Michigan State upsets Ohio State 17-14

And yet MI State not only won 17-14 on Michael Geiger’s 41-yard field goal as the clock expired, this qualifies as an emphatic victory.

Asked after the game if Elliott was healthy and fine, Meyer said he was after dealing with a leg infection that required hospitalization and fever this week. “There’s no chance I’m coming back”. “There’s only so many times you can do that”.

In addition to winning the battle on defense, the MI State offensive line was able to wear down the Ohio State defense and run the ball, sometimes at will. The Spartans became just the second team this year to gain 200 yards on the ground against the Buckeye defense.

While Elliott may not be returning to the Bucks, he didn’t focus on that in the dressing room immediately after the game.

MI State got by Ohio State on Saturday without Connor Cook.

“I think I do deserve more than (12) carries, I think I really do”, Elliott said. I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in the play-calling. It didn’t work out.

Elliott managed just 33 yards on 12 carries in the game, though he did score a touchdown.

If the Buckeyes defeat MI State on Saturday and MI November 28, OSU will reach the Big Ten Championship game against presumably Iowa. And he certainly didn’t sound like a player with anything to lose with Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer.

Contrast that to the Buckeyes, who pointed fingers after the game. “And I have to do better”.

Their 30-game winning streak in regular-season conference games?

It was not the best day for Ohio State fans.

The stakes matter for the Wolverines, who will enter the game knowing a win can get them a share of a Big Ten East Division title with MSU, even if not the Indianapolis trip.

It was a odd, frustrating night for the Buckeyes on Saturday, as a conservative philosophy was met with very little success against MI State’s excellent defensive line. Buckeyes vs. Wolverines. The list can go on and on about one of the biggest rivalries in college football.

The Buckeyes lost to a 13-point underdog playing without its star quarterback.

Meanwhile, over on the MI State side, there was no post-game soul-searching and harsh critiques … there was just jubilation.

MI State might not crack the top four this week, but the Spartans (10-1) have to like where they stand. They already have wins against OR – maybe the best team in the Pac-12 over the last month of the season – MI and now Ohio State.

“The one drive that we had where we kind of had a few momentum after the strip sack, the plays we ran were a lot of gap schemes [inside power runs], and we were gashing them”.

The implications of MSUs 17-14 victory at Ohio State Saturday could be many pronged.

“When we came out in the second half”, noted Spartans center Jack Allen, the Hinsdale Central product, “our whole team was jumping around in the rain”. They leaned on an offensive line that was supposed to be a strength this season, but has endured numerous injuries and has started six different lineups.

MI State countered with a nine play, 75 yard drive, culminating in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tyler O’Connor to Trevon Pendleton.

“We come in with something to prove”, Dantonio said.

Ezekiel Elliott’s Ohio State career is in its twilight. At least not like this.

MI State’s dream of making the playoffs is starting to take shape.