OSU Buckeyes

Brian Bennett and Austin Ward preview Ohio State at Michigan State.

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No. 14 Ohio State travels north to face No. 20 Michigan State in the Big Ten opener for both. Who will ESPN College GameDay's Lee Corso pick?

Tom Rinaldi profiles what makes Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller flourish in Urban Meyer's offense.

Will Ohio State be able to find the answers in beating Michigan State from someone other than Braxton Miller?

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.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A look at three Ohio State players who will be critical in the Big Ten opener on Saturday against Michigan State and how they might be able to impact the outcome.

BRAXTON MILLER

• The basics: At times it seemed as if the Buckeyes were saving the sophomore quarterback for the start of Big Ten play with Miller not even rushing for the first time until midway through the second quarter against UAB. That ultimately didn't keep Ohio State from keeping its record perfect, but if it's going to stay that way, Miller's multi-purpose skills will almost certainly have to be on display early and often.
• By the numbers: So far, the sophomore's scoring has been perfectly balanced. Miller has racked up 14 touchdowns for Ohio State through four games, just six shy of the total he posted during his true freshman campaign. Half of them have come through the air, and his seven rushing touchdowns have already matched his total on the ground from last season -- getting there on 92 fewer carries.
• Opportunity for impact: Miller will have both of his top sidekicks at running back healthy for the first time, which should help as he runs the spread-option rushing attack. But what the Buckeyes will really need is for their passer to show off his improved accuracy and poise throwing the football, because the Spartans are going to dare Miller to beat them deep. And when Devin Smith or Corey "Philly" Brown get behind the defense like they did on occasion last week, Miller can't miss them.
• He said it: "(The difference) is pretty dramatic. I was told that was his first (Big Ten) start as a Buckeye as a true freshman, really a guy who signed at Ohio State expecting to play behind a veteran quarterback and then was thrust into it, did not have the greatest training camp a year ago. He’s a lot different now than he was." -- Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer on the progression for Miller from the Michigan State game a year ago

JOHNATHAN HANKINS

• The basics: The junior is clearly getting more comfortable as the season progresses, and he has been stacking improved performances on top of each other heading into Big Ten play. The potentially scary thing for the big man in the middle is that he's been having an impact against teams trying to spread the field, and with league play ready to kick off, there should be even more chances to make a mark against more traditional offenses.
• By the numbers: After a sluggish statistical start to the season, Hankins has exploded in the middle of the line with double-digit tackling performances in each of the last two games to move into a tie for third on the team with 25 takedowns. He also has chipped in at least half of tackle for loss in each of the last three games thanks to the impressive penetration he has been getting in the backfield.
• Opportunity for impact: There's not much of a secret what the Spartans want to do offensively with bulldozing tailback Le'Veon Bell, but an old-school, power rushing attack could play right into Ohio State's hands with Hankins patrolling the line of scrimmage. Michigan State has had a few lapses and also hasn't quite lived up to expectations on the offensive line, which could open up some cracks for Hankins on the interior and defensive end John Simon on the edge.
• He said it: "With him, because he's such a quality person and a smart guy, I think the sky is the limit. I don't think we've touched where he can be. I think (defensive line coach) Mike Vrabel is doing a nice job fundamentally, but he's still got some development to do -- and when he does it, I think he'll be one of the best players in the country." -- Meyer

CHRISTIAN BRYANT

• The basics: By his own admission, Bryant battled through an inconsistent season a year ago. But he has become a steady presence in the backend and made contributions all over the field. As long as Bryant is keeping his emotions in check and avoiding penalties like the taunting call he drew against UAB, he's becoming a much more reliable playmaker.
• By the numbers: The junior has built himself into much more than a feared hitter in the secondary, though that skill does still come in handy. Bryant forced his first fumble of the season last week against UAB to help swing field position and set up a score in a tight game before halftime, and the Buckeyes could use a few more loose footballs on the ground after forcing a total of just three fumbles through four games -- recovering two of them.
• Opportunity for impact: Fellow starting safety C.J. Barnett was downgraded by Meyer to questionable on Thursday, which will put more pressure on Bryant to deliver in the secondary for the second consecutive week. Whether it's arriving to help against the run and bring down Bell, helping in coverage against athletic Michigan State tight end Dion Sims or reading where an inexperienced quarterback like Andrew Maxwell is going with the football, Bryant will have to be active with the secondary planning on taking a more aggressive approach collectively this week.
• He said it: "I just see a different guy coming into the building. He was just in here (Monday) laughing and giggling, 'Where’s the game plan?' You know, that’s what you want. You want your starting free safety to be here at 12:30 wanting the damn first- and second-down game plan. That’s what I love, and I’m loving that about him." -- co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers

The Michigan State defense has few weakness. It is powered by talented, veteran players and led by a defensive coaching staff that has stuck together for nearly a decade. The defense is well thought-out and masterminded by head coach Mark Dantonio, who learned under such coaches as Earle Bruce and Nick Saban.

