Buckeyes face strong team in Michigan State

Both teams are tied with Penn State for the Big Ten lead.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — At least a piece of first place in the Big Ten is at stake when Ohio State and Michigan State square off today.

For the 12th-ranked Buckeyes, it’s the usual routine: big game, high stakes.

For the rebuilding and 20th-ranked Spartans, games such as this have been anything but routine.

“This is the biggest game I think this senior class has played in since we’ve been here,” said MSU defensive lineman Justin Kershaw, a Columbus native and one of 24 Spartans from Ohio. “We still have a long way to go, but to see where we came from in two years is a great feeling. We’re going to have to really take advantage of this opportunity.”

Michigan State (6-1, 3-0) is a work in progress, less than two years into a new regime led by former Ohio State assistant Mark Dantonio. The Spartans are off to their best start since 2003 and a victory over the Buckeyes would make them serious contenders for a Big Ten title. It could even push Michigan State to the fringe of the national title race.

Ohio State (6-1, 3-0) is hoping to stay on course for a fourth straight conference title and still holding out hopes of a third straight national championship game appearance. The Spartans have been little more than a step to be climbed for the Buckeyes in their decade of dominance. Ohio State has won six straight in the series.

Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer remembers Spartans fans may have been outnumbered in their own stadium by the end of Ohio State’s 38-7 victory in 2006. A few weeks later, John L. Smith was fired as the Spartans’ coach and eventually Dantonio was lured away from Cincinnati to replace him.

“It’s up to us,” Hoyer said. “This could be a program win and it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be tough, but you know what to expect when you play against Ohio State.”

The Buckeyes have said all the right things this week, acknowledging there’s some big game feel to this weekend because the winner will continue to have at least a share of the Big Ten lead with No. 3 Penn State.

As defending champions, the Big Ten title belongs to the Buckeyes until Michigan State, Penn State or somebody else gets good enough to supplant them.

“That’s something that we discuss every week because when you’re the person holding the trophy, there’s only [one] way to get the trophy and that’s to take it from them,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “So every week that’s what we face. This week we’re facing a very good football team with those intentions in mind.”

Ohio State ranks 10th in the Big Ten in total offense at 321 yards per game.

Tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells missed a few games because of a foot injury, and freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor is searching for his comfort zone.