Talking the business of sports
No. 3 Ohio State put on another impressive offensive display while also flexing the power of a top-10 defense in a 49-20 win at Michigan State. The final margin should grab the attention of AP Top 25 voters, who will take a much harder look at where the undefeated Buckeyes stand among the top teams in the country when the rankings are updated on Sunday.
C.J. Stroud and the rest of the Buckeyes offense scored touchdowns on seven of the team's first eight offensive possessions, including touchdown drives of 98, 91 and 96 yards. Though Stroud had to overcome an early interception that led directly to a Michigan State touchdown, the rest of his performance was on par with his current stats as the Heisman Trophy favorite. Stroud finished with 361 yards and six touchdowns on 21-of-26 passing, and it was so clear early that Michigan State was not going to be able to defend the many elite options that the Buckeyes offense present in the passing game.
Even with star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba out, this offense is still lining up multiple future pros capable of big plays and jaw-dropping highlights.
Emeka Egbuka led the team with 143 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches as he was able to turn routine completions into explosive plays with 83 of those yards coming after the catch. But the star of the wide receiver room Saturday was Marvin Harrison Jr., who had a team-high seven catches for 131 yards with a team-high three touchdowns.
Harrison also one of the best catches of the entire day in college football:
Marvin Harrison Jr. went up and MOSSED the DB 😳 pic.twitter.com/P5cdD2a72X
The dominance of the passing attack made TreVeyon Henerson's 118 yards and a touchdown -- nearly all of which was amassed in the first half -- a footnote, along with a defensive performance that for most of the game was stifling. Through three quarters of the game, Michigan State had just 105 yards of offense at 3.1 yards per play and -8 rushing yards. The Spartans picked up some more yards and another touchdown in the final 15 minutes with the outcome more than decided, but even then the final totals (202 yards, 4.2 yards per play) represent one of the best performances of the season for Ohio State's defense.
Ohio State has picked up more first-place votes in the AP Top 25 poll after each of the last two wins, though the Buckeyes have remained No. 3 behind the SEC duo of Alabama and Georgia in that time. With more well-rounded performances, dominating opponents on offense and defense, Ohio State -- a team that we have No. 1 in the country in the CBS Sports 131 -- will get more consideration for that top spot in the polls.
O-H! pic.twitter.com/SSocWcziIz
Final from East Lansing. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/gSx88vEBnQ
Touchdown @MontorieF_Jr pic.twitter.com/hgnUNoO7pA
Thanks to all who participated in today’s 50/50 raffle sponsored by @msufcu. The grand prize winning number is D1128679, receiving $19,282.50. A second prize winner of a $500 Capital Region International Airport @flylansing flight voucher is D1380548.
Things that make us 😀 pic.twitter.com/NcaUvHQdlx
Through 3⃣ in East Lansing. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Tl0cqWX4aR
QB1's stats so far today Touchdowns: 6⃣ Incompletions: 5⃣ pic.twitter.com/haU9YEwT6i
Gee, this guy's good! pic.twitter.com/rg4YlEQkpN
𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙑𝙀𝙇𝙊𝙐𝙎 pic.twitter.com/1MxYz66L6V
is that good? https://t.co/dSdOpHMa5T
KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE ‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/CygzQqCVoZ
*ahem* he scored again https://t.co/6rvm42MFX9
DO WE EVEN NEED TO SAY IT?? pic.twitter.com/0ATCkkBAWf
Halftime in East Lansing.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/cAoS75pLrV
The news here is the TreVeyon Henderson TD. But peep the block by FB Mitch Rossi. 💪@mitch_rossi5 x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/oT5AoMuKx5
The news here is the TreVeyon Henderson TD. But peep the block by FB Mitch Rossi. 💪@mitch_rossi5 x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/oT5AoMuKx5
Halftime. pic.twitter.com/wyZzVIBLXV
ROUTE MAN MARV pic.twitter.com/bgBejBSifP
Touchdown Trey at it again 💯 pic.twitter.com/0TPJU2KtGD
What @realdsnow said 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/bzeOuW8lLw
🎮 https://t.co/4jPqT10wjk
That. connection.@payton15thorne ➡️ @JaydenReed5 pic.twitter.com/MmE3A7oKJs
oh he fast fast pic.twitter.com/eZPDywZKic
Bucks Lead! 1 down, 3 more to go! pic.twitter.com/Ewza7nE53f
This never gets old. pic.twitter.com/kvaoaVMrcu
prayers up for my baby bro fr 💚
Emeka Egbuka is just HIM. Nothing better than a Buckeye TD celeeeee 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ax8olf7tns
© 2004-2022 CBS Interactive. All Rights Reserved.
CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc.
Images by Getty Images and US Presswire