Ohio State is 5-2 against Michigan State when the Buckeyes are ranked No. 1. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHIGAN STATE | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
| No. 1 OHIO STATE | 17 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
BACKGROUND
The Buckeyes entered this game with an 8-0 record and ranked No. 1 in the country. To this point Ohio State was defeating its opponents by an average score of 38-9. Michigan State was coached by Nick Saban and was a middle of the road team.
OHIO STATE PLAYERS
- Joe Germaine was 16/34 for 239 yards a touchdown and an interception.
- Damon Moore had a 73-yard interception return for a touchdown.
- Michael Wiley rushed for 100 yards, averaged 4.5 yards per carry and a touchdown.
MICHIGAN STATE'S PLAYERS
- Bill Burke completed 18/46 passes for 323 yards a touchdown and an interception.
- Plaxico Burress had 125 yards receiving and averaged 31.3 ypr.
- Sedrick Irvin led the Spartans with 52 yards rushing and averaged 2.0 yards per carry.
- Paul Edinger tied a school record by making 5 field goals.
- Linebacker Julian Peterson had 9 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and a sack.
5 turnovers against Michigan State cost Ohio State a championship season in 1998.
KEY PLAY OF THE GAME
Ohio State was up 24-12 in the 3rd quarter when a punt went off the back of Nate Clements and recovered by Michigan State. The Spartans would get a field goal, but momentum had shifted and it could be felt in the stadium.
QUOTABLE
After the game John Cooper said this to the AP:
"The key play of the game, obviously, is when Joe Germaine fumbled the ball, we're lucky they didn't score a touchdown."
Michigan State coach Nick Saban:
"I told the team it was going to be a 15-round fight and we needed to be Rocky in that 15th round."
THE REST OF THE STORY
The next week Ohio State traveled to Iowa and dispatched the Hawkeyes 45-14. The Buckeyes would finish the season winning the last three games. That included defeating That Team 31-16 and Texas A&M in the 1999 Sugar Bowl. Ohio State finished the 1998 season tied for first in the Big Ten and No. 2 in both the USA Today/ESPN and AP polls.
MY THOUGHTS ON THE 1998 MICHIGAN STATE GAME
Ohio State was the best team in college football in 1998. I was at this game and the crowd became very complacent when the Buckeyes went up 17-0 in the first quarter. I told those I was there with that I didn't like the vibe. I definitely didn't like the vibe when the fourth quarter ended.
When it was over, I sat in the stadium for a long time. The thought that kept creeping in my mind was that this was the best shot Ohio State had at winning a national championship. I was concerned that the Buckeyes would never win a title in my lifetime. Fortunately those fears would be laid to rest four years later.
One game derailed what should have been a championship season in 1998. I hope history does not repeat itself Saturday night.
| Oppontent | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|
| at No. 11West Virginia | W | 34-17 |
| Toledo | W | 49-0 |
| No. 21 Missouri | W | 35-14 |
| No. 7 Penn State | W | 28-9 |
| at Illinois | W | 41-0 |
| Minnesota | W | 45-15 |
| at Indiana | W | 38-7 |
| Michigan State | L | 24-28 |
| at Iowa | W | 45-14 |
| That Team | W | 31-16 |
| No. 8 Texas A&M | W | 24-14 |
| Total | 11-1 | 430-144 |
THIS WEEK'S ARTICLES
The Rundown: Minnesota at No. 1 Ohio State
Recruiting Recon: Minnesota's Offense
Recruiting Recon: Minnesota's Defense
NEXT ARTICLES
This Date In Ohio State History: Nov. 7th (Sat)
The Ohio State Effect (Sun)
Prep Tracker Week 12 (Sun)
The original blog of this article can be found here.
