Your standard 2012 Big Ten football took place between Ohio State and Michigan State before a football game broke out.
The teams traded blows early on before the Buckeyes landed an initial hard smack to the jaw of Sparty in the form of a one-yard Jordan Hall touchdown putting OSU up 7-0.
The second quarter featured silent moments as MSU defensive end William Gholston collided with a teammate on a tackle attempt causing his neck to snap to the side.
He appeared motionless on the field, but eventually was able to walk off under his own power. Gholston would later return after being diagnosed as having the wind knocked out of his sails.
Michigan State struggled to muster consistent offensive drives going 4-for-15 on third down. The Buckeyes also kept Spartan star running back Le'Veon Bell in check with just 45 yards on 17 carries.
Ohio State kicker Drew Basil deserves a nod as he was responsible for the first points MSU has given up to any team in the third quarter this year with a 26-yard kick.
Unsurprisingly, Braxton Miller was the Buckeye’s best chance for offense, eventually giving his team their final points by way of a 63-yard touchdown pass. Sparty would cause Ohio State’s lead to shrink to 17-16, but Ohio State’s run game showed up late. As a result, Miller would eventually take a knee in the victory formation giving Urban Meyer his first victory as the Buckeyes’ head man.
The loss obviously does no favors for Michigan State as the Spartans look to defend their division title. On the opposite side of the coin, look for Meyer to stoke the flames of a true “every game counts” mentality.
Michigan State may find next week to be easier sledding as they face an Indiana team that dropped a 44-29 game to the still-undefeated Northwestern Wildcats earlier today. The Buckeyes welcome Nebraska to The Shoe and will no doubt be looking for payback following being on the bad end of the Huskers’ biggest comeback in school history last season.
While the Buckeyes played sloppy at times, they managed to go into a tough environment and escape with a win. With no championship or bowl game aspirations, victories have become the trophies Ohio State will look to claim on a weekly basis. So far, so good.
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