Spartans Dominate Defending National Champs As Buckeyes Self Destruct From A Spartan Beat Down

Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH On a night that #3 OSU and #9 Michigan State gathered here in Columbus, the eyes of the nation looked on. The Buckeyes’ coaches

Ohio Stadium

Columbus, OH

On a night that #3 OSU and #9 Michigan State gathered here in Columbus, the eyes of the nation looked on. The Buckeyes’ coaches and players had spent all week basking in the love of the national media answering more questions about next week’s battle with Michigan than their tilt with the Spartans.

That was A-OK with Spartan Head Coach Mark Dantonio. The Ohio native and former national championship winning DC of the Buckeyes said, “"We sat around all day listening to how we were underdogs."

Dantonio’s team dominated from the beginning and the Buckeyes only two scores came after MSU turnovers that let them start at the Spartan 32 and the Spartan 6. Without the above mentioned Spartans assistance the Buckeyes were completely shut down.

The Spartans were angry and played like it. They physically pounded the Buckeyes on every play. Even when the Buckeyes were successful on plays, the Spartans bone jarring physicality made them pay for it. The Buckeyes came in like an entitled champion, like Rocky Balboa in Rocky III, while the Spartans brought a hunger and anger represented by Mr. T. as the Clubber Lang character.

It was odd that the Buckeyes who have played bored and uninspired football all season looked it again tonight in their biggest game. Last year at Spartan Stadium it was the Buckeyes who came in on a mission angry, but tonight it was the Spartans. The Spartans came looking for a fistfight and the Buckeyes wanted to get the game over and get to Ann Arbor.

The MSU D allowed only 94 yards of total offense outside of those two turnovers and the frustrated Buckeyes were stunned. Dantonio said of the contest, “This win was a testament to the character of a team that simply wasn't going to accept losing. It's probably as simple as that. It was about mental toughness considering the obstacles that we were facing. We didn't forget what they did to us last season when we came into the game with the same expectations. We learned from that, and it helped prepare us for what we needed to do to win this game."

The Buckeyes head coach was dumbfounded with his team’s struggles. He said of the bad offensive play calling that has plagued the Buckeyes all year, “I call a lot of plays anyways. So finger will be pointed right here. And I have to do better. We didn't -- very conservative. Seemed like we were backed up a lot.”

The Buckeyes failed to attack the Spartan defensive backfield and Spartan DE Shilique Calhoun appreciated it saying about their play calling, “When they (OSU) became one dimensional things became easier.”

For one Ohio native, LJ Scott, the game was even more personal. Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes desperately wanted the Spartans freshman star, but he never wavered from his pledge to the green and white. This game was about respect. "We heard it all over ESPN, every time we turn on the TV, they were talking about Ohio State, and then they'd go straight to the Michigan game, like we didn't even matter!" He praised his dominant offensive line saying, “They were able to make huge holes tonight.”

The Spartans knew that they had the upper hand when coming out at the start of the second half. Senior Captain and All American Center Jack Allen talked about the Spartans dancing to start the second half while the Buckeyes huddled around the heaters. Despite all of the love from the media for the very talented OSU defensive line, the Spartan self-named “Meat Squad,” the offensive line, took it to heart. Prompting Allen to say of the Buckeyes much heralded DL, “I didn’t see them back there too much today.” For the record the Buckeyes had two sacks.

While the Spartans played for respect, the Buckeyes turned on themselves after the game. Star RB Ezekiel Elliot took it to his coaches tonight saying, “We stopped calling plays that worked. I’m disappointed by the lack of effort from the coaches.” Elliot also declared that he was leaving Columbus early for the NFL draft.

Even without star QB Connor Cook being available for the game, star FB Trevon Pendleton said no loss of any player matters at Michigan State. They are more like an NFL team and that simply means the next man up mentality. “We've always believed in the 'next guy up' philosophy, and that was no different when we learned that Connor couldn't play.”

The Spartans control their own destiny for a Big Ten title. If they should beat Penn State who invades Spartan Stadium this Saturday for a 3:30 PM kickoff, they will represent the B1G East in the Championship game on December 5, 2015.