DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Dee Miller can still remember the faces of his Ohio State teammates after getting beat, 28-24, by Michigan State in 1998.

"That was one of those games that will stick with me forever," said Miller, a former standout receiver at Springfield South High School. "It was tough to take because we had everything in front of us. We weren't looking past the Spartans at all, man. It just happened."

The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 and huge favorites against the Spartans after going unchallenged their first eight games of the season. The closest game was a 34-17 win at West Virginia.

The loss cost the Buckeyes a berth in the national title game that season, but now provides a history lesson for the current top-ranked Buckeyes, who travel to East Lansing, Mich., to take on the Spartans at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

"I think that's part of our history. That is one loss on a great team, so I'm sure it will be brought up (this week) in the context of the series," said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who was not around the last time the Buckeyes (6-0) were ranked No. 1 heading into the Michigan State game.

Miller caught five passes for 74 yards in the loss. The Buckeyes led the Spartans by as many as 15 points in the third quarter before coughing up the lead.

Former OSU coach John Cooper said after the game the Buckeyes were outplayed in the second half, but that's not how Miller remembers it.

"There were just a lot of freak things that happened ... ," Miller said. "You had the punt going off (current Buffalo Bill) Nate Clements' foot, and (current New York Giants receiver) Plaxico Burress had one of the best games of his career."

This year's Spartans (3-3) don't have the same weapons as the 1998 squad and have lost three straight games. There also have been rumblings that coach John L. Smith's job is in jeopardy.

"All that stuff probably won't matter for this year's (OSU) team," Miller said. "This year's team is focused, and Troy Smith has done a great job of leading this team so far."