OSU Buckeyes

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Early in the game, Devin Smith started thinking there would be an edge.

At halftime the Ohio State wide receiver talked it over with his quarterback, and Braxton Miller agreed.

Now all they needed was an opportunity in the second half, and when it finally arrived, they took advantage of it together, just as they've already done a few notable times with the Buckeyes. They turned their big-play partnership into a game-winning touchdown in a 17-16 victory over Michigan State on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

"I knew I could beat them deep," Smith said. "I was hoping I’d get something, but you know, [offensive coordinator Tom] Herman didn’t call it much. He called it at the right time and we made a play. I kept telling Braxton the sideline, 'Man, we’ve got to run a go route; they can’t guard us.'

"He put it right on the money."

Smith didn't even need to break stride after beating his man down the right sideline as Miller dropped an inch-perfect strike into his hands, with the sophomore receiver taking care of the rest on the 63-yard deep ball that erased a lead Michigan State had just claimed on its previous drive.

The highlight reel was already starting to get long for the collaboration between the multipurpose passer and his athletic target -- and now they've got yet another go-ahead, game-winning score to squeeze on there.

"That’s one of my favorite receivers," Miller said. "I’m always going to look for him."

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- There wasn't a moment John Simon could pinpoint, so the Ohio State defensive lineman didn't know for sure if it ever arrived.

But the senior and his teammates had made it an emphasis to frustrate Le'Veon Bell, and whether the top rusher in the Big Ten ever reached a boiling point, the Buckeyes gave him plenty of reasons to get there.

The defensive line didn't give an inch up front, the linebackers flooded to the football and even the defensive backs arrived to help put Michigan State's tailback on the ground in a 17-16 win on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. And it was no secret what tipped the odds in favor of the Buckeyes.

"I just think we were getting after him pretty good," Simon said. "That was our goal for the game. I think we did a nice job forcing him lateral, and we’ve got guys in the back end who are able to run, and they can really run. They were able to get out there and wrap him up.

"When we face a physical offense, I think we play our best. We have to show how physical we are, and I think we’re one of the most physical defenses in the nation -- and we went out and proved it today."

That comparison might have been hard to make across the country on Saturday, but with the top-rated defense in the Big Ten coming into the weekend on the same field, the Buckeyes certainly looked more like an elite unit than the one that had bumbled through a couple weeks of sloppy tackling.

Bell finished with just 45 yards on 17 carries and the Spartans collectively were held to just 34 yards for the game, forcing them to try their luck with a suspect passing attack against an Ohio State secondary that regularly made its impact felt with huge hits and timely pass breakups.

There was one hiccup in the third quarter when the Buckeyes missed at least four tackles as Keith Mumphery barreled in for a 29-yard touchdown catch, but for the rest of the afternoon, the Spartans rarely sniffed the end zone.

"On defense, are you kidding, if you had to say who was the MVP, it's that defensive line and the linebackers," Meyer said. "They did a very, very nice job stopping a very good rushing attack.

"Not to pump his tires, but that's a good back. I'd venture to say that won't happen again to that guy."

Ohio State WR Devin Smith talks about his team's win over Michigan State.

Ohio State overcame a minus-3 turnover margin, some key injuries, a premature whistle and a plucky Michigan State squad to hold off the Spartans 17-16 at Spartan Stadium. The 14th-ranked Buckeyes remain perfect at 5-0, while No. 20 Michigan State dropped its second game in three weeks.

Here are some quick thoughts on the game ...

It was over when: Carlos Hyde moved the chains with a 5-yard run on third-and-4 with just about two minutes remaining. Ohio State, which had stopped Michigan State moments earlier, then ran out the clock and celebrated a hard-fought win.

Game ball goes to: Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller. He committed three turnovers (2 fumbles, 1 interception) but made more big plays than Michigan State and fought through some tough hits. The sophomore completed 16 of 23 passes for 179 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Miller also recorded game-highs in both carries (23) and rush yards (136), displaying tremendous footwork to keep Michigan State's defense off balance.

Stat of the game: Ohio State averaged 4.6 yards per carry on 44 attempts. Michigan State, despite boasting the Big Ten's top rusher in Le'Veon Bell, had just 1.5 yards per carry (just 22 attempts).

Worst call: The officials at Spartan Stadium weren't replacements, but they made a rookie mistake early in the fourth quarter after Miller fumbled near the sideline. The officials ruled Miller down and blew the whistle, ending the play. The replay crew correctly reversed the call and awarded the ball to Michigan State, but the blown whistle prevented the Spartans from potentially scoring a touchdown on a fumble return. Michigan State had other chances to win, but the blown whistle really hurts in a 1-point game.

Unsung hero of the game: Ohio State senior linebacker Etienne Sabino. The former blue-chip recruit, who admits he has underachieved a bit in his career, stepped up in a big way Saturday. He recorded a second-half sack of Andrew Maxwell and pressured Maxwell on a third-and-9 play in the closing minutes, forcing a punt. Michigan State never regained possession.

