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Who's in, who's out for Michigan State football vs. Ohio State

Michigan State running back Connor Heyward (11) and  safety Xavier Henderson (3) warm up before the Ohio State game at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020.
Michigan State running back Connor Heyward (11) and safety Xavier Henderson (3) warm up before the Ohio State game at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020.

EAST LANSING — Michigan State football is without three key players but got a few back Saturday.

It doesn’t compare to the long list of players No. 4 Ohio State is missing at Spartan Stadium (Noon, ABC).

Defensive tackle Jalen Hunt is not in uniform for the Spartans after suffering al lower left leg injury in last week’s 29-20 upset of Northwestern, walking with crutches on the sideline during that game. Wide receiver Ricky White and tight end Trenton Gillison both remain out as well for MSU. Center Matt Allen also remains out.

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The Spartans did get back running back Jordon Simmons and tight end Matt Dotson.

The Buckeyes, who were forced to cancel last week’s game at Illinois due to COVID-19 issues, will be down 23 players according to The Columbus Dispatch. That list includes three offensive line starters – center Josh Myers, left tackle Thayer Munford and right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. Backup right tackle Paris Johnson also is out, as is starting linebacker Tuf Borland.

One player who is in uniform is OSU starting quarterback Justin Fields, who is a candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

“I don’t know if you can stop him, you hope to contain him,” MSU coach Mel Tucker on his pregame radio show said of Fields. The two were together at Georgia in 2018, when Tucker was defensive coordinator of the Bulldogs.

Also unavailable for Ohio State are defensive end Tyler Friday, safety Josh Proctor are also out wide receiver Kamryn Babb, cornerback Cameron Brown, wide receiver Mookie Cooper, defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan, defensive lineman Aaron Cox, running back Marcus Crowley, tight end Patrick Gurd, wide receiver Jaylen Harris, defensive back Cam Kittle quarterback Jagger Laroe, long snapper Roen McCullough, defensive end Noah Potter, tight end Joe Royer, wide receiver Gee Scott, defensive back Alec Taylor and safety Kourt Williams.

OSU traveled without head coach Ryan Day, who tested positive for the coronavirus and remains in isolation. Also missing according to the Dispatch are co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, QB coach Corey Dennis and special teams coach Matt Barnes.

“I wish him the best and a speedy recovery,” Tucker said of Day. “This is a bizarre time right now.”

The Buckeyes (4-0), like the Spartans (2-3), also had their game against Maryland canceled due to the Terrapins’ COVID-19 issues.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Who's in, who's out for Michigan State football vs. Ohio State