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We should’ve seen this coming into the game, despite all the players that would be missing for the Buckeyes. Ohio State completely had their way with Michigan State and we could just never get anything going on any side of the ball. The Buckeyes ended up winning 52-12. The first play for the Spartans saw Rocky Lombardi and Connor Heyward miscommunicate on a RPO that resulted in a yard loss. They preceded to go three-and-out and give the ball to the Buckeyes.
The Spartans looked like they held strong after Shakur Brown defended a third down pass, but a Michael Fletcher roughing the passer nullified it and gave the Buckeyes a new set of downs. Justin Fields proceeded to march down the field and run it in for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
Both teams traded punts, but then Justin Fields went to work which started with a 44-yard run and ended with 28-yard passing touchdown to Garrett Wilson to make it 14-0 Buckeyes. The Spartans then went three-and-out for the 4th time in the 1st quarter!
The Buckeyes had a methodical drive complete with two third down conversions and culminated with a Fields 1-yard touchdown run. The Spartans finally got their first true first down on a 17-yard pass to Jalen Nailor, but stalled out from there.
The Spartans forced a punt, but the punt was inside the 1-yard line. Lombardi attempted a pass, but the pass was blocked on the line and was caught by Haskell Garrett for a pick six, making the score 28-0. On the next drive for the Spartans, Tyreke Smith was able to get off the edge and sack Lombardi which resulted in a head injury for Lombardi and took him out of the game.
Payton Thorne came into the game and completed an 8-yard pass to Jalen Nailor on his first attempt on the game. Thorne had more completions and passing yards on his first drive than Lombardi had the whole game to this point. The drive ended on a 4th down attempt that Thorne initially got, but got stripped and was recovered by Ohio State. That took us to the half with the score being 28-0.
It was a quiet start to the third quarter but leave it to Ohio State to put more points on the board. Oklahoma transfer Trey Sermon broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run to make it 35-0.
Michigan State finally answered on the next drive that started with a 55-yard pass to Jayden Reed and finished with a 20-yard rushing touchdown for Payton Thorne to put the Spartans on the board.
The defense then forced a fumble after Chase Kline hit Chris Olave and was recovered by Antjuan Simmons. Then one play later, gave it back to Ohio State on an interception just out of reach for Nailor. Ohio State drove down the field after two consecutive penalties against Michigan State, one against Chase Kline for unnecessary roughness and one against Mel Tucker for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ohio State could not get a touchdown though and settled for a field goal to make it 38-7.
Thorne used the run game the next drive to get into Ohio State territory and threaten to score again. Unfortunately they could not capitalize and had Matt Coghlin come on for 32-yard field goal that was good.
Ohio State went three-and-out and but an incredible 74-yard punt from True Chrisman trapped the Spartans on their own 2. Spartans quickly punted the ball back to the Buckeyes, so that Fields could get another quick touchdown. Fields found Olave for a 41-yard touchdown to end his day against the Spartans.
The Buckeyes next drive saw their backup quarterback run for a 48-yard touchdown. The Spartans got the ball one more time, but could not do much with it and punted away with less than two minutes left. Ohio State brought on more backups and a bad snap resulted in a safety to make the score 52-12. The Spartans fumbled the return and gave it back to the Buckeyes ending the game.
Lombardi finished the game with 5/11 passing for 33 yards, three rushes for -9 yards and an interception. Thorne finished his relief effort with 16/25 passing for 147 yards, nine rushes for 42 yards and a touchdown and an interception.
Jayden Reed led the way for the receivers with 5 catches for 79 yards.
Antjuan Simmons was the heart of the defense, with the most tackles on the team and a fumble recovery.
The Spartans end their season next week against the Penn State Nittany Lions.
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