Another week and this time Ohio State gets its stats stuffed.
MICHIGAN STATE'S OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
Michigan State entered the game with an offense that relied on its 49th ranked passing game. Exit Connor Cook and Sparty abandoned the aerial game. The Spartans rushed 51 times for 203 yards (4.0 ypc) and only put the ball in the air 16 times.
Michigan State's offensive line and bevy of backs wore down Ohio State's defense. The Buckeyes' inability to sustain offensive drives was also a factor in the Spartans' offensive success. Expect That Team to continue the ground and pound against a beat-up Silver Bullet defense.
Before playing Ohio State the Spartans averaged 32.9 points (44th) 152.4 yards rushing and 253.9 yards passing per game. The Silver Bullets held the the Spartans under their season average in points scored, passing yards and total yards offense. Unfortunately the Buckeyes could not stop the run when it mattered the most.
MICHIGAN STATE'S DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Michigan State came into the game ranked 46th in total defense (364.0 yards) and 18th against the run (121.0). With Ohio State's inexplicably conservative offensive play calling The Buckeyes were held 86 yards rushing and an Urban Meyer all-time low 132 total yards. The weather didn't help, but the blue print has been set. Stop Ohio State's run game and you beat the Buckeyes.
Ohio State's offensive leaders were J.T Barrett with 44 yards rushing (2.9 ypc). Jalin Marshall led the receivers with 22 yards and a touchdown. J.T. Barrett finished the game 9/16 (.563) for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Ohio State did a better job of stopping Ezekiel Elliott than Michigan State's defense. Elliott finished the game with 33 yards (2.8 ypc) and a touchdown. He only touched the ball twice in the second half.
MICHIGAN STATE'S SPECIAL TEAMS
Michigan State's special teams were anything but special. A fumbled punt return, negative 15 yards in punt return yards and a missed field goal were momentum changers. Unfortunately, all of those mistakes were erased when Michael Geiger made a 41-yard field goal as time expired.
THE MOST IMPORTANT STAT
Ohio State 14, Michigan State 17
Ohio State is now 12-5-1 on November 21st.
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| 2015 STATS | CATEGORY | Against Ohio State | Stat Difference |
| 32.9 | Points For | 17 | - 15.9 |
| 22.3 | Points Against | 14 | + 8.3 |
| OFFENSE | |||
| 152.4 | Rushing Offense | 203 | + 50.6 |
| 253.9 | Passing Offense | 91 | - 162.9 |
| 406.3 | Total Offense | 294 | - 112.3 |
| DEFENSE | |||
| 121.0 | Rushing Defense | 86 | + 35.0 |
| 243.0 | Pass Defense | 46 | + 197.0 |
| 364.0 | Total Defense | 132 | + 232.0 |
| OFF. MISC. | |||
| .493 | 3rd Down Conv. | .467 | - .026 |
| .829 | Red Zone | 1.00 | + .171 |
| 6.2 | Punt Return | - 5.0 | - 11.2 |
| 22.1 | Kickoff Return | ----- | No Attempts |
| DEF. MISC. | |||
| .368 | 3rd Down Conv. | .286 | + .082 |
| .833 | Red Zone | 1.00 | - .733 |
| 128.4 | Pass Eff. Def. | 114.3 | + 14.1 |
| 34.2 | Net Punting | 37.8 | + 3.6 |
| MISC. | |||
| + 1.3 | Turnover Margin | - 2 | - 3.3 |
| 5.3 | Penalties Per Game | 4 | + 1.3 |
| Total: 8 | THE EDGE | Total: 11 |
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Ezekiel Elliott scored on this first half run. Elliott's streak of 15 straight 100 yard games is over. Ohio State leads the series 29-15 and has outscored Michigan State 2,204-1,267.
*NCAA sanctions be damned.
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| 2015 STATS BEFORE OHIO STATE | NATIONAL RANKING | CATEGORY | 2015 STATS AFTER OHIO STATE | NATIONAL RANKING | DIFFERENCE |
| 32.9 | 44th | Points For | 31.5 | 54th | - 1.4 |
| 22.3 | 34th | Points Against | 21.5 | 32nd | + 0.8 |
| OFFENSE | |||||
| 152.4 | 98th | Rushing Offense | 157.0 | 89th | + 4.6 |
| 253.9 | 49th | Passing Offense | 239.1 | 51st | - 14.8 |
| 406.3 | 61st | Total Offense | 396.1 | 70th | - 10.2 |
| DEFENSE | |||||
| 121.0 | 18th | Rushing Defense | 117.8 | 15th | + 3.2 |
| 243.0 | 86th | Pass Defense | 225.1 | 68th | + 17.9 |
| 364.0 | 46th | Total Defense | 342.9 | 26th | + 21.1 |
| OFF. MISC. | |||||
| .493 | 8th | 3rd Down Conv. | .490 | 11th | - .003 |
| .829 | 68th | Red Zone | .837 | 66th | + .008 |
| 6.2 | 88th | Punt Return | 2.0 | 123rd | - 4.2 |
| 22.1 | 48th | Kickoff Return | 22.1 | 47th | No Change |
| DEF. MISC. | |||||
| .368 | 50th | 3rd Down Conv. | .361 | 46th | + .007 |
| .833 | 64th | Red Zone | .837 | 66th | - .004 |
| 128.4 | 70th | Pass Eff. Def. | 127.1 | 69th | + 1.3 |
| 34.2 | 117th | Net Punting | 34.6 | 116th | + 2.4 |
| MISC. | |||||
| + 1.3 | 3rd | Turnover Margin | + 1.0 | 5th | - 0.3 |
| 5.3 | 30th | Penalties Per Game | 5.2 | 28th | + 0.1 |
| Total: 8 | THE EDGE | Total: 11 |
Urban Meyer led Ohio State to 30 B1G regular season wins and 23 straight. Both streaks are now over.
MISS THE GAME OR WANT TO SEE A PLAY AGAIN? HERE'S A HIGHLIGHT COLLECTION
Sam Hubbard's sack and forced fumble set up Ohio State's first touchdown:
J.T. Barrett throws the jump pass for possibly Ohio State's longest pass play of the night:
Time to heal up and get ready for The Game.
