Junior safety RJ Williamson tackles Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott during the game against Ohio State on Nov. 8, 2014 at Spartan Stadium. The Buckeyes defeated the Spartans, 49-37. Jessalyn Tamez/The State News
For weeks, fans in East Lansing have watched the College Football Playoff conversation with great interest because the conversation involved their team.
MSU fans will now watch the playoff conversation as casual fans, as MSU has likely been eliminated from the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State beat MSU 49-37 and took the lead in the Big Ten’s East Division.
“They came in for revenge and they got it,” MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said. “They made plays that we didn’t.”
OSU did whatever they wanted to do against MSU offensively as freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett completed 16 passes on 26 attempts for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Barrett added 86 rushing yards.
“The bottom line was we couldn’t stop them,” head coach Mark Dantonio said. “You have to evaluate that.”
The attack had balance — OSU ran for 268 yards and passed for 300 yards against an MSU defense that struggled all night.
The loss is MSU’s second of the season and likely will eliminate them from playoff contention, and is also a roadblock on MSU’s trip to Indianapolis to play for a second straight Big Ten championship.
Senior offensive lineman Travis Jackson said talking to his teammates after the game was the hardest part of the loss.
“It’s way more tough to go into the locker room and face the guys,” he said. “Being a captain, being a senior, losing like that is so tough so it’s really hard to look those guys in the eyes.”
When the score was 21-14 in the second quarter, kicker Michael Gieger missed a field goal. On the next play, Barrett found Michael Thomas for a touchdown that tied the game up, but gave the momentum to OSU.
They wouldn’t give it back.
“All of a sudden the momentum just flipped,” Dantonio said.
The second half was when OSU ran away from MSU, at one time leading 42-24. For six straight drives, OSU scored a touchdown, and MSU was unable to force a three and out.
Junior quarterback Connor Cook struggled at times, finishing the game 25-45 with 358 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior safety Kurtis Drummond said it would be hard to assess the loss, but said the team has to focus on moving forward.
“It hurts, any time you lose,” he said. “Obviously you want to win every game, but when it’s your last shot and you’re a senior, they all hurt, but we can learn from it.”
MSU takes on Maryland next week in College Park.
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