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No. 1 Ohio State trounces Michigan State, 38-3: How it happened and highlights

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No. 1 Ohio State moved to 10-0 (7-0 Big Ten) after beating Michigan State (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) 38-3 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

While the Buckeyes have been a second half team much of the season, that was not the case on Saturday against the Spartans.

Marvin Harrison Jr. led a first half onslaught of five touchdowns, including a hat trick for the Heisman candidate. With the win firmly in hand, OSU’s only second half points came off a field goal.

Michigan State wasn’t completely helpless, forcing punts and getting into field goal range multiple times, but the Spartans were still overpowered and outmatched against a team on a very different trajectory from its own.

With the loss, MSU will officially miss the postseason for the second-straight season. The Spartans needed an upset for any hope of becoming bowl-eligible.

Buckeye quarterback Kyle McCord impressed in the victory, going 24-31 for 335 yards and averaging 10.8 yards while being on the throwing end of the three touchdowns to Harrison Jr.

Next up, Ohio State will face Minnesota before its regular season finale against No. 3 Michigan. Michigan State will face Indiana and Penn State to close.

Follow along below for live updates.

FINAL: Ohio State 38 – Michigan State 3

Sam Leavitt’s redshirt protected another week

For at least this week, dual threat quarterback Sam Leavitt (FR) will protect his redshirt status, as junior Andrew Schorfhaar comes in at QB for the Spartans.

MSU has stuck to its starter for the most part this season, whether it be Noah Kim or Katin Houser, but the Spartans have subbed in others, namely Leavitt and Schorfhaar, to switch things up, potentially try to spark something, and also get less experienced players reps.

Buckeyes can’t capitalize in Red Zone

Ohio State shaved nearly 6 minutes off the clock on their latest drive, but an illegal formation penalty seemingly killed the drive on the edge of the red zone at MSU’s 24. Jayden Fielding missed a 42-yard field goal.

End of 3rd Quarter, MSU 3 – OSU 38

Michigan State punted it away just before the end of the quarter and OSU has another chance to increase its lead.

Pair of punts give Spartans another chance to eat in to OSU lead

After Michigan State and Ohio State were both forced to punt on their respective drives, the Spartans get the ball back to try to eat in to the Buckeyes’ lead.

57-yard pass sets up OSU FG, MSU 3 – OSU 38

On the first play of the drive, Kyle McCord hit Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 57-yard gain to the MSU 20, but after a short run and two incompletions, the Buckeyes had to settle for a 36-yard field goal to make it a 35-point game.

3 and out to start for MSU

Michigan State was slow out of the locker room and unable to get anything going before kicking it away.

Halftime, MSU 3 – OSU 35

Stover scores MSU 3 – OSU 35

With 15 seconds on the clock, Ohio State made it a 32-point lead with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Kyle McCord to Cade Stover.

TreVeyon Henderson runs it in, MSU 3 – OSU 28

After three-straight completions from Kyle McCord, TreVeyon Henderson ran it in from 9 yards out to make it 28-3, Ohio State.

Michigan State on the board, MSU 3 – OSU 21

Fourth time’s the charm, as Michigan State gets into Ohio State territory again and Jonathan Kim hits the 53-yard field goal to put the Spartans on the board.

3 and out for OSU

After three-straight touchdowns, Michigan State gets a much-needed stop and forces Ohio State to punt after a 3 and out.

Spartans come up short after ground game makes progress

Michigan State was able to get into OSU territory once again, on the back of the Spartan rush attack, but after a QB keep from Houser and an incomplete pass, they have to punt it away.

Hat trick for Marvin Harrison Jr., MSU 0 – OSU 21

Marvin Harrison Jr. scored on a 9-yard pass from Kyle McCord to notch his third touchdown of the night.

End of 1st Quarter, MSU 0 – OSU 14

Michigan State forced to punt

Spartans were able to get one first down before being stopped at the OSU 45 and having to punt for the first time tonight.

Kyle McCord —> Marvin Harrison Jr. for 6, MSU 0 – OSU 14

It only took four plays for OSU to take advantage of the short field, with Kyle McCord ultimately hitting Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 26-yard touchdown.

Michigan State misses 56-yard field goal

After getting into OSU territory, Michigan State opted to go for a field goal instead of kicking it away. Jonathan Kim missed it to the left.

OSU will get the ball back at its own 39.

Katin Houser (freshman) gets 5th start, Leavitt’s status unclear

Michigan State’s Katin Houser is getting his fifth start of the season tonight after replacing Noah Kim under center against Rutgers in mid-October. Kim and Houser have both struggled to produce this season.

Dual-threat freshman Sam Leavitt traveled to Ohio State and could play tonight. He’s on the cusp of a redshirt season, having already played in four games. If he takes a snap tonight, he will not be able to redshirt this season.

Buckeyes steady down the field to get on the board, MSU 0 – OSU 7

Ohio State showed off both its pass and run game as it moved steadily down the field to eventually score on a 19-yard reverse run from Marvin Harrison Jr.

Drive took 8 plays, 75 yards, and 3:40.

Game Start

Ohio State gets the ball to start.

Michigan State

It’s been a challenging season for Michigan State after head coach Mel Tucker was fired for cause on September 27 following allegations of sexual harassment, but last week, the Spartans earned their first Big Ten win of the season and first under interim head coach Harlon Barnett. The 20-17 win over Nebraska at home snapped a six-game losing streak, and while things are looking up, the Buckeyes present one of the, if not the, toughest challenges of the season for a team trying to become bowl-eligible. (The Spartans must win all three of their remaining games to make it to the postseason.)

Ohio State

Ohio State is undefeated and atop the College Football Playoff rankings for the second week in a row. The Buckeyes have reached the playoff in three of head coach Ryan Day’s first four seasons at the helm (2019, ’20, ’22), and are firmly in control of their destiny in the Big Ten and beyond.

How to watch Michigan State vs. Ohio State