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Ohio State at Michigan, noon Saturday, TV TBA, 1410
A 5-foot-6, 186-pound kicker from Toledo sent the largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history (108,975) home to chew on one of the most shocking losses in Ohio State history.
Junior Michael Geiger kicked a 41-yard field goal in the north end zone as time expired to give No. 9 Michigan State (10-1, 6-1) a 17-14 victory over No. 3 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) on Saturday. Geiger, who once made a 56-yard field goal in an all-star game at Welcome Stadium in Dayton, sprinted the other way down the field, celebrating by whipping his arm around like a windmill over and over until his teammates caught up to him.
One kick ended two of the greatest streaks in Ohio State history. Ohio State’s 23-game winning streak ended. Its 30-game winning streak in Big Ten regular-season play ended. Unless the Buckeyes beat Michigan and also get some help from around the country, it’s likely their quest to repeat as national champions has ended.
The Buckeyes close the regular season at Michigan next Saturday. Michigan State will win the East Division’s spot in the Big Ten championship game if it beats Penn State in its regular-season finale.
“You’ve got the rivalry coming up,” said OSU coach Urban Meyer, who lost for the fourth time in four years and for the first time in the Big Ten in the regular season. “It’s easy to lead when everything is going well, and you won a bunch of games in a row. That’s not how you judge a team. That’s not how you judge character. That’s not how you judge a leader. That’s how you judge a front runner. We’ve just been hit right in the gut. … I love these guys and we’ll come back and do the best we can next week.”
Here are five reasons the Buckeyes lost:
1. Elliott stopped: Ohio State's Heisman Trophy candidate (or former Heisman candidate) gained 33 yards on 12 carries with one touchdown run to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. His 15-game streak of gaining at least 100 yards ended.
After the game, Elliott told reporters it was his last game at Ohio Stadium. He said there’s no chance of him coming back for his senior year. Elliott also revealed he spent time in the hospital last week with a leg infection.
“It really took a toll on my body, but I was able to get back to practice Thursday,” Elliott said. “What happened today was kind of a bad dream. The offense had a rough day. I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in the play-calling. I’m disappointed in the situations we were put in. I wish it all played out differently.”
2. Backups succeed: After saying all week Connor Cook would play quarterback despite injuring his shoulder last week, Michigan State started Tyler O'Connor and also played Damion Terry.
The two combined for 50 yards rushing and 91 yards passing. Those are hardly standout stats, but they made enough big plays late to beat the Buckeyes.
The Spartans trailed 14-7 when they began a 75-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Gerald Holmes. O’Connor had an 11-yard run on fourth-and-3 on that drive. An offsides penalty against Ohio State’s Joey Bosa one play earlier made that a manageable distance for the Spartans.
“I always want to go out there and compete no matter the circumstances,” Cook said, “but to see Tyler and Damion play and do really well was awesome.”
3. No passing game: Ohio State's passing offense struggled in a 28-3 victory at Illinois in its previous game. It didn't get any better Saturday, though the weather didn't help. The rain didn't let up until the second half. J.T. Barrett completed 9 of 16 passes for 46 yards.
4. Tired defense: Ohio State's offensive struggles forced the defense to be on the field for more than 38 minutes. That had to affect the Buckeyes on the final drive when the Spartans went 25 yards in nine plays to kick the winning field goal.
5. Rushing Spartans: Michigan State outgained Ohio State 294-132 in total yards and 203-86 on the ground. Holmes and L.J. Scott combined for 113 yards on 27 carries.
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