Many questions are up for debate in college football, but there's one truth that is nearly indisputable: Regardless of where he's playing or whom he's playing against, Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith is always the coolest guy on the field.
Smith proved himself unflappable in early-season road games against Texas and Iowa. He was just as poised on Saturday, shrugging off MSU defenders like a swarm of gnats and leading the top-ranked Buckeyes to a 38-7 dismantling of the Spartans.
Already holding a 17-0 lead late in the second quarter, Ohio State faced third-and-10 at the MSU 12-yard line. The Spartans desperately needed a stop — forcing a field goal would put MSU in position for a second-half push.
Smith took the snap and was pressured on both sides by the oncoming rush. He sprinted toward the line of scrimmage, forcing the MSU defense to commit to the run and allowing wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez to find a hole in the back of the end zone. Smith fired a bullet pass just as MSU defenders collapsed on top of him. Gonzalez leaped for the ball and was able to tap a foot in the end zone for an Ohio State touchdown.
"It was in a spot where only I could get it," Gonzalez said. "And that's what's rewarding about playing with the best player in the country."
The Spartans never recovered, but Smith continued to make Heisman-worthy plays.
His poise in the red zone was on display again in the third quarter. The Buckeyes faced another third down, this time at the MSU 7-yard line. MSU junior defensive end Ervin Baldwin broke free from Smith's blind side and wrapped him up, but the quarterback spun to his left, stepped into the second wave of the pass rush and connected with wide receiver Brian Robiskie in the back of the end zone for a score.
"It was just determination," Smith said. "(Robiskie) believed in me. He kept going. He could have cut his route off early, but he kept coming.
"It was a play where staying alive and persevering through all that really resulted in a touchdown."
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said Smith's calm in the pocket comes naturally.
"In the red zone, the whole deal has got a little bit more pressure to it. ... Everyone's closer, there's usually more blitzing going on, and he's just got poise," Tressel said. "It doesn't bother him. All this stuff flying around him, he's still got his eyes up, his feet under him, reading what's going on. He's just got an ability to remain calm in a fiery situation."
While Smith excelled under pressure, his counterpart, Drew Stanton, faltered.
An opening-drive fumble by Ohio State gave the Spartans the ball at the Buckeyes' 31-yard line. Facing third-and-4, Stanton tried to avoid a blitz from Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis but was sacked for a 16-yard loss, pushing MSU out of field-goal range.
"You talk about the tables being turned — that was huge," Tressel said.
It was one of many lost opportunities for the Green and White, which started three drives in Ohio State territory. MSU's starting offense never even reached the Buckeyes' 20-yard line. Redshirt freshman running back A.J. Jimmerson scored a touchdown in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, preventing the Spartans from being shut out at home for the first time since 1985.
"We didn't execute like we wanted to," Stanton said. "There were plays to be had out there."
Smith completed 15-of-22 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns. Stanton was picked off once and completed just 8-of-16 pass attempts for 54 yards. Ohio State held MSU to 198 yards of total offense.
It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Spartans. They travel to Evanston, Ill. on Saturday to face Northwestern. Kickoff is scheduled for noon EDT.
"We're stable. We just have to find a way to win, to get back on track," Stanton said. "Hopefully, next week, we can go into Chicago and try to win."
