Buckeyes Build Early Lead, Cruise to 38-3 Win Over Spartans
11/11/2023 10:43:00 PM | Football
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No. 1 Ohio State (10-0, 7-0) built an early lead and never looked back in a 38-3 win over Michigan State (3-7, 1-6) Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State led 35-3 at the half behind three scores by receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., two through the air and another on a 19-yard rush.
Kyle McCord completed 24-of-31 passes for a career-high 335 yards and three scores, which tied his career best.
Harrison Jr. finished the night with seven catches for 149 yards. Running back TreVeyon Henderson went to the sidelines after 13 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Buckeyes were led by Davison Igbinosun and Cody Simon, each with five tackles.
Ohio State remains in Columbus for the final home game of the season against Minnesota next Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Senior Day kickoff is set for 4 p.m. with the Big Ten Network providing the national network coverage.
First Quarter
No. 1 Ohio State 14, Michigan State 0
Michigan State won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. Ohio State started the game with the ball at its 25 after a touchback on the kickoff
Kyle McCord quarterbacked the Buckeyes down the field for a touchdown on a 19-yard sweep right for the score by Marvin Harrison Jr. The drive covered 75 yards on eight plays over the first 3:40 of the game.
The run game covered 48 of the yards on the drive with TreVeyon Henderson getting three carries for 25 yards. The score was the first rushing touchdown for Harrison Jr. in his career.
Michigan State drove to the Ohio State 39 before Ohio State’s defense forced the Spartans to attempt a 56-yard field goal by Jonathan Kim. The attempt missed wide left giving the Buckeyes possession at their 39.
McCord went to tight end Cade Stover for a 12-yard pass play to open the second drive of the quarter for the Buckeyes.
After a 4-yard rush, McCord went to Stover for another 19-yard gain before Harrison Jr. caught a 26-yard pass for a touchdown along the right side of the MSU endzone for a 14-0 Ohio State lead. It was the 11th score of the season for Harrison Jr. and 28th career touchdown grab.
The Buckeyes needed just four plays to cover 61 yards over 1:30 for the score.
Michigan State moved to the OSU 45 on its next possession before punting it away to the OSU16.
After a couple short gains, McCord found Harrison Jr. down the right sideline between coverage for a 25-yard gain to the OSU47.
The Buckeyes moved into Spartan territory on a DeaMonte Trayanum 4-yard rush and then a 9-yard catch by Julian Fleming to the MSU40.
McCord went to Harrison Jr. again later in the drive for a 12-yard gain to the MSU9. The quarter ended after a rush for no gain by Henderson.
Second Quarter
No. 1 Ohio State 35, Michigan State 3
On the first play of the second quarter, McCord connected with Harrison Jr. over the middle for his third touchdown of the game and a 21-0 lead. The drive, scored just two seconds into the quarter on a 9-yard pass play, covered 84 yards on 13 plays over 5:37.
Michigan State faced a fourth-and-short at the MSU49 on its next possession. The Spartans lined up in punt formation but snapped the ball to up man, Jaren Mangham, who carried it 5 yards for a first down inside Ohio State territory at the OSU47.
Ohio State’s defense allowed Michigan State to get no further than the OSU43 before the Spartans punted it away, pinning the Buckeyes at their 2 following a 41-yard boot.
The Buckeye offense was stopped for the first time on the ensuing possession. Ohio State called upon Jesse Mirco to punt it away from the OSU9. He answered with a 44-yard kick to the MSU45 after a 2-yard loss on the return.
Michigan State drove to the OSU36 and this time attempted a 53-yard field goal that was true to make it 21-3 Buckeyes with 5:38 left in the half. The scoring drive covered 19 yards on six plays over 2:32.
McCord went to the air almost exclusively on the next possession. He found Harrison Jr. for 13 yards, Emeka Egbuka for 12 and then Xavier Johnson for 31 yards to the MSU9.
Henderson then finished off the drive with a rush up the middle for a 28-3 Ohio State lead. The touchdown drive covered 70 yards on six plays in just over two minutes.
The Buckeyes got the ball back after an MSU 50-yard punt to the OSU26.
Ohio State quickly drove into Michigan State territory before McCord connected with Stover for an 18-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left in the half. The drive covered 74 yards over just 1:26 on eight plays to make it 35-3 Buckeyes at the half.
McCord completed 21-of-25 passes in the half for 263 yards and three scores. Henderson rushed for 63 yards on 13 carries. Harrison Jr. had six receptions for 92 yards and two scores receiving and another rushing.
Third Quarter
No. 1 Ohio State 38, Michigan State 3
The Spartans started the second half with the ball at their 25 after a touchback. Michigan State did not manage a first down and punted it away, a 58-yarder that was returned 11 yards to the OSU23 by Jayden Ballard.
McCord went right to work and found Harrison Jr. for a 57-yard gain right down the middle to the MSU20.
The Buckeyes gained another 2 yards before Jayden Fielding made a 36-yard field goal to make it 38-3 Ohio State with 11:56 on the clock. The drive covered 59 yards on five plays over 1:34.
Michigan State crossed into Ohio State territory before being forced to punt from the OSU48 in its next possession. After a 40-yard kick, the Buckeyes took over at their 8 after a Ballard fair catch.
Ohio State was able to get to its 31 before punting it away. Mirco delivered a 41-yard effort to the MSU28.
The Spartans put together a drive to the Ohio State 44 before punting it away. Ohio State took over at its 8 following a 34-yard kick and Ballard fair catch.
The quarter ended after a Trayanum rush for no gain.
Fourth Quarter
No. 1 Ohio State 38, Michigan State 3
The Buckeyes finished the final quarter with Lincoln Kienholz running the show at quarterback. The rookie signal caller directed the offense to the MSU24 before a 42-yard Fielding field goal attempt missed to the left with 9:15 left to play.
The Spartans punted it away on its next possession to the OSU23 after a 48-yard kick from the MSU29.
Ohio State returned the ball to Michigan State after a 44-yard Mirco punt from the OSU27 to the Spartan 39.
Another Michigan State punt gave the Buckeyes the ball back after a short 23-yard kick went out of bounds at the MSU49.
The Buckeyes ran out the clock with the ground game to complete the win.
