Who: Ohio State (4-0) vs. Michigan State (3-1)

When: 3:30 p.m. today

Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.

TV: ABC (Ch. 22)

Radio: WING-AM (1410)

Stat pack: Michigan State QB Andrew Maxwell 81-of-143 passing for 869 yards, 3 TDs, 3 ints. TE Dion Sims 22 catches, 12.2 avg., 2 TDs. Ohio State’s Braxton Miller 60-of-98 passing, 754 yards, 7 TDs, 2 Ints. Jordan Hall 192 rushing yards, 5.6 avg. Carlos Hyde 105 rushing yards, 4.5 avg.

Worth noting: ESPN College GameDay will air from East Lansing at 10 a.m. today. The Buckeyes have been featured 29 times on the show, including three straight weeks in 1996. They’re 19-10 in those games.

Pressure is on: Ohio State’s offense. While markedly improved over last season, the Buckeyes haven’t faced a top defense yet, and the Spartans will make them work for every yard.

Coach Mark Dantonio was OSU’s defensive coordinator for three years under Jim Tressel, including the 2002 national title season, and his teams are typically dogged in all phases. The Spartans are allowing a Big Ten-low 11.8 points per game and 233.5 total yards.

Storyline: The Buckeyes are starting their 100th season in the Big Ten and are going on the road for the first time this season. But they’ve had success at Spartan Stadium, winning three straight games. Their last loss was in 1999.

“I think going on the road is sometimes overrated. … Going on the road against a team where you’re far superior, that’s not a big deal. Going on the road against this outfit, this is a significant challenge for us,” OSU coach Urban Meyer said.

Playing a soft non-league schedule means no one is really sure what to make of the Buckeyes. The defense can be shredded one series and then become dominant the next. The offense can dazzle and disappoint in the same day.

One thing that might help is if they weren’t going in reverse so much because of penalties. The Buckeyes make more trips backward than time travelers, having been flagged 28 times for 240 yards in the last three games.

Prediction: Michigan State 21, Ohio State 17

Doug Harris, Staff writer