No. 3 Ohio State hasn’t lost a game this season, but they haven’t played anyone like No. 9 Michigan State. The Spartans will be the first ranked opponent the reigning champions have faced in 2015, and their Week 12 meeting will help determine a Big Ten East champion.
How to watch Michigan State vs. Ohio State on TV or online, plus 3 things to know
“Ohio State ain’t played nobody!” ...until now, when No. 9 Michigan State comes to Columbus.
The Buckeyes are 10-0 this season, but their best wins, according to Jeff Sagarin, have come against a 7-3 Penn State team and a 5-5 Virginia Tech. The Spartans, on the other hand, have been tested by two ranked programs - No. 12 Michigan and No. 23 Oregon - and survived both tests only to be upended late by Nebraska two weeks ago. That gives Ohio State a one-game advantage in the conference standings, but a Sparty win on Saturday would give MSU the greatest odds to represent the East in the 2015 Big 10 Championship Game.
They’ll have to stop an Ohio State team that’s been rolling over opponents in recent weeks as tailback Ezekiel Elliot establishes himself as a Heisman contender. Elliot has run for more than 100 yards in each of his games this season, and the only team that has come close to stopping him was, surprisingly, a Hawaii defense that rates 120th among FBS programs when it comes to rushing yards allowed. Michigan State sits on the other end of that spectrum - 18th in the nation - and they can derail Elliot’s Heisman hopes and OSU’s playoff potential with a road win in Columbus this weekend.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Radio: Ohio State, Michigan State
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Ohio State is favored by 13 (!) points
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Land Grant Holy Land (for Ohio State fans) and The Only Colors (for Michigan State fans).
Three big things to know
1. Connor Cook left last week's game against Maryland with an injured shoulder, and team representatives haven't made it clear how healthy he is. Cook is geared up to play on Saturday, but it seems that he won't be 100 percent and that's worried bettors to the point of making OSU a 13-point favorite. Cook is the best quarterback in the Big 10 and one of the best in the nation. However, he played his worst game of the season against the Terrapins, completing only six of his 20 passes for 77 yards. Michigan State needs him healthy to have a shot at the road upset on Saturday.
2. Here’s how the Big Ten East shakes out. Ohio State controls their own destiny; two wins, and they’re in the conference championship. Michigan State does as well; if they win out they’d finish the year at 7-1 in conference play with head-to-head wins over the only other teams in the division that could end the season with one loss. Things are a bit more tricky for Michigan; they need the Spartans to lose this weekend while they beat Penn State, and then they need to beat OSU in what would be one of the biggest games to hit that storied rivalry. If you’re a Big 10 fan, Saturday’s Ohio State - Michigan State showdown is appointment viewing.
3. Can Ohio State get enough out of their quarterbacks to win? Michigan State boasts a top 20 run defense, but their passing D sits all the way down at 86th in the nation. That's going to create some big opportunities for J.T. Barrett, who is still looking for a breakout performance behind center in 2015. Barrett regained the starting spot thanks to Cardale Jones's struggles, and he could cement his place in the lineup by moving the chains and creating scoring opportunities through the air against the Spartans.
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