Ohio State at Michigan State
ESPN's Game Day promo for Ohio State-Michigan State
* Date, Time: Sat., Sept. 29, 3:30 p.m. (Eastern)
* Location: Spartan Stadium; East Lansing, Mich.
* TV: ABC (national telecast; announcers: Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Heather Cox)
* 2012 Records: Ohio State, 4-0 overall; Michigan State, 3-1 overall.
* 2012 Rankings: Ohio State, 14th in Associated Press poll; Michigan State, 20th in AP poll and 18th in USA Today coaches poll.
* Coaches: Ohio State, Urban Meyer (first year at OSU, 4-0; 11th year overall, 108-23; vs. MSU, first meeting); Michigan State, Mark Dantonio (sixth year at MSU, 47-23; ninth year overall, 65-40; vs. OSU, 1-4).
* Series History: This will be the 41st meeting ever between OSU and MSU. Ohio State leads the all-time series 27-13, including 13-5 for games played in Columbus. Ohio State had won seven in a row in the series prior to last year’s 10-7 loss in Columbus. The Buckeyes have also won 12 of the last 15 meetings with the Spartans. OSU has won its last three visits to East Lansing, dating to a 1999 loss (23-7).
* Michigan State Schedule: Aug. 31, Boise State, W 17-13; Sept. 8, at Central Michigan, W 41-7; Sept. 15, Notre Dame, L 20-3; Sept. 22, Eastern Michigan, W 23-7; Sept. 29, Ohio State; Oct. 6, at Indiana; Oct. 13, Iowa; Oct. 20, at Michigan; Oct. 27, at Wisconsin; Nov. 3, Nebraska; Nov. 17, Northwestern; Nov. 24, at Minnesota.
* Michigan State Key Players (2012 Stats): QB Andrew Maxwell (81 of 143 passing, 869 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs), RB Le’Veon Bell (117 carries, 610 yards, 5 TDs; 12 catches, 67 yards), TE Dion Sims (22 catches, 277 yards, 2 TDs), WR Keith Mumphery (15 catches, 161 yards), WR Bennie Fowler (14 catches, 154 yards, 1 TD), MLB Max Bullough (26 tackles, 3-1/2 TFLs), SS Isaiah Lewis (22 tackles, 1 INT), LB Denicos Allen (17 tackles, 1 sack), DE William Gholston (14 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFLs), CB Johnny Adams(12 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT).
* Michigan State Fast Facts: Location: East Lansing, Mich.; Enrollment, 47,965; Conference: Big Ten; Nickname, Spartans; Colors, Green and White; Stadium, Spartan Stadium (surface, Grass; capacity, 75,005).
* Ohio State Schedule: Sept. 1, Miami (Ohio), W 56-10; Sept. 8, Central Florida, W 31-16; Sept. 15, California, W 35-28; Sept. 22, UAB, W 29-15; Sept. 29, at Michigan State; Oct. 6, Nebraska; Oct. 13, at Indiana; Oct. 20, Purdue; Oct. 27, at Penn State; Nov. 3, Illinois; Nov. 17, at Wisconsin; Nov. 24, Michigan.
* Ohio State Key Players (2012 Stats): QB Braxton Miller (60 of 98 passing, 754 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs; 67 carries, 441 yards, 7 TDs), RB Carlos Hyde (24 carries, 109 yards, 2 TDs), RB Jordan Hall (34 carries, 192 yards), RB Rod Smith (12 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD), TE Jake Stoneburner (7 catches, 92 yards, 3 TDs), WR Philly Brown (20 catches, 233 yards, 1 TD), WR Devin Smith (17 catches, 272 yards, 3 TDs), DB Christian Bryant (25 tackles, 1 INT), LB Etienne Sabino (28 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), LB Ryan Shazier (40 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack), DE John Simon (13 tackles, 1 sack), CB Bradley Roby (19 tackles, 1 sack), CB Travis Howard (13 tackles, 3 INTs), DT Johnathan Hankins (25 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack).
Depth Charts
Ohio State Offense
LT 74 Jack Mewhort 6-6, 312, Jr.
76 Darryl Baldwin 6-5, 300, So.
LG 78 Andrew Norwell 6-6, 310, Jr.
73 Antonio Underwood 6-2, 306, So.
C 71 Corey Linsley 6-3, 295, Jr.
50 Jacoby Boren 6-2, 287, Fr.
RG 79 Marcus Hall 6-5, 315, Jr.
