Grades for Michigan State football's performance at Ohio State

Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch grades the Spartans on a scale of 1-10.

OFFENSE: 1

Even if Michigan State's defense had been up to the challenge at Ohio State, MSU’s offense was nowhere near up for keeping up with any kind of pace. Ten of the Spartans’ dozen possessions didn’t manage a second first down. Their only substantive drive — until late in the game, when Ohio State was playing backups — died after 13 plays and with a missed 46-yard field goal. There were a few promising third-down conversions that avoided three-and-outs. But that’s about it. This was a miserable day — for Kenneth Walker, who carried just six times and was hobbled, for Payton Thorne, who completed just 14 of 36 passes and was under duress, and for Jayden Reed, who finished the game with his foot in a boot on the sidelines.

DEFENSE: 0

MSU gave up seven straight touchdown drives to start the game and 500 yards to the Buckeyes in the first half to trail 49-0. It can’t get much worse. The Spartans were completely outclassed. They put almost no pressure on Buckeyes QB C.J. Stroud, who completed 32 of 35 throws and six touchdowns passes, and weren’t close to adequately covering Ohio State’s outstanding group of receivers. MSU’s pass defense, a problem for several games now, was gutted by the Buckeyes.

SPECIAL TEAMS: 5

When your punter is your star, it’s rarely a good day. Bryce Baringer averaged 49.7 yards on a whopping nine punts, including a 74-yarder and a couple early booms that put Ohio State in tough starting field position. Not that it mattered. Kicker Matt Coghlin missed his only field goal attempt, wide right from 46 yards away. MSU did nothing notable in the return game.

COACHING: 3

I don’t understand why cornerbacks are still playing 10 yards off receivers when MSU is down 42 points. I mean, try something else. The pass defense is an issue. How much of it is scheme, I don’t know. I think a lot of it is talent. We’ll find out with the decisions Mel Tucker makes in the offseason with his staff and in the transfer portal. MSU didn’t have the goods to compete with Ohio State and I don’t know that any coach anywhere could have changed that. But MSU’s coaches certainly didn’t seem to have any answers. The only positive, I thought, was Tucker’s tone in the post game and the message he gave to his team — one of tough love, togetherness and introspection. He didn’t admonish them.

MORE: Couch: Blowout loss to Buckeyes is exactly why Michigan State is fighting to keep Mel Tucker

BOTTOM LINE

MSU might be in trouble next week against Penn State, given how banged up the Spartans have become. But there is still a lot on the line. I think if MSU beats Penn State, it’ll still have a pretty good shot to finish in the top 12 in the College Football Playoff rankings, which would come with a New Year’s Six bowl bid, possibly the Peach Bowl or Fiesta Bowl. To be in that position at the end of the season, speaks to a lot of good work that’s been done by this team.

Contact Graham Couch at gcouch@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Graham_Couch.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State football grades for MSU's performance at Ohio State