Ohio State vs. Michigan State final score, results: Buckeyes dominate Spartans, C.J. Stroud throws six touchdowns in first half

Dani Mohr
• 12 min read
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No. 4 Ohio State executed one of their most impressive wins of the season against No. 7 Michigan State with a 56-7 victory. 

Quarterback C.J. Stroud was explosive at Ohio Stadium and completed 32 of 35 passes for 432 yards. His performance against the Spartans tied the single-game passing touchdown record with six in just the first half. 

Wide reciever Chris Olave and tight end Garrett Wilson both caught two passes from Stroud in the end zone. Olave led Ohio State with seven catches for 140 yards with two touchdowns while Wilson made seven catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. 

MORE: Five crazy stats from Buckeyes' halftime rout of Spartans

Running back Master Teague III led the Buckeyes with 25 rushes for 95 yards. The senior scored a touchdown with four minutes to go to cap the 56-7 blowout.

Despite going into the matchup as a Heisman favorite, running back Kenneth Walker III had a quiet performance for the Spartans. The nation's leading rusher had just 25 yards on six carries, which is 122 yards below his average. Quarterback Payton Thorne also struggled against the Buckeyes' defense, completing 14 of 36 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. The Spartans converted for only 12 first downs while Ohio State earned 36. 

Ohio State coach Ryan Day substituted Stroud for quarterback Kyle McCord after the Buckeyes missed a field goal attempt during their first drive of the second half. Cornerback Justin White picked off a pass from McCord during his first drive of the game.

MORE: Should OSU be No. 2? Buckeyes leave no doubt in blowout against Spartans

With a confident win against the Spartans, Ohio State strengthens its college football playoff resume On the other hand, Michigan State is expected to drop in the rankings and will be eliminated from the Big Ten East race if Michigan beats Maryland this afternoon. The Buckeyes are slated to face Michigan in Ann Arbor next Saturday as the Spartans will battle Penn State. 

Sporting News tracked updates and highlights from Ohio State vs. Michigan State on Saturday. Follow for complete results from the 2021 Big Ten football game.

MORE: Watch Ohio State vs. Michigan State live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Ohio State vs. Michigan State score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Ohio State 21 28 0 7 56
Michigan State 0 0 0 7 7

Ohio State vs. Michigan State live updates, highlights

All times Eastern.

Final: Ohio State 56, Michigan State 7

3:30 p.m.: Robert Cope rushes for four yards to seal the victory in Columbus. 

3:27 p.m.: Anthony Russo steps in for Thorne at QB and throws two completions on the drive. After a two-yard gain, the Spartans punt from their own 24.

3:20 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE. Teague rushes into the end zone for the one-yard score. After Ruggles makes the extra point, Buckeyes lead 56-7 with 3:30 remaining. 

3:15 p.m.: Teague rushes another 12 yards and positions the Buckeyes at the MSU 15. 

3:10 p.m.: Teague rushes for 10 yards to give the Buckeyes a first down from the MSU 27. 

3:07 p.m.: McCord connects with Wiglusz for five yards to give the Buckeyes a first down from their own 35. 

3:05 p.m.: After Thorne fires an incomplete pass on third down, the Spartans punt from their own 35. Smith-Njigbma makes a fair catch from the OSU 25. 

3:02 p.m.: Tyleik Williams sacks Thorne for a loss of two yards. 

2:58 p.m.: After Teague rushes for a loss of two yards on third down, Ohio State will punt for the first time of the game. Cade McDonald makes a fair catch at the MSU 18. 

2:55 p.m.: Drew Jordan breaks up a pass from McCord intended for Fleming. 

2:50 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN MICHIGAN STATE. Thorne connects with Coleman for 12 yards in the end zone to avoid the shutout. After the extra point, Ohio State leads 49-7 with 14:55 remaining. 

Third Quarter: Ohio State 49, Michigan State 0

2:43 p.m.: Thorne completes to Coleman for six yards and positions Michigan State inside the red zone. 

2:40 p.m.: Collins rushes for 10 yards on fourth down to give the Spartans a fresh set of downs from the OSU 33. 

2:35 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, MICHIGAN STATE. Justin White intercepts a pass from Kyle McCord and returns for 10 yards to position the Spartans at the 49. 

2:30 p.m.: After Simmons rushes for one yard on the drive, the Spartans are forced to punt. Ohio State takes over from their own 29. 

2:25 p.m.: Noah Ruggles misses his first field goal attempt of the season from the 21, keeping the Buckeyes ahead 49-0 with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter. 

2:23 p.m.: Stroud fires a 13-yard pass to Smith-Njigba to pick up a first down at the MSU 22. 

2:20 p.m.: Teague III makes a 21-yard rush to the 49 for a first down. 

2:19 p.m.: Stroud finds Smith-Njigba for 16 yards to give the Buckeyes a first down at the OSU 25.

