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Ohio State Hoping to Land Quick KO of Michigan State

Buckeyes have dispatched all five opponents so far before halftime
Bruce Hooley|
Ohio State Hoping to Land Quick KO of Michigan State
Ohio State Hoping to Land Quick KO of Michigan State

A team knows it's elite when the only perceived blemish critics can attach is more laudable than it is vulnerable.

That's fourth-ranked Ohio State so far.

Sure, the Buckeyes haven't played a full four quarters against any opponent, but they haven't needed to break a sweat after halftime.

It may be different against No. 25 Michigan State in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday night (Ohio Stadium, ABC-TV).

The Spartans (4-1) feature the nation's No. 7 defense, allowing just 254 yards per-game, and only 55 on the ground.

MSU doesn't have much margin for error

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio seems to understand the enormity of the challenge when he talks about how close to perfect the Spartans must be to win.

I think you've got to be opportunistic on the offensive side of the ball," Dantonio said. "You can't take negative yardage plays. You can't get the ball knocked off you. You can't take sacks. You can't throw interceptions.

"You've got to play mistake free, opportunistic. We've got to make plays, whether special teams, defensively, and we've got to be able to run the ball somewhat. There's all of that."

Buckeyes have landed a series of first-round knockouts

OSU has beaten its last four opponents by 40 points or more, has won all five of his games by at least three touchdowns, and averages well over 200 yards per-game both rushing and passing.

That's how, in an eyeblink, it has moved to leads of:

  • 28-0 vs. Florida Atlantic via touchdowns on its first four possessions,
  • 28-0 vs. Cincinnati by halftime, via TDs on its second, fifth, sixth and seventh possessions,
  • 30-10 at half against Indiana, getting into the end zone the second, fourth, fifth and sixth time it had the football,
  • 49-5 at half vs. Miami of Ohio, with TDs on its second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth possessions,
  • 38-0 at Nebraska by the break, scoring touchdowns the first two times it had the ball, and then again on possessions four, five and six after a field goal on its third time with the ball.

OSU coach believes winning happens early in week 

OSU head coach Ryan Day, like everyone in his profession, tries to assess what he will get from his team at kickoff.

"I think you get a vibe during the week for sure with the way they practice, but there’s definitely a feel the day of," Day said. "It’s hard for a night game because you don’t just want to wake up and have them start running through walls for you because the game is not until that night.

"I think you can usually tell if it’s a noon kickoff if they wake up with energy and juice, they’ve got a good look in their eye, they’re probably fresh and ready to roll. It's a little bit harder on a night game. But again, I think it goes back to if they practice hard during the week, they’re going to play well."

Spartans defense will be new challenge for OSU

The closest defense to the Spartans that OSU has faced came in Week 2 against Cincinnati, which ranks No 23 nationally.

Otherwise, the Buckeyes have smothered defenses ranked 36, 77, 86, and 101.

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Bruce Hooley
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