Sometimes there are simple statistics that pretty much sum up games. In Michigan State’s 17-14 win over Ohio State, there were a few.
The first is that the Buckeyes ran 45 total plays on offense; the Spartans had 51 rushing attempts. The second: Ohio State’s offense went three-and-out six times; it also had just five first downs in the game.
Those numbers essentially tell the whole tale. The Buckeyes’ offense couldn’t stay on the field, putting the defense in a difficult position. In the end, it was simply too much.
Michigan State ran for 203 yards against Ohio State.