Week 12 Big Ten previews: MI State at Ohio State is here!

Izzo referenced how his team – ranked No. 13 by the AP – was an underdog against the Jayhawks, and he’s looking forward to a big game on a big stage. It’s the next-to-last leg in the Big Ten East Division race, which has not disappointed. Purdue and Rutgers are the definition of Big Ten bottom feeders.

For all the hand-wringing and consternation with the Buckeyes’ lack of consistency on offense, the defense has been playing at a higher level than last year’s national championship squad.

“You can’t promise people that you’re going to cover the spread”, said coach Mark Dantonio, less than thrilled to discuss a taboo topic.

Coming away with a better result than they did a year ago means a much better defensive performance will be necessary.

Still, they arrive at the make-or-break part of the season as expected and in position to repeat. The win keeps the Illibuck Trophy, the wooden turtle fought for in the rivalry, in Ohio State’s possession for the eighth straight year. This will be the first time since 2010 that Ohio State has hosted Gameday.

“I’ve always had great respect, even back to my Notre Dame days (as an assistant coach) for this team”, he said. “Certainly that’s been our goal, but I’m not sure we’ve achieved that yet”. “If it were to work out and Ohio State beat MI State and we beat Penn State and Ohio State, we’ll take it. But I’m not banking on it or wishing for it because we didn’t take care of our business”.

His size, speed, power, and vision will give Ohio State a decided advantage in the “tough yards” aisle of a hard-hitting affair.

“We’re used to it around here”, center Jack Allen said.

The Spartans tussled into the fourth quarter with a few weaker teams early in the season, needed a miracle to beat rival MI, and then lost at Nebraska on a debatable touchdown. For MI State, a loss here ends any chance to win the Big Ten.

“I’ve got a lot of free time”, Meyer said with a sly smile. He returned to engineer a 28-3 win at IL, a game in which OSU struggled to protect him and convert on third down (4 for 13).

MI State quarterback Connor Cook missed much of last week’s game after taking a shot to his throwing shoulder. Cook, who possesses a 32-4 record as a starter, injured his right shoulder in last Saturday’s victory over Maryland and was pulled from the contest because he didn’t have the arm strength to continue. While the Spartans have been good overall in pass defense – after all, that’s a top-20 S&P+ unit – the Secondary is 93rd in passing IsoPPP. Cook has passed for 2,482 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions. Iowa is the first FBS team since LSU in 1997 to have at least three different players run for 195 yards in a game in the same season. Ohio State holds a 29-14 series edge but MI State won the last meeting in Columbus – 10-7 on October 1, 2011.2.

The Buckeyes have given up sacks in a little over 5 percent of their pass attempts, which ranks 45th in the country. Barrett passed for 300 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 86 yards and two scores in last season’s 49-37 win over the Spartans.TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Ohio State has known all year that the 2015 season would be defined by the final two games on the Big Ten schedule.

“Our defense has gotten better and better and better, (and) you win championships with great defense”, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.