What's next for Ohio State football? An early glance at Michigan State
A top-10 matchup is no longer on tap for Ohio State this week.
Michigan State, which was rising in the polls as recently as last month, has since tumbled outside the Top 25.
The third season of Mel Tucker’s tenure has not gone as planned in East Lansing.
The Spartans’ three-game losing streak is their longest since the end of the Mark Dantonio era in 2019.
Week 6: Ohio State (5-0) at Michigan State (2-3)
Saturday, 4 p.m., ABC, 97.1 FM/1460 AM
Poll position
The Buckeyes are No. 3 in the major polls for the fifth consecutive week. Michigan State, which rose as high as No. 9 in the coaches poll after opening the season with a pair of wins over Mid-American Conference schools, is now unranked.
Point spread
Ohio State opened as a 25.5-point favorite over the Spartans. It was also a double-digit-point favorite in the past three matchups with Michigan State.
Michigan State’s last game
The Spartans lost at Maryland 27-13 on Saturday, as Taulia Tagovailoa became the second quarterback in three games to throw for at least 300 yards against them. Michigan State was within a point of the Terrapins late in the second quarter, but never led.
Michigan State’s strength
Payton Thorne has had an up-and-down start to this season, but he was one of the better passers in the Big Ten a year ago when he threw for 3,232 yards and 27 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.
Michigan State’s weakness
A porous secondary continues to hamper Michigan State. After its pass defense ranked last in the Football Bowl Subdivision last season, it isn’t much better this fall, ranking 115th out of 131 teams.
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Michigan State’s player to watch
If healthy, Jayden Reed could be a tough cover for the Buckeyes’ cornerbacks. Reed was an All-American last fall, but has been injured early this season and missed a loss at Washington on Sept. 17.
Michigan State’s X-factor
Without Doak Walker Award-winning running back Kenneth Walker III in its backfield, the Spartans’ rushing offense has taken a dip this season. But Elijah Collins gave a lift against Maryland, coming in for Jarek Broussard and Jalen Berger and rushing for 36 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
Ohio State-Michigan State series history
The Buckeyes have fallen to Michigan State as recently as 2015, 2013, and 2011, but none were in East Lansing. Their last loss at Spartan Stadium occurred in 1999.
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Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football opponent glance at Michigan State