57 Chase Farris 6-4, 290, R-Fr.
RT 77 Reid Fragel 6-8, 310, Sr.
68 Taylor Decker 6-7, 313, Fr.
TE 81 Nick Vannett 6-6, 255, R-Fr.
OR 86 Jeff Heuerman 6-5, 250, So.
WR (H) 11 Jake Stoneburner 6-5, 245, Sr.
80 Chris Fields 6-0, 197, Jr.
QB 5 Braxton Miller 6-2, 220, So.
13 Kenny Guiton 6-3, 210, Jr.
RB 7 Jordan Hall, 5-9, 194, Sr.
2 Rod Smith, 6-3, 228, So.
Or 34 Carlos Hyde, 6-0, 232, Jr.
FB 44 Zach Boren 6-1, 245, Sr.
49 Adam Homan 6-3, 245, Sr.
WR (X) 15 Devin Smith 6-1, 200, So.
83 Michael Thomas 6-2, 198, Fr.
WR (Z) 10 Corey Brown 6-0, 187, Jr.
16 Evan Spencer 6-2, 205, So.
K 24 Drew Basil 6-1, 210, Jr.
39 Kyle Clinton 6-1, 215 So.
Ohio State Defense
LEO 54 John Simon 6-2, 263, Sr.
88 Steve Miller 6-3, 255, So.
OR 8 Noah Spence 6-3, 240, Fr.
DT 52 Johnathan Hankins 6-3, 322, Jr.
92 Adolphus Washington 6-3, 289, Fr.
OR 90 Tommy Schutt 6-2, 295, Fr.
NT 53 Garrett Goebel 6-4, 290, Sr.
51 Joel Hale 6-4, 295, So.
72 Chris Carter 6-4, 340, R-Fr.
DE 50 J.T. Moore 6-3, 260, So.
43 Nathan Williams, 6-3, 249, Sr.
63 Michael Bennett 6-3, 285, So.
OLB 10 Ryan Shazier 6-2, 230, So.
36 Conner Crowell 6-1, 235, R-Fr.
25 David Perkins 6-2, 220, Fr.
MLB 14 Curtis Grant 6-3, 235, So.
32 Storm Klein, 6-2, 242, Sr.
OLB 6 Etienne Sabino 6-3, 237, Sr.
37 Joshua Perry 6-4, 238, Fr.
CB 1 Bradley Roby 5-11, 190, So.
12 Doran Grant 5-11, 188, So.
SAF 2 Christian Bryant 5-10, 192, Jr.
19 Orhian Johnson 6-3, 210, Sr.
SAF 4 C.J. Barnett 6-1, 202, Jr.
3 Corey Brown 6-1, 198, Jr.
CB 7 Travis Howard 6-1, 200, Sr.
9 Adam Griffi n 5-8, 180, So.
P 17 Ben Buchanan 5-11, 192, Sr.
24 Drew Basil 6-1, 210, Jr.
LS 41 Bryce Haynes 6-4, 220, R-Fr.
56 George Makridis 6-2, 230, Jr.
Michigan State Offense
X 14 TONY LIPPETT (6-3, 190, So.)
16 Aaron Burbridge (6-1, 190, Fr.)
33 Jeremy Langford (6-0, 205, So.)
LT 59 DAN FRANCE (6-6, 315, Jr.)
65 Michael Dennis (6-7, 309, So.) OR
77 Henry Conway (6-6, 330, Jr.)
LG 66 JACK ALLEN (6-1, 295, R-Fr.) OR
64 BLAKE TREADWELL (6-3, 300, Jr.)
76 Donavon Clark (6-3, 302, R-Fr.)
C 63 TRAVIS JACKSON (6-3, 280, So.)
68 Ethan Ruhland (6-5, 290, Sr.-5)
RG 62 CHRIS MCDONALD (6-5, 298, Sr.-5)
72 Nate Klatt (6-4, 290, Jr.) OR
54 Connor Kruse (6-4, 318, So.)
RT 70 SKYLER BURKLAND (6-7, 315, So.)
65 Michael Dennis (6-7, 309, So.)
TE 80 DION SIMS (6-5, 285, Jr..)
92 Andrew Gleichert (6-5, 250, So.) OR
84 Derek Hoebing (6-7, 270, Jr.)
83 Paul Lang (6-5, 255, R-Fr.)
Z 25 KEITH MUMPHERY (6-0, 208, So.)
5 DeAnthony Arnett (5-11, 170, So.)
F 13 BENNIE FOWLER (6-1, 218, Jr.)
