Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer puts pressure on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar during OSU’s 20-12 win over the Nittany Lions earlier this season.
Don Speck | The Lima News
QUARTERBACKS
Kyle McCord’s feat of completing an Ohio State record 18 passes in a row (his last 7 against Wisconsin and his first 11 against Rutgers) kind of flew under the radar. Devin Brown, who sat out the Wisconsin game because of an ankle injury, was on the field warming up before OSU (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) played Rutgers.
Michigan State (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) has played three quarterbacks this season. Noah Kim started the first five games and threw six touchdown passes and six interceptions. He was replaced by redshirt freshman Katin Houser (674 yards, 3 touchdown passes, 2 interceptions) who has started the last four games. Freshman Sam Leavitt has played in four games.
Advantage: Ohio State
RUNNING BACKS
A healthy TreVeyon Henderson is a necessity if Ohio State is going to be a challenger for a Big Ten championship. His ability to get to the end zone from anywhere on the field is something no other OSU running back has this season.
Nate Carter (659 yards rushing) has dominated the Spartans’ running game and also has caught 19 passes.
Advantage: Ohio State
RECEIVERS
Carnell Tate’s star seems to be rising while Julian Fleming is getting fewer catches than he did last season. Tate has 10 catches in his last five games and Fleming has six catches in his last five games. Fleming had six touchdown catches last season and has none this season.
Montorie Foster (33 catches, 436 yards, 2 touchdowns) is MSU’s leading receiver. He caught a TD pass when Michigan State broke a 6-game losing streak with a 20-17 win over Nebraska last Saturday.
Advantage: Ohio State
OFFENSIVE LINE
Henderson has had his two best games of the year after missing three games. Is it possible improvement during the time he was out by Ohio State’s offensive line played a role in that?
Guard J.D. Duplain and center Nick Samac are returning starters from last year for Michigan State.
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE LINE
Ohio State’s defensive line stepped up when three Rutgers drives got the ball inside the 5-yard line but the Scarlet Knights’ offensive line was surprisingly competitive with the Buckeyes’ defensive front overall.
Simeon Barrow, one of MSU’s top defensive linemen, entered a special transfer portal which was opened after head coach Mel Tucker was fired Sept. 27 but changed his mind and returned to the team a few days later.
Advantage: Ohio State
LINEBACKERS
Tommy Eichenberg’s 12 tackles against Rutgers were one off his season high of 13. Cody Simon’s nine tackles were a season and career high for him.
Cal Haladay, a three-year starter, leads Michigan State in tackles with 65 and has 5 tackles for losses.
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke and safety Lathan Ransom did not play against Rutgers last week and Ryan Day said he couldn’t predict when they might return, which means some young, talented defensive backs might be playing more minutes this week.
Free safety Jaden Mangham leads Michigan State with 4 interceptions and strong safety Malik Spencer is second on the team in tackles with 57.
Advantage: Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding is 10 of 11 on field goals with a long kick of 41 yards.
Michigan State kicker Jonathan Kim is 11 of 15 on field goals with a long kick of 47 yards.
Advantage: Ohio State
RECRUITING UPDATE
Cincinnati Withrow wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., who has verbally committed to Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class, caught 5 passes for 111 yards in Withrow’s 16-7 win over Cincinnati Winton Woods in a second-round Division II playoff game last Friday.
Henry, the son of former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry, has 57 catches for 936 yards this season. His 936 yards set a season receiving record at Withrow (11-1), which will play Troy (11-1) in a regional semifinal.
Bellfontaine quarterback Tavien St. Clair, who has committed to Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class, passed for 246 and four touchdowns in a 35-28 win over London in a Division III playoff game last Friday. That victory avenged a 36-6 loss to London during the regular season.
SAY WHAT
“We’ve been a second half team.”
— Marvin Harrison Jr.
BUCKEYES TRIVIA
1. Who has the record for most sacks in a season at Ohio State?
2. What event did J.T. Barrett win in the Texas high school state track meet?
3. What is C.J. Stroud’s first name?
4. What former NFL quarterback was Ezekiel Elliott’s high school football coach?
Answers: 1. Chase Young 16.5; 2. 100-meter dash; 3. Coleridge; 4. Gus Frerotte
