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Containing Ohio State’s Barrett is focus for MSU

Bob Wojnowski and John Niyo are joined by former running backs Nick Hill of MSU and Chris Howard of UM to talk about this weekend's big games and Matt Charboneau breaks down his AP Top 25 vote. Detroit News

East Lansing — The last couple of weeks were hardly used as tuneups, but the fact Michigan State just played two straight games defending offenses that feature dynamic quarterbacks and effective running attacks sure helps heading into Saturday’s matchup with Ohio State.

The Spartans (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) did well containing Northwestern running back Justin Jackson and Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, but the quarterbacks — Clayton Thorson of the Wildcats and Trace McSorley of the Nittany Lions — both threw for more than 300 yards.