Dantonio describes his defense as being "tied together," meaning every piece works in unison. Little is left to chance. So it makes sense that one of Dantonio's biggest concerns heading into this week's game against Ohio State is Braxton Miller's ability to improvise.

Miller has excelled at making major plays out of seemingly broken plays, like when he scrambled away from pressure against Cal before finding Devin Smith for the game-winning 72-yard touchdown. He did the same to beat Wisconsin last year and can break off a huge run at any time.

"That's the biggest thing you're trying to eliminate, what we always call 'loose' plays," Dantonio told ESPN.com. "Those are the toughest ones. You sort of hold your breath, because at that point you're sort of loose and both sides are sort of loose and what's going to happen? Those are the things [Miller] brings to the table, so it's a big concern of ours."

The Spartans' defense has allowed three touchdowns so far this season. Two of those came in the Notre Dame game when quarterback Everett Golson got outside the pocket and created a play on his own.

That brings up a dilemma for this week: how much do you try to pressure a quarterback who can burn you with his feet? Michigan State has excelled at both bothering and containing Michigan's Denard Robinson the past two years, but Miller is a little different breed of cat with his ability to run with power and moves.

"Braxton is a tailback playing quarterback," Dantonio said. "When he gets outside, he looks like a tailback running the football, but yet he can throw it. Our main focus is going to be containing him and limiting his opportunities, but that's easier said than done."

Michigan State had an easy time of doing so in last year's 10-7 victory at the Horseshoe. They registered nine sacks, and Miller's longest run of the day was three yards. Yet he was making just his second career start as a true freshman, and Ohio State's offense has changed considerably under Urban Meyer.

Dantonio hasn't coached against a Meyer-style offense since the second game of his first season as Spartans head coach in 2007. Michigan State beat Bowling Green and former Meyer offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon 28-17. But Dantonio said several opponents have incorporated aspects of Meyer's offense, and his defenses have been pretty good over the years against high-tempo spreads.

"We've worked at it, and [defensive coordinator Pat] Narduzzi has played against it going back to when we played Michigan with Rich Rodriguez," Dantonio said. "We even had that experience when we were at Cincinnati, going against teams like West Virginia. So it's not something that is completely foreign. I think we have a pattern of how to practice it and the way we work on things with our guys."

Michigan State ranks No. 6 nationally in total defense, which is where it finished last season. The Spartans are also No. 6 in pass efficiency defense, No. 10 in rush defense and 11th in points allowed (11.75 per game). Yet, curiously, they have only three sacks this season, a year after finishing with a Big Ten-best 44.

"We've gotten pressure, but teams have either eluded us or gotten the ball out quickly," Dantonio said. "We have gotten tackles for loss, and we're tough to score against. So as long as that remains true, especially in that scoring aspect, you can't argue with the results."

The results are usually predictable for Michigan State's defense. The question is, what happens when an unpredictable force like Miller tests it?

Ten items to track around the Big Ten as conference play finally gets under way:

1. Miller Time vs. The Green Monster: The Big Ten's most dynamic offensive player goes up against the league's top defense Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium. Michigan State will see a very different Braxton Miller than the one it bottled up last year in Columbus in a near-shutout victory against the Buckeyes. Miller, who leads the Big Ten with seven rushing touchdowns, faces by far his toughest test in a Spartans' defense that ranks in the top 11 nationally in scoring, rushing and pass efficiency. Despite Michigan State's stingy defensive numbers, it looks to make more game-changing plays after recording just six takeaways and three sacks in the first four games.

2. Big Red redemption: After its Big Ten debut turned into a disaster last year in Madison, Wis., Nebraska finally gets a chance for redemption Saturday night as Wisconsin comes to town. Huskers junior quarterback Taylor Martinez once again will be in the spotlight after throwing a career-high three interceptions last year against the Badgers. Martinez has looked like a different player this season, throwing nine touchdown passes and just one interception and ranking 10th nationally in passer rating (180.9). With a healthy Rex Burkhead back in the fold, Martinez leads the Big Ten's top offense against a Wisconsin defense that has looked strong so far.

