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MI State-Ohio State Preview Capsule
Posted On Nov 21 2015
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For Ohio State, it was the end of a 23-game winning streak; a couple of years ago, it was MI State that ended the Buckeyes’ 24-game winning streak in the Big Ten championship game.
The Buckeyes are now ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff poll, while MI State (9-1) is ranked No. 9. MI State gave little information about Cook leading up to the game. Tyler O’Connor started in Cook’s place, trying to fill the shoes of a passer with 32 career victories for the Spartans as they tried to keep pace in the Big Ten title race. But Thomas, the current big-play receiver, also had a big game with 91 yards, including a 79-yard TD reception. Neither team moved the ball well with MI State gaining 125 first-half yards, 75 of which came in their lone scoring drive, while the Buckeyes managed a mere 75 offensive yards. Cook was used sparingly in pregame warmups and only threw short passes with little velocity. The junior has played four games this season and is 6 for 11 for 44 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. The Heisman contender ran for 33 yards on 12 carries. After the Spartans forced a punt on Ohio State’s second possession of the half, MI State fumbled away the punt and the Buckeyes took over at the Spartans’ 6-yard line.
MI hasn’t won in State College since 2006.
Winning it all last season is part of the legacy for the five fifth-year seniors and the 13 fourth-year players, eight of whom were among the first recruits for Meyer when he was hired in November 2011 to restore prestige and wins to the program.
Aside from that, this secondary is coming off its best game of the season against Maryland in which it intercepted three passes and made the Terrapins’ quarterbacks uncomfortable throwing it deep all day long.
Ohio State Buckeyes mascot “Brutus” cheers on the field against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the fourth quarter at Lane Stadium.
A Buckeye win against the Spartans will secure the defending Big Ten Champions a spot in the 2015 Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis on December 5.
