Michigan State Spartans Coach Harlon Barnett Reveals His Game Plan for No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes

Barnett said the Michigan State Spartans have to limit self-inflicted penalties and play with "great attention to detail" on Saturday against the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Michigan State Spartans interim head coach Harlon Barnett revealed his game plan for Saturday's game against the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes during his weekly press conference.

Barnett's 3-6 Spartans travel south to Columbus, Ohio for their weekend bout with the Buckeyes, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

In preparing for Ohio State this week, Barnett recalled the other two highly ranked opponents Michigan State has played this season: the then-No. 8 Washington Huskies and then-No. 2 Michigan Wolverines. Barnett told reporters that limiting self-inflicted mistakes against the Buckeyes would be critical to coming out on top.

"You got to have great attention to detail," Barnett said. "The previous two, top-ten teams that we've played in Washington and Ann Arbor is 11 penalties for both games, so we can't beat ourselves. So, great attention to detail will help us not beat ourselves and get those costly penalties. (We need to) Give ourselves a chance; don't help them beat us, make them beat us."

Barnett then defined what he meant by “great attention to detail,” saying it focused on controlling what his guys could control, focusing on every play and giving all the effort they could.

"Great attention to detail is always going to be a major factor," Barnett said. "That great attention to detail means doing your job, playing with great discipline, great eye control and great physicality."

Ohio State and Michigan State square off at Ohio Stadium this Saturday. Coverage of the game will air at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.