Breakdown: Stingy Buckeye defense looks to contain Ringer

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor vs. MSU secondary

Ringer

Hoyer

The Buckeyes will start freshman quarterback Pryor for the fifth straight game. This season, Pryor has looked average compared to the larger-than-life character he was portrayed as during his recruitment.

He has started the last four games and is coming off his worst performance of the year — a 97-yard, zero-touchdown outing against Purdue. Pryor didn’t throw a touchdown in either of his last two games.

MSU’s secondary is coming off a good performance in which it limited Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bachér to a modest 55 percent completion rate. The Spartans also forced two interceptions.

EDGE: MSU — Pryor has yet to prove he’s a passing threat. If he continues to struggle, we might see senior quarterback Todd Boeckman get the call under center. When Pryor takes off running, it will be up to the linebackers and the secondary to contain him and prevent game-breaking plays.

MSU running back Javon Ringer vs. Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis

Ringer has been a workhorse for MSU all season, but this will be his toughest test of the year, as the Buckeyes are fourth in the Big Ten in rush defense, allowing just more than 100 yards per game.

Ringer rushed for only 49 yards against Ohio State last year and will look for a better performance against the team from his home state. Ringer got back on track last week against Northwestern, gaining 124 yards and scoring two touchdowns, but he faces a different kind of challenge in the Buckeyes.

Ohio State linebacker Laurinaitis, the reigning Butkus Award winner, skipped the 2008 NFL Draft to come back and play his senior season. He could win the award, given annually to the nation’s best linebacker, again this season. Through seven games, he’s tallied 67 tackles for a unit that ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring defense.

EDGE: Ohio State — The Buckeyes will shut down Ringer much like Iowa did by stacking the box with an extra defender. Ringer will gain around 100 yards, but it will take him 40-or-so carries to do so.

MSU quarterback Brian Hoyer vs. Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins

Hoyer is coming off what might be his most solid game of the year against Northwestern, completing 14-of-20 passes for two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Hoyer’s play will be vital for the Spartans because Ohio State will likely stack eight or even nine players in the box to stop Ringer. This will likely mean one-on-one coverage on the outside for MSU’s wide receivers.

Jenkins is arguably the best cornerback in the Big Ten. He is second in the conference in interceptions and fifth in passes defended. Hoyer will have to make good throws when the Spartans are facing third-and-long situations like he did against Northwestern.

EDGE: Push — The Spartans’ lethal running attack will open up play-action throws and it will be up to Hoyer to make them.

He has begun to show signs of consistency and will need to perform well for a Spartans win.