Ohio State football vs. Michigan State by the numbers – The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State football hits the road for the first time in 2022 Saturday afternoon.
The Buckeyes will travel to East Lansing to take on Michigan State, winning each of the last six matchups against the Spartans.
Here’s a look at what numbers define Ohio State’s matchup with Michigan State.
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1999: Year of Ohio State’s last loss to Michigan State in East Lansing
Ohio State has had lots of success against Michigan State in East Lansing.
The Buckeyes have won each of their last eight matchups against the Spartans on the road, six of which were decided by at least 12 points.
Ohio State’s last loss to Michigan State in Spartan Stadium came in 1999: a six-loss season for the Buckeyes where they dropped games to Miami (FL), Wisconsin, Penn State, Illinois and Michigan. The Buckeyes failed to make a bowl game, something they have only done one other time since 1988.
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In Ohio State’s 23-7 loss to Michigan State, the Buckeyes recorded 0 net yards rushing on 22 carries, while quarterbacks Steve Bellisari and Austin Moherman were sacked eight times.
16: Most points Michigan State has scored in each of its last six meetings with Ohio State
Ohio State has won each of its last six meetings with Michigan State between 2016-2021 by a combined score of 233-54.
In those meetings, the Spartans never scored more than 16 points.
The last time Michigan State scored multiple touchdowns in a game against Ohio State’s defense was in 2016, falling to the Buckeyes 17-16 in East Lansing.
411.8: Yards per game Michigan State’s defense allows per game
After finishing with the worst pass defense in the country in 2021, Michigan State’s defense has continued to struggle mightily in 2022.
The Spartans have the third-worst defense in the Big Ten, allowing 411.8 yards per game and 5.7 yards per play.
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Michigan State is better at stopping the run than it is stopping the pass, allowing 136.8 rushing yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry, while allowing 275 passing yards per game and 7.7 yards per pass attempt.
5: Transfers in Michigan State’s defense with at least 11 tackles
Even with Michigan State’s struggles on defense, the Spartans have a handful of former transfers who are playing major roles.
Five former transfers — former Florida linebacker Khris Bogle, former Georgia defensive back Ameer Speed, former Florida defensive back Chester Kimbrough, former UNLV linebacker Jacoby Windmon and former Michigan linebacker Ben VanSumeren — each have more than 11 tackles for Michigan State this season.
VanSumeren, who’s in his second season with the Spartans, is second on the team with 43 tackles, while Windmon leads the team with eight tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.
4: Losses on the road against Big Ten opponents since 2012
Ohio State’s dominance against Big Ten opponents has continued on the road.
Since 2012, the Buckeyes have won 37 of its 41 games against Big Ten opponents, starting with a 17-game win streak starting in head coach Urban Meyer’s first season until Ohio State’s loss at Penn State in 2016.
Ohio State’s four losses against Big Ten teams on the road came against the Nittany Lions in 2016, Iowa in 2017, Purdue in 2018 and Michigan in 2021.
4: Ohio State receivers with more than 11 catches in 2022
While 11 members of the Ohio State offense have receptions through the first five games of the 2022 season, only four players have double-digit receptions.
Wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming and tight end Cade Stover each have at least 11 receptions this year, accounting for 76.5% of Ohio State’s total receptions.
The four players also have scored 17 of the team’s 19 touchdowns.
Ohio State football’s 2022 schedule
- Week 1: Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 10
- Week 2: Ohio State 45, Arkansas State 12
- Week 3: Ohio State 77, Toledo 21
- Week 4: Ohio State 52, Wisconsin 21
- Week 5: Ohio State 49, Rutgers 10
- Week 6: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, Oct. 8, 4 p.m., East Lansing, Mich.
- Week 7: Ohio State vs. Iowa, Oct. 22, Columbus, Ohio
- Week 8: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Oct. 29, State College, Pa.
- Week 9: Ohio State vs. Northwestern, Nov. 5, Evanston, Ill.
- Week 10: Ohio State vs Indiana, Nov. 12, Columbus, Ohio
- Week 11: Ohio State vs. Maryland, Nov. 19, College Park, MD.
- Week 12: Ohio State vs. Michigan, at noon Nov. 26, Columbus, Ohio