No. 3 Ohio State is set to begin its Big Ten conference schedule with a visit to East Lansing, Michigan, to take on the Michigan State Spartans. The Buckeyes, who remain undefeated, have had a commanding start to the season, dominating their nonconference matchups.
As Ohio State embarks on its first road game of the season against a 3-1 Michigan State team, the matchup may pose a greater challenge for the Buckeyes.
Historically, Michigan State had a stronger performance between 2011 and 2015, winning three out of five encounters. However, Ohio State has dominated the rivalry since then, winning the last eight games by an average margin of 30.4 points.
Michigan State could leverage its experience, as it has already faced Big Ten teams, including a 27-24 win against Maryland in Week 2. The Spartans are coming off a narrow 23-19 defeat to Boston College.
The game will take place on Saturday, September 28, at 7 p.m. ET at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI, and will be available for live streaming on Peacock.
Key facts for the matchup highlight Ohio State’s impressive performance against nonconference opponents, outscoring them 157-20. This marks the first time since 1919 that the Buckeyes have won their first three games by a margin of at least 35 points.
On the other hand, Michigan State leads the Big Ten in turnovers, having committed 10 this season, which ranks 127th out of 134 teams nationally. The young quarterback Aidan Chiles has thrown seven interceptions against four touchdowns, contributing to the team’s struggles.
Ohio State boasts a remarkable record of 42 consecutive wins against unranked opponents, the longest active streak among FBS programs. The Buckeyes last lost to an unranked team in 2018 against Purdue, a defeat that cost them a spot in the College Football Playoff.
In predictions for the game, while Michigan State is anticipated to be the strongest contender Ohio State has faced thus far, there are uncertainties about the full capacity of the Buckeyes’ new offense. With worries over Michigan State’s turnover issues, the prediction leans towards Ohio State covering the spread with a projected win margin of 24 points.