21 Andre Sims Jr. (5-9, 182, R-Fr.)
3 Macgarrett Kings Jr. (5-10, 183, Fr.)
QB 10 ANDREW MAXWELL (6-3, 212, Jr.)
18 Connor Cook (6-4, 222, R-Fr.)
FB 38 NIKO PALAZETI (6-1, 250, So.)
8 Lawrence Thomas (6-3, 295, R-Fr.)
37 Trevon Pendleton (5-11, 248, R-Fr.)
TB 24 LE’VEON BELL (6-2, 244, Jr.)
22 Larry Caper (5-11, 222, Sr.) OR
20 Nick Hill (5-8, 190, So.)
33 Jeremy Langford (6-0, 205, So.)
PK 4 DAN CONROY (5-10, 186, Sr.-5)
17 Kevin Muma (6-0, 195, Jr.)
Michigan State Defense
DE 44 MARCUS RUSH (6-2, 250, So.)
89 Shilique Calhoun (6-4, 240, R-Fr.)
47 Jeremy Gainer (6-1, 232, Jr.)
DT 60 MICAJAH REYNOLDS (6-5, 318, Jr.) OR
91 TYLER HOOVER (6-7, 310, Sr.-5)
NT 98 ANTHONY RASHAD WHITE (6-2, 330, Sr.) OR
99 JAMES KITTREDGE (6-4, 272, So.)
93 Damon Knox (6-4, 278, R-Fr.)
DE 2 WILLIAM GHOLSTON (6-7, 278, Jr.)
92 Joel Heath (6-6, 266, R-Fr.)
42 Denzel Drone (6-2, 260, Jr.)
STAR 10 CHRIS NORMAN (6-1, 233, Sr.)
34 Taiwan Jones (6-3, 230, So.) OR
45 Darien Harris (6-0, 210, R-Fr.)
MIKE 40 MAX BULLOUGH (6-3, 252, Jr.)
41 Kyler Elsworth (6-1, 220, Jr.)
49 TyQuan Hammock (6-0, 245, Jr.)
SAM 28 DENICOS ALLEN (5-11, 225, Jr.)
43 Ed Davis (6-3, 220, R-Fr.)
50 Steve Gardiner (6-1, 224, Sr.-5)
FC 31 DARQUEZE DENNARD (5-11, 188, Jr.)
32 Mitchell White (5-11, 185, Sr.-5)
FS 23 JAIRUS JONES (6-1, 207, Jr.) OR
27 KURTIS DRUMMOND (6-1, 200, So.)
7 Demetrious Cox (6-1, 195, Fr.)
SS 9 ISAIAH LEWIS (5-10, 205, Jr.)
26 RJ Williamson (6-0, 205, R-Fr.)
BC 5 JOHNNY ADAMS (5-11, 177, Sr.-5)
36 Arjen Colquhoun (6-1, 192, R-Fr.) OR
15 Trae Waynes (6-1, 175, R-Fr.)
P 3 MIKE SADLER (6-0, 180, So.)
17 Kevin Muma (6-0, 195, Jr.)
Also Notable
* Dantonio was the defensive coordinator for Jim Tressel at OSU from 2001-03. He left to become the head coach at Cincinnati in 2004 and moved on to MSU in 2007. His UC teams lost to OSU 27-6 in 2004 and 37-6 in 2006. His MSU teams dropped games to OSU in 2007 (24-17 in Columbus) and 2008 (45-7 in East Lansing) before defeating the Buckeyes last year.
* This is Ohio State’s 100th year in the Big Ten. All-time in Big Ten openers, OSU is 71-24-4. MSU is 32-23-4. MSU is 1-4 all-time against OSU in Big Ten openers. This is MSU’s 60th year in the conference.
* Michigan State’s roster features 28 players from Ohio, including several notable starters and backups: CB Johnny Adams, LB Denicos Allen, RB Le’veon Bell, OT Skyler Burkland, LT Dan France, C Travis Jackson and DE Marcus Rush.
Ohio State has two players from Michigan: RT Reid Fragel and DL Johnathan Hankins.
* The Buckeyes will be shooting to reach 5-0 to start a season for the seventh time in 13 years, dating to 2000.
This is the eighth team Meyer has led to a 4-0 start in his 11th year as a head coach. Only two first-year OSU coaches have started 5-0. Carroll Widdoes was 9-0 in 1944 and eventually won his first 12 games before a loss. Earle Bruce posted an 11-0 record to open the 1979 before a Rose Bowl loss to USC.
