempted 26 deep passes this season, as defined as 20 yards or more by Pro Football Focus. Among Big Ten quarterbacks, only Indiana’s Connor Bazelak has thrown more of them this season.

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Key matchup

Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke vs. Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed

In last season’s meeting, Burke contained Reed, the Spartans’ reigning All-American receiver. Reed caught two passes for 28 yards with only one reception coming while he was covered by the Buckeyes’ top corner. It was then routine for Burke, who as a freshman also held other Big Ten receivers, including Purdue’s David Bell and Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, in check. He’s had an up-and-down start to his sophomore season and dealt with an injury to his right hand. Can he rise to the occasion?

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Key stat

8: Consecutive road wins by Ohio State over Michigan State. The Buckeyes haven’t lost in East Lansing since 1999.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football keys to Big Ten road game at Michigan State