Spartans & # 39; curious & # 39; to see OSU

The same goes for the rest of the world of college football. For many reasons.

Let's leave aside the minor chance and out of reach of the 24th ranked Spartans to win the Big Ten East. Even winning the remaining three games, including against the Buckeyes, ranked eighth, would not be enough. The Michigan agenda is extremely favorable: Rutgers Saturday then Indiana, and OSU. Wolverines are unlikely to lose, although chaos has prevailed for much of the season.

It's more of a test for Dantonio's team to prove its value and growth in one year.

The Buckeyes beat the Spartans 48-3 – the biggest margin of defeat of all time for the Spartans against OSU. And everything is back to the online game.

The Ohio State offensive bulldozed the first seven of the MSU with an alignment adjustment that the Spartans could not counter. The Buckeyes ran 335 yards, the highest number of MSUs all season and the most defeats ever allowed by a Dantonio defense. A spartan target, Mike Weber (Detroit Tech Cass) ran 162 of those yards and two touchdowns, in just nine litters. The folds were massive. OSU totaled 532 yards and won the Big Ten East a week later.

"Last year they succeeded," said Dantonio. "We will have to play very very well. And we will have to know what they are doing and be at the top of our game. "

It is useful for the Spartans to achieve their best performance of the season, holding a mighty 26-yard Maryland running game and limiting the Terrapins to just 100 yards of total offense.

The Buckeyes are ranked fourth in the country with 547 yards per game, but have not yet played such a defense, a defeat that is even stronger against the pass with the return of cornerback Josiah Scott , Saturday. For the Ohio state's offensive, it will be just as hard to prove that he can issue video game numbers against a group of angry Spartans a year older. stronger and stronger.

But the MSU offensive could be more crucial. And the starting quarterback could be more than Dantonio saying that Brian Lewerke is his guy.

After playing the basics of Saturday's win, Lewerke said his right shoulder continued to hurt him and affect his passes. The doctors told the beginner throws that they could no longer damage the shoulder by throwing them; only a hit can do it.

By the way, the Buckeyes' defense had six bags from Lewerke and Messiah deWeaver last year and kept MSU at 64 yards from the worst season of the season. His offensive line was bulldozed all day. The Spartans totaled 195 yards on 70 games, averaging 2.8 yards per game.

Brian Lewerke and Messiah from Weaver were fired six times in the 2017 Buckeyes loss to Columbus. (Photo: Greg Bartram, USA TODAY Sports)

Yes, the Spartans line has played better these past two weeks, giving up a sack against Purdue and none against Maryland. And yes, the Buckeyes defense has not been the same without Nick Bosa, averaging 456.6 yards and 29.2 points per game in their last five games.

But it's still the state of Ohio, angry at losing to Purdue and needing to survive against Nebraska. With a chance to control his own destiny in the direction of the game against Michigan. And against a quarterback certainly hurt on the other side of the line.

May be.

Could Dantonio have another QB ploy in his bag of mischief, as he did when Connor Cook was injured in 2015? Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry – and a teeming defense on a rainy day – paved the way for Columbus.

Did he hold Rocky Lombardi against Maryland to prevent Urban Meyer from having more play equipment to study and to put him to sleep to prepare for Lewerke?

Could Dantonio and his staff dramatically change the game plan to completely eliminate the Buckeyes, just like what MSU did when switching to an area blocking system at Penn State?

Everyone is curious and eager to know.

Related:

Michigan Football to No. 4 in the top 25 of the AP; Michigan State back to the 24th