Barrett Leads (14) Buckeyes Past (8) Michigan State

Kirk Irwin/Getty Images(EAST LANSING, Mich.) — A 21-point second quarter helped the 14th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes to a 49-37 win over Big 10 rival Michigan State on Saturday night. Quarterback J.T. Barrett accounted for five touchdowns, three passing and two rushing, as the Buckeyes upset the 8th-rated Spartans.

After Michigan State (7-2) went up 7-0 early, Barrett capped off a 4-play, 71-yard drive with a five yard touchdown run to knot the score. He would do the same early in the second quarter, rushing in from one yard out to make it a 14-14 contest. The Spartans would eventually regain the lead on Jeremy Langford’s touchdown run, but Barrett connected with Michael Thomas on a 79-yard scoring pass on the following play. The Buckeyes (8-1) would get another big play before the half when Barrett found Devin Smith for a 44-yard touchdown strike, giving Ohio State a 28-21 lead at halftime.

The second half was more of the same as the Buckeyes offense rolled over one of the top defenses in the country. After a Michigan State field goal cut the deficit to 28-24, Ohio State scored 14 unanswered points to put the game out of reach. Although the Spartans were able to get a quick touchdown, cutting the lead to 42-31, the Buckeyes marched right down the field for another score just two minutes later.

With the win, Ohio State avenges a loss to the Spartans in last year’s Big 10 Championship Game while also re-affirming their spot as the dominant team in the conference.

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