COLUMBUS, Ohio—The kick that changed everything fluttered through the blustery night as the clock hit zero in a tie game. As Michigan State’s Michael Geiger’s 41-yard field goal attempt flipped end-over-end toward the uprights, it carried the fate of a game, a season and the national title race.
The driving rain that had fallen for most of the dismal afternoon for No. 3 Ohio State’s matchup with No. 9 Michigan State had finally ceased. And when Geiger’s kicked split the uprights to deliver a 17–14 Spartans victory, it offered a clarity that put into perspective two programs, one league race and the College Football Playoff.