What it means: Ohio State showed it can win on the road and overcome a lot of adversity. It's not easy to win when you're minus-3 in turnovers, but the Buckeyes received a better defensive effort than they've had in recent weeks, shutting down Bell, and their offensive line stepped up big late to salt away the game. Miller once again showcased big-play ability, making a perfect throw to Devin Smith for a 63-yard touchdown after Michigan State had taken the lead. The Spartans showed improvement in their passing game and generated more takeaways on defense, but they simply haven't put it all together against good teams. It has to be frustrating to lose on your home field when you're plus-3 in turnovers. Bell was a surprising nonfactor in the game, and the defense couldn't get a stop in the closing minutes. Michigan State can still make a run in the Legends division, but it will need to do well on the road after dropping two marquee home games.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- What started as a shootout quickly has reverted to a Big Ten slugfest.

Neither Ohio State nor Michigan State has been able to land a knockout blow just yet.

Jordan Hall plunged in for a short touchdown and the Spartans answered with a productive drive that produced a field goal, but since that early success for both programs, it’s been all defense at Spartan Stadium with the Buckeyes leading 7-3 at intermission.

Stat of the half: The Buckeyes are built to stop traditional offensive attacks and big tailbacks, and they proved in the first half by holding Michigan State’s Le’Veon Bell to 24 yards on eight carries. The Spartans had some success throwing the ball and twice put together productive drives, but they have only a field goal to show for them and can’t find room to operate on the interior.

Player of the half: Braxton Miller turned in an up-and-down half, but he was still the most productive player on the field.

The sophomore will have to protect the ball better if the Buckeyes are going to maintain their slim lead, but he’s got 65 yards on the ground against the top rushing defense in the Big Ten and he’s completed 8 of his 11 passing attempts for 62 yards.

What’s working for Ohio State: Whether it’s the extra emphasis on tackling in practice or simply facing a more straightforward offense, the Buckeyes are again making it tough to move the football. And when they do give up some yardage on screen passes or plays on the perimeter, Ohio State continues to put a wall up in front of the end zone and limit opponents to field goals.

Johnathan Hankins, in particular, is making life difficult at defensive tackle -- and Nathan Williams is providing a lift running down the quarterback when the Spartans go to play-action passes.

What’s working for Michigan State: The Spartans are coming after Braxton Miller and forcing him to make decisions both as a passer and a runner, and he’s not always making the correct choice. The Ohio State quarterback has looked hesitant at times in the option game, forced a bad throw into coverage for an interception and also fumbled after inheriting good field position -- all of which is keeping the Spartans in the game.

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Ohio State receiver Corey "Philly" Brown didn't play in last year's game against Michigan State because of an injury. But he suffered along from the sidelines during the 10-7 loss.

"It was really frustrating," Brown recalled to ESPN.com. "Our offense just couldn't get anything going on."

Offensive struggles were common for last year's Ohio State team, but never more so in that loss to the Spartans in which they were sacked nine times and nearly got shut out at home. Flash-forward a year, and many things have changed for the Buckeyes. Under Urban Meyer, they're averaging 37.8 points per game. Braxton Miller is a much more confident and explosive player at quarterback than he was as a wide-eyed freshman against Michigan State last season.

Still, beneath some good stats lie some concerns for Ohio State as it prepares to take on the Spartans' stout defense again. The offense has a tendency to go dormant for long stretches. The passing game remains inconsistent. And the team is heavily reliant on Miller's individual gifts.

Asked this week how close his offense is to being the diverse attack he wants, Meyer answered, "I don't think it's very close yet. At times, we've shown glimpses, but we've got to have more confidence to spread the ball around a little bit."

At least the receivers have made progress from the offseason, when Meyer criticized their past production and practice performance. Brown (20 catches for 223 yards) and Devin Smith (17 for 272) have already exceeded their reception totals for last year. Smith has become the big-play target, while Brown is a reliable possession guy.

"We've come a long way from the spring until now, and you can see a big difference in the way we have played," Smith said. "We got tired of the way people were talking about us and saying we were not good. We had to make a quick change, and now the whole world sees that Ohio State has receivers who can make plays."

Receiver/tight end Jake Stoneburner has had his moments, with two touchdown catches against California two weeks ago and a big role in the blocking scheme last week versus UAB.

"I think they're still trying to figure out how to use me," Stoneburner said. "But I think it's working out pretty well so far."

Ohio State ranks second in the Big Ten in rushing at 229 yards per game but really hasn't had a full deck to work with because of injuries, first to Jordan Hall (foot) and then to Carlos Hyde (knee). Hyde is expected back this weekend, giving the Buckeyes both running backs for the first time this season. Hyde is a force inside the tackles, while Hall can stretch the defense on the edges.

But Michigan State has one of the top rushing defenses in the country. Meyer says the Buckeyes will have to make plays downfield in the passing game this week and going forward, since opponents have started loading the box to try to slow down Miller. That puts even more pressure on the receivers to come through.

"We've got a lot of guys in our [receivers] room that can stretch the field, go up and make the big play," Brown said. "I feel like if we take our shots, any of our wideouts can make the play."

They will have to do so against arguably the best secondary in the conference, led by corners Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard. And Miller, for all his heroics this year, will need to have his best day throwing the ball into tight quarters. Maybe most importantly, the Buckeyes will have to avoid backing themselves up with penalties and other mistakes that have kept this offense from truly taking off so far.

"It seems like every week we're fixing stuff here but then making some mistakes there," center Corey Linsley said. "If we can just put it all together ..."

They might just have to do so Saturday to avoid more frustration against Michigan State.