3. Poaching season in Champaign: Coach Bill O'Brien and his Penn State players held their tongues this week, but they haven't forgotten what Illinois' coaching staff did last summer. Illini coach Tim Beckman sent eight assistant coaches to State College to recruit Penn State players after the NCAA imposed heavy sanctions on the Lions' program. Senior linebacker Michael Mauti and his teammates will be geared up to make Beckman's team pay Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams. While it's important for Penn State to control its emotions -- "You never want to take it too far," defensive tackle Jordan Hill said -- the Lions visit Memorial Stadium with some momentum after back-to-back wins.

4. Three little pigs: The landscape could be shifting in the Minnesota-Iowa series. After losing eight of nine games to an obviously superior Iowa program, Minnesota has won consecutive games. The Gophers carry a perfect record into Iowa City, while the Hawkeyes are reeling after falling apart late in last week's loss to Central Michigan. Although Iowa is favored, Minnesota comes in with the momentum following a strong defensive effort last week against Syracuse. The Gophers aim for their first win at Kinnick Stadium since 1999 and try to bring home the bacon (Floyd of Rosedale) for the third consecutive year, something they haven't done since 1998-2000.

5. Bell tolls for Buckeyes: Tackling has been a problem for Ohio State's defense, which inexplicably ranks last in the Big Ten in yards allowed heading into league play. Luke Fickell's unit had better tighten things up before Saturday, or Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell will steamroll the Buckeyes. At 6-foot-2 and 244 pounds, Bell can batter his way through decent tackling attempts, so Ohio State will need to swarm the Big Ten's leading rusher (610 yards). The Buckeyes can expect a steady diet of Bell, who leads the nation in rushing attempts with 117 (29.25) through the first four games. On the flip side, Michigan State likely needs to generate some offense outside of Bell to win.

6. Making his Mark: While more heralded Big Ten running backs have struggled with injuries or poor production, Northwestern's Venric Mark has put himself on the radar as an early Offensive Player of the Year candidate. Mark ranks third among Big Ten running backs with 399 rush yards and has recorded more than 120 all-purpose yards in all four games this season. The Wildcats have been much more of a run-driven offense this year, thanks to Mark and an improved line. Saturday, Mark takes aim at Indiana as Northwestern tries to improve to 5-0.

7. Stave symphony: Joel Stave showed in April that he could play piano under pressure. He showed last week he could handle himself in his first career start (210 pass yards, 1 TD). But how will the Wisconsin quarterback handle a hostile environment like Nebraska's Memorial Stadium? Find out Saturday night as Stave makes his first career road start against Nebraska. Stave certainly benefits from having top receiver Jared Abbrederis on the field, and he could have a full complement of running backs if Montee Ball passes his concussion tests. Wisconsin went with Stave as its starter because of his steadiness. The Badgers need the redshirt freshman to limit mistakes and make plays when they're available in a pressure-packed situation Saturday night.

8. Iowa, Illinois get defensive: Both Iowa and Illinois saw their defenses gashed last week in humbling home losses to Central Michigan and Louisiana Tech, respectively. Iowa's defense performed well in the first three games and better than expected up front before caving against the Chippewas last week. Illinois' defense, pegged to be among the Big Ten's best, has been shockingly poor in the team's two losses, surrendering a combined 97 points to Arizona State and Louisiana Tech. With both teams not getting enough from the quarterback position, the defenses need to tighten up Saturday for crucial Big Ten openers against Minnesota and Penn State.

9. Wilson returns to roots: Indiana coach Kevin Wilson built his reputation as an offensive genius at Northwestern, where he coordinated one of the nation's best offenses in 2000, before moving onto more success at Oklahoma. "I stand here today because of what those kids did for us in 2000," he said Tuesday. Wilson returns to Evanston on Saturday with an Indiana team searching for its first Big Ten victory on his watch. The Hoosiers have looked good on offense this year, despite losing top quarterback Tre Roberson to a season-ending broken leg. Cameron Coffman makes his first career road start at quarterback as he leads the Big Ten's top passing attack (326 ypg) against a Northwestern team that hasn't been tested much through the air since struggling in its opener at Syracuse.

10. Marshall plan: Purdue wraps up non-league play Saturday against Marshall, which should provide a nice test for a Boilers' defense that has played well to date. The Thundering Herd lead the nation in passing offense (383.5 ypg) and offensive plays (371). Purdue has surrendered only one passing touchdown this season. Although it's important for Boilers quarterback Caleb TerBush and the offense to capitalize on a weak Marshall defense, it's also vital for Purdue to contain Marshall as it prepares to face other spread offenses in Big Ten play.