Michigan State falls to Ohio State, 38-3: Game recap

Michigan State football was dominated from start to finish in the 38-3 loss to Ohio State. The loss officially dropped Michigan State out of bowl contention at 3-7.

The Nebraska game was a cathartic win for a Spartans team in desperate need of positive news after their tumultuous season on and off the field. But the road was far more treacherous this week with a road game at Ohio State, a program the Spartans last defeated in 2015.

Michigan State vs. Ohio State game recap

Final: Michigan State demolished by Ohio State for 38-3 loss

Michigan State is officially eliminated after suffering a 38-3 loss to Ohio State. The top-ranked Buckeyes jumped all over the Spartans out of the gate and rode three Marvin Harrison Jr. touchdowns in the first 15:02 of the game for the comfortable victory.

Michigan State’s offense was shut down by the Buckeyes’ top-ranked defense all night. Michigan State gained 182 total yards compared to Ohio State’s 524 and did not reach the red zone once. Katin Houser was 12-of-24 for 92 yards and Nathan Carter was the leading rusher with 52 yards.

Harrison Jr., who will be the first wide receiver selected in the 2024 NFL draft barring something crazy, was on the same page with Kyle McCord all night. McCord delivered his best performance of the season, finishing 24-of-31 for 335 yards and three touchdowns. TreVeyon Henderson added 63 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The loss drops Michigan State to 3-7 and out of bowl contention for the season. The Spartans return to action next week on the road against Indiana.

9:15, fourth quarter: Ohio State misses field goal, lead remains 38-3

Ohio State is trying to run out the clock as quick as possible after settling this game in the first half. They chipped off nearly six minutes from the game clock on a 10-play drive but could not finish it off. After backup quarterback Lincoln Keinholz missed on third down, Ohio State sent out the kick team but Jayden Fielding hooked the 42-yard kick wide left.

11:57, third quarter: Ohio State adds field goal to go up 38-3

Michigan State got the ball first coming out of the locker room but had to punt after just three plays. Ohio State picked up right where they left off in the first half and hit a 57-yard pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. on the first play to reach scoring position. Kyle McCord missed on his next two passes to stall the drive out, forcing Ohio State to settle for a 36-yard field goal.

0:15, second quarter: Kyle McCord threads TD pass to Cade Stover, Ohio State leads 35-3

The struggles of Ohio State's offense so far this season have not shown up yet tonight. The Buckeyes covered 74 yards in just over a minute on eight plays with quick hitting passes that MSU could not slow down. Right before the half, McCord threw his best pass of the game, finding his tight end Cade Stover on a back shoulder throw down the seam. Stover twisted to haul in the pass through contact from Jordan Hall at the mouth of the end zone.

3:30, second quarter: TreVeyon Henderson rushes for 9-yard TD, Ohio State leads 28-3

Ohio State answered Michigan State's first points of the game with another long touchdown drive but this one did not end in a Marvin Harrison Jr. touchdown. This time, Ohio State kept the ball on the ground and let their leading rusher, TreVeyon Henderson, bowl through Angelo Grose from nine yards out to increase the margin to 25. Ohio State gained 70 yards on six plays, most of which came on a 31-yard completion to running back Xavier Johnson, who burnt Aaron Brule on a wheel route, to set up the touchdown.

5:38, second quarter: Jonathan Kim hits 53-yard field goal, Ohio State leads 21-3

It will not be a shutout defeat for Michigan State, who had yet another drive stall just past midfield. MSU started the drive at its own 45 and moved into field goal range thanks to a first down run from Nathan Carter. MSU couldn't do anything besides the one first down and settled for another long kick. This time, Jonathan Kim was right on the money and split the uprights on the 53-yard kick.

14:58, second quarter: Marvin Harrison completes first half TD hat trick, Ohio State leads 21-0

Michigan State has nothing to slow down Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State finished off its 13-play, 84-yard drive with an eight-yard slant touchdown to the dominant receiver. Michigan State tried to dial up a blitz but McCord got the ball to his favorite target immediately to make it 21-0.

Through one quarter and two seconds, Harrison Jr. has seven catches for 72 yards, two receiving touchdowns and a 19-yard rushing touchdown.

6:56, first quarter: Marvin Harrison Jr. hauls in 26-yard TD catch, Ohio State leads 14-0

When Marvin Harrison Jr. is selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, there will be plenty of highlights shown of his performance against Michigan State.

The superstar wide receiver found paydirt again four plays after the missed field goal, this time on a 26-yard deep shot in the corner of the end zone. Harrison was matched up one-on-one with true freshman Chance Rucker, who stayed with him step for step, but couldn't get his hand on the perfectly placed ball. Harrison pulled the ball in while twirling and tapping both toes in the corner of the end zone to ensure the score.

8:26, first quarter: Michigan State misses 56-yard field goal, Ohio State leads 7-0

Michigan State managed to gain 36 yards on their opening drive against Ohio State's top-ranked defense to put themselves in position to get on the board early. Katin Houser completed two passes to Montorie Foster and Alante Brown that went 31 yards total, but failed to scramble for a first down on third-and-three to force a field goal attempt. MSU's strong-legged Jonathan Kim trotted out to attempt the 56-yard field goal and had the distance, but just pushed the kick outside of the left upright to miss.

11:20, first quarter: Marvin Harrison Jr. scores 19-yard end around, Ohio State leads 7-0

It did not take long for Michigan State to fall behind.

Ohio State drove 75 yards on their eight-play opening drive, which ended with a 19-yard rushing touchdown by star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. on an end around on the first play from the red zone. Michigan State could not slow down TreVeyon Henderson on the ground or Kyle McCord through the air, signaling it could be a long night for MSU.

Pregame notes

Michigan State got its first win under interim coach Harlon Barnett and will try to build a winning streak to play spoiler on the Buckeyes, No. 1 in the CFP rankings.

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The Spartans are aware of the odds against them, but are looking forward to the opportunity to try to pull off the road upset. MSU will have to deliver a perfect performance on both sides of the ball and special teams, and find a way to jumpstart its lethargic and turnover-prone offense against Ohio State’s defense, which ranks fifth in the country in yards allowed.

The defense has kept Michigan State competitive in most conference games despite the offensive woes, and young playmakers like freshman defensive end Jalen Thompson have been a big reason why. It will be a tough test against quarterback Kyle McCord, receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Ohio State’s offense, which averages 32.8 points per game, but does not have the typical explosive qualities historically associated with the Buckeyes.

The Spartans won’t have starting cornerback Dillon Tatum, starting defensive end Khris Bogle or top wide receivers Jaron Glover and Tre Mosley, who are out with injuries. Tight end Maliq Carr returns after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State vs. Ohio State: game recap