It’s the Big Ten’s showcase showdown in primetime, and almost everything is on the line in East Lansing.
No. 7 Michigan State (7-1) and No. 13 Ohio State (7-1) are looking to improve their College Football Playoff resume, and the winner will seize control of the Big Ten East division.
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The Spartans have a chance to take three of four from the Buckeyes for the first time since 1971-74. Ohio State is looking to avenge last year’s 34-24 loss in the Big Ten championship game.
Let’s go to the Numbers that Matter to see who has the advantage:
SERIES
Ohio State controls the series 28-14, and the Buckeyes are 10-5 when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25.
B1G STREAKS
The Buckeyes are 20-0 in Big Ten regular-season play under coach Urban Meyer. Michigan State has won 14 straight Big Ten games, including last year’s win against Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. One of those streaks ends Saturday.
MARK DANTONIO VS. URBAN MEYER
This is the third head-to-head meeting between the two coaches. Ohio State won the first meeting 17-16 in East Lansing in 2012.
SPOTLIGHT PLAYER: J.T. BARRETT, QB, OHIO STATE
Braxton Miller had three cracks against Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi’s defense from 2011-13, and he finished 29-of-54 passing for an average of 112 passing yards with two TDS and two interceptions. Barrett, who leads the Big Ten in TD passes (23) and passer rating (170.0) will get his stiffest test yet.
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SPOTLIGHT PLAYER: JEREMY LANGFORD, RB, MICHIGAN STATE
Jeremy Langford has at least 100 yards rushing in 11 straight Big Ten games. He has 1,400 rushing yards and 19 TDs while averaging 5.2 yards per carry in that stretch. He had 128 yards and a TD in last year’s Big Ten title game. Connor Cook is the headliner for Michigan State’s offense, but Langford is the hidden key to that success.
ON THE SPOT: TAIWAN JONES, LB, MICHIGAN STATE
Taiwan Jones provided the bulletin board material (sort of) when he said Barrett was a better quarterback than Miller this week. Isn’t that a compliment? Jones will have help. Senior Mylan Hicks is expected to return to his first action since suffering a broken arm Oct. 4 against Nebraska.
X-FACTOR: JOEY BOSA, DE, OHIO STATE
Ohio State’s defensive end Joey Bosa is a freak. He leads the Buckeyes with 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. Cook has taken more than two sacks in just two games the last two seasons (Stanford, Oregon). Bosa has to be a difference maker.
THE SLEEPER: EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, RB, OHIO STATE
Meyer has banked on Ezekiel Elliott in two road conference games this season. He averaged 25 carries and 124 rushing yards in wins against Maryland and Penn State. Expect Elliott to get touches early while Barrett settles in.
DID YOU KNOW?
The last Michigan State coach to beat Ohio State in consecutive seasons was none other than Nick Saban. He guided the Spartans to back-to-back wins in 1998-99.
IN-GAME TREND: READING THE BLITZ
Barrett took seven sacks in the loss to Virginia Tech on Sept. 6. Four different Spartans have at least 3.5 sacks, including Davis and Ed Davis at linebacker and defensive ends Marcus Rush and Shilique Calhoun.
MAGIC NUMBER: FIRST- AND FOURTH-QUARTER SCORING
Ohio State and Michigan State don’t waste any time jumping on an opponent, but it gets tight in the fourth quarter. Check out these point differentials:
First quarter
Ohio State: 106-31 (+75)
Michigan State: 105-21 (+84)
Fourth quarter
Ohio State: 56-48 (+8)
Michigan State: 56-52 (-6)
BOTTOM LINE
Expect the best from both Big Ten powerhouses. Ohio State is fully capable of springing the upset in East Lansing, but it’s on Barrett to outplay Cook. Expect high drama all the way to the end, and if it goes into overtime, keep this in mind: Ohio State is 3-0 in overtime under Meyer.
