Quarterback Braxton Miller led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a 17-16 win over Michigan State Saturday.
Ohio State vs. Michigan State 2012 final score: Braxton Miller leads Buckeyes to 17-16 win
Braxton Miller ran for 135 yards and threw for 179 yards in a 17-16 win over Michigan State.
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Miller passed for 179 yards, ran for 135 and his 63-yard touchdown pass to Devin Smith with 3:43 left in the third quarter proved to be the decisive score in the game.
Ohio State took a 7-0 lead early on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jordan Hall. Michigan State responded with a field goal to make it 7-3 on its opening drive, but both teams were scoreless the rest of the half.
The teams traded field goals on the opening drives of the third quarter. Michigan State briefly led when Andrew Maxwell threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Keith Mumphery in the third quarter prior to Miller's touchdown pass to Smith. Michigan State added a field goal early in the third quarter.
Box Score Heroes: Braxton Miller made big plays in the passing game and the running game. He rushed 23 times for 135 yards and was 16-for-23 passing for 179 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also ran for a big first down on Ohio State’s final clock-killing drive.
Andrew Maxwell and the Michigan State passing game looked comfortable for the first time this season. He completed 22-of-42 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown. Defensive back Kurtis Drummond had a big day defensively, intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble.
Rankings Ramifications: Ohio State remains undefeated and a win over a ranked opponent could boost them higher than their No. 14 position. Michigan State is likely to fall out of the rankings after their second loss of the season.
But Did They Cover? There was no opening line in the game.
Next Week’s Schedule: Michigan State travels to Indiana at noon Oct. 6. Ohio State hosts Nebraska at 8 p.m. Oct. 6.
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