* The Spartans have won 25 of their last 31 games (.806 winning percentage), dating to the start of the 2010 season. MSU is coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons for the first time in school history.
* ESPN’s College Game Day will emanate from East Lansing with programming beginning at 9 a.m. on ESPNU and continuing from 10 a.m. to noon on ESPN.
OSU is 19-10 in games where Game Day is in attendance, including 6-5 on the road. MSU is 2-3 all-time in hosting College Game Day. The show was on hand last year when MSU nipped Wisconsin 37-31 on a last-play Hail Mary in an instant classic.
Breaking It Down
* When Ohio State Has The Ball: The Michigan State defense did a number on Ohio State in last year’s game in Columbus. How bad was it? The OSU coaching staff went back and we mean back to Joe Bauserman when it was determined that Braxton Miller wasn’t going to get it done against the Spartans. OSU surrendered nine sacks in the loss and netted just 178 yards total offense.
Fast forward 12 months and we see that MSU’s defense is still playing lights out, even if defensive tackle Jerel Worthy isn’t around any more. The Spartans have allowed just 47 points in four games. MSU is tops in the Big Ten and sixth in the nation in yards allowed at 233.5 yards per game. DE William Gholston, LBs Max Bullough and Denicos Allen, SS Isaiah Lewis and CB Johnny Adams give the Spartans top-of-the-line playmakers on each line of the defense.
This will be, by far, the toughest test for the OSU offense so far and could stand as their toughest test all season. The Spartans love to attack the line of scrimmage and will try and make it hard for Miller and RBs Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde (expected to play) to make plays inside on the running game.
MSU only has three sacks, though, in four games. So perhaps the OSU offensive line will be able to give Miller and his receivers some time to make some plays. OSU needs to minimize penalties and turnovers and finish drives when it gets into the red zone. Otherwise, reaching even the 20-point plateau could be a challenge.
* When Michigan State Has The Ball: The Spartans have shown some growing pains with new starters at quarterback (Andrew Maxwell) and wide receiver (Tony Lippett and Keith Mumphery). Tight end Dion Sims has been a nice find. But the MSU offense revolves around bullish RB Le’Veon Bell, who already has a pair of 200-yard games on the young season.
He will be going up against an OSU defense which largely held him in check in last year’s game in Columbus. MSU netted just 71 yards rushing on 31 attempts in that game. The rugged OSU front led by DE John Simon and DT Johnathan Hankins and LBs Etienne Sabino and Ryan Shazier must come up big against the run.
The best bet is that the Buckeyes find a way to contain Bell and exert pressure on Maxwell, who is still learning the ropes at quarterback. OSU’s defense is rated 12th (that’s dead last) in the Big Ten in yards allowed at 394.7 per game. They must do better against Michigan State, although this is the kind of offense the Buckeyes are built to stop (i.e. not a spread).
* How It Will Go: If you asked me last January, I would have said Michigan State would win this game. Heck, if you asked me two weeks ago at this point, I would have said Michigan State would win this game.
It’s amazing that both of these teams are ranked, but neither of them have really played a complete game yet. (The Buckeyes started slow in their rout of Miami, while MSU’s best showing was at Central Michigan.)
I think both of these teams has the potential to end up with nine or 10 wins, maybe 11 if they get hot. But neither of them have really shown a ton yet. MSU’s stunning 20-3 home loss to Notre Dame sticks out like a sore thumb. MSU couldn’t hardly generate any offense in that listless defeat. Then again, OSU hasn’t done a good job defensively the last three weeks. Their last three opponents have averaged five explosive plays of 20 yards or more, although a lot of those were in the spread look.
Maybe the Buckeye defense will have a better showing against a traditional Big Ten running game like Michigan State has. This figures to be a real slugfest with the teams trading field goals (and likely turnovers as well).
OSU has gotten off to some rotten starts in at least three of its four games. The Buckeyes can ill afford to fall behind 10-0 or 14-0 early on the road because I’m not sure the big play ability is there with this OSU team against a quality opponent, at least. I do believe the OSU defense will stand up (finally) and represent itself. The Buckeyes win the field position battle and slip in and out of East Lansing with the win, maybe on a late field goal.
I’ve got it Ohio State 23-20
* For The Record: I am 4-0 straight-up and 1-3 against-the-spread with Ohio State. (The Spartans are three-point favorite over the Buckeyes.)
Also Check Out
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