Michigan State's Better Defense Gives Fields Better Heisman Platform

The day is coming, probably, when Justin Fields will do something he's yet to do as a college quarterback.

What could be left that Fields, who's accounted for 23 touchdowns in just five games as a starter at Ohio State, has yet to accomplish?

Throw an interception.

He hasn't had one on any of his 116 attempts for the fourth-ranked Buckeyes this season, nor on any of his 39 throws in a backup role at Georgia last year.

Here’s a clip from my interview with @justnfields this week that aired on @CollegeGameDay.

Headed to Columbus now to call @MSU_Football vs @OhioStateFB on ABC!! pic.twitter.com/gXOAHMyCR9
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) October 5, 2019

Maybe No. 25 Michigan State, which plays at OSU at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC-TV), will crack the code and get that elusive first Fields interception.

If so, don't expect much of a reaction from the Buckeyes' starter, who seldom strays from his flat, emotion-less approach unless it's to chest-bump a teammate after scoring a touchdown.

“I probably won’t treat it any different,” Fields said of an eventual interception. "As (head coach Ryan) Day says, you have to move on to the next play and worry about the next play. I’m not going to dwell on it that much and play my game.”

If Fields does more of what he's been doing against everyone else against MSU's defense, ranked seventh nationally, he'll have added some legitimacy to a Heisman Trophy resume that's lacking only a stellar game against a quality opponent.

Ohio State hasn't played a ranked opponent yet, so the Spartans could serve Fields a dual purpose in addition to getting OSU to the midpoint of its season unbeaten.

🏈📝Buckeye Bits: QB Justin Fields has recorded 23 TDs so far (16 passing and 7 rushing) and ranks No. 2 nationally in points responsible for (138). #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/rN6q8gdslx
— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) October 5, 2019

"They have a defensive system that has been challenged for years and years, so they have answers," Day said of MSU matching up against his offense, which averages 54 points per-game. "If you run a play against them, they have the answer right away.

"They're really good at knowing what the defense is. They're not super complicated, but they have answers to everything that you do. So the minute you run a play, they're on top of it and they've got it defended the next play.

"These are guys who have played in this system for a while and there are coaches who have coached in this system for a while, so it's a tremendous challenge."

MSU's roster features 28 Ohio natives.

Head coach Mark Dantonio makes recruiting Ohio a high priority, and he's had great success with it against OSU, beating the Buckeyes three times since 2011 -- more than any other team in the Big Ten.

"He knows what he wants in a team and he recruits to those traits," former OSU All-American Chris Spielman said on the Spielman & Hooley podcast. "It's been beneficial for them. He's run a very successful, under-the-radar program, which is just the way he likes it."

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