Ohio State clobbers Michigan State 56-7 as Spartans eliminated from Big Ten title contention - mlive.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio – It was a matchup between top-10 teams with plenty on the line late in the season.

And it was over early.

No. 5 Ohio State (10-1, 8-0 Big Ten) jumped out to a 49-0 halftime lead en route to a 56-7 blowout win against No. 7 Michigan State (9-2, 6-2) on Saturday.

That eliminated the Spartans from contention for the Big Ten title in a game that also had College Football Playoff ramifications. A spot in Indianapolis will up for grabs next week in Ann Arbor between the Buckeyes and Wolverines, if Michigan wins at Maryland on Saturday.

The matchup between the nation’s top-ranked offense and a Michigan State defense dead last in passing yards allowed was completely one-sided.

C.J. Stroud was 32-for-35 passing for 432 yards and tied a program record with six touchdown passes before exiting the game in the third quarter. That is the most touchdown passes in a game allowed in Michigan State history and Stroud also set an Ohio State record with 17 straight completions.

The Buckeyes’ talented trio of receivers were also as good as advertised as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson combined for 24 catches for 371 yards and five touchdowns.

Ohio State’s 655 yards of total offense are the second most allowed in Michigan State history, just shy of the 666 given up against Nebraska in 1995. The 49-point margin of defeat was the worst for the Spartans since a 61-7 loss against Penn State in 2002.

The monster performance gives Stroud a boost in the race for a Heisman Trophy while Michigan State’s candidate for the award never really got his day started. Running back Kenneth Walker III entered the game leading the nation with 147.3 rushing yards per game and finished with seasons lows of six carries for 25 yards as the game got out of control early and his day was done early in the second half.

Payton Thorne was 14-for-36 passing for 158 yards and a touchdown as Michigan State was held to a season-low point total while allowing a season high.

It was the sixth straight win for Ohio State against Michigan State and the Spartans have additional concerns. They were already missing starters on both sides of the ball and leading receiver Jayden Reed and safety Xavier Henderson didn’t play in the second half. Henderson was wearing a sweatshirt on the sideline while Reed was out of uniform with a boot on his right foot.

Michigan State hosts Penn State in the regular-season finale next week with a chance to get to 10 wins.

The biggest question heading into the game was if Michigan State could slow down the nation’s top-ranked offense and the answer early and often was a resounding no. The Spartans won the coin toss, deferred, and Ohio State marched 86 yards on the opening drive without even getting to third down. Stroud hit Olave down the middle for a 23-yard touchdown to quickly jump in front.

Michigan State actually forced a third down on the Buckeyes’ second possession but they converted it and then took a deep shot. Stroud connected with Wilson for a 77-yard score and 14-0 lead with 8:03 left in the first quarter.

The Spartans mounted a drive and converted on third-and-long twice before it stalled. Then Matt Coghlin, who has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, missed a 46-yard field goal wide right. Four plays later, Stroud hit Olave for a 43-yard touchdown.

The nightmare start for Michigan State only got worse. Backup running back Jordon Simmons fumbled and Ohio State took over at the Spartans’ 44-yard line. Stroud targeted a third different receiver for a score as Julian Fleming hauled in a 4-yard touchdown for a 28-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.

Miyan Williams added a 1-yard touchdown run while Wilson (12 yards) and Smith-Njigba (five yards) had touchdown catches. After scoring touchdowns on their first seven possessions, the Buckeyes took a knee and a 49-0 lead into the locker room.

Stroud was 29-for-31 passing for 393 yards and six touchdowns in the first half as Ohio State put up 500 yards to Michigan State’s 116.

The Spartans avoided the shutout on the first play of the fourth quarter as Thorne hit Keon Coleman for a 12-yard touchdown. It was the true freshman receiver’s first career touchdown.

Ohio State’s Master Teague scored on a 1-yard run with 3:30 left to close the scoring.

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