2:15 p.m.: Haskell Garrett sacks Thorne for a loss of eight yards on second down. After Thorne completes to Heyward short of the first down, the Spartans are forced to punt. 

2:12 p.m.: Thorne completes to Tre Mosley for 46 yards to the OSU 30 for a first down. 

Halftime: Ohio State 49, Michigan State 0

1:49 p.m.: Thorne throws consecutive incompletions and forces the Spartans to punt from the 42. Smith-Njigba makes the catch at the OSU 19. 

1:47 p.m.: Simmons rushes for seven yards to give the Spartans a first down from the MSU 42. 

1:45 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE. Stroud finds Smith-Njigba wide open in the end zone for a five-yard score. Buckeyes lead 49-0 with 1:37 remaining in the half. 

1:43 p.m.: Stroud finds Olave for 15 yards and marks a first down at the MSU 21. He then completes a short pass to Rossi, but the ball comes loose and bounces out of bounds. Ohio State resumes the drive from the 16. 

1:42 p.m.: Williams rushes 19 yards and executes a spin move to give the Buckeyes a first down from the MSU 36. 

1:40 p.m.: Maverick Hansen sacks Stroud for a loss of eight yards. 

1:36 p.m.: Stroud finds Ruckert and rushes to pick up 28 yards for a first down at the OSU 43. 

1:32 p.m.: After gaining only nine yards on the drive, Michigan State is forced to punt again. Smith-Njigba returns and positions the Buckeyes at their own 15. 

1:29 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE. Stroud finds Wilson in the end zone for a 12-yard score. Buckeyes lead 42-0 with 7:02 remaining in the half. 

1:25 p.m.: Stroud completes to Smith-Njigba and Olave to give the Buckeyes a first down at the MSU 12. 

1:20 p.m.: Stroud throws his second incompletion on a pass intended for Wilson. 

1:18 p.m.: Smith breaks up a pass from Thorne intended to Joiner, forcing the Spartans to punt. Henderson returns 18 yards to position the Buckeyes at their own 39. 

1:14 p.m.: Walker rushes nine yards to the MSU 34, but an offensive holding penalty against the Spartans pushes them back to their own 15. 

1:10 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE. Williams rushes into the end zone to keep Ohio State on top. Buckeyes take a 35-0 lead with 10:02 remaining in the half. 

1:07 p.m.: Stroud finds Smith-Njigba for another 14 yards, then completes a deep 27-yard pass to Olave at the 1. 

1:05 p.m.: Williams rushes for 14 yards to give the Buckeyes a first down from the 44. 

1:02 p.m.: Thorne throws consecutive incomplete passes and forces the Spartans to punt from their own 31. Smith-Njigba returns for the Buckeyes at the OSU 30. 

12:58 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE. The Buckeyes capitalize on the fumble recovery as Stroud completes a short pass to Fleming in the end zone for the first touchdown of his career. Ohio State leads 28-0 under a minute into the second quarter. 

First Quarter: Ohio State 21, Michigan State 0

12:55 p.m.: FUMBLE, MICHIGAN STATE. Thorne tosses to Simmons, but the ball is knocked out during the rush. The Buckeyes recover and take over from the MSU 44. 

12:53 p.m.: Denzel Burke breaks up a pass from Thorne intended to Reed, but immediately grabs his arm and heads to the OSU sideline. 

12:51 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE. Stroud completes to Olave for 43 yards in the end zone, marking the 35th touchdown of his career. Buckeyes lead 21-0 with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter. 

12:48: Spartans' kicker Matt Coughlin missed a 46-yard field goal attempt, leaving MSU scoreless with 3:55 remaining in the first quarter. 

12:45: Thorne completes to Terry Lockett Jr., but he falls short of the first down and loses control of the ball. After an official review, the complete pass ruling is reversed, and Tommy Eichenberg gets credit for the breakup on the pass. 

12:42 p.m.: Walker rushes for 15 yards to position the Spartans at the OSU 29. 

12:39 p.m.: Thorne completes a 21-yard pass to Jayden Reed on third down to give the Spartans a fresh set of downs at the 42. 

12:37 p.m.: Kenneth Walker III makes a 10-yard rush for a first down at the MSU 36. 

12:35 p.m.: Tyreke Smith sacks Throne for a loss of four yards at the MSU 12. 

12:31 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE. Stroud completes a deep pass to Wilson, who escapes defenders and runs into the end zone for a 77-yard score. Ohio State leads 14-0 with 8:03 left in the first quarter. 

12:25 p.m.: After Thorne throws consecutive incomplete passes, the Spartans punt from their own 35 on their opening drive. Jaxon Smith-Njigba returns, and the Buckeyes will start their second drive from their own 12. 

12:22 p.m.: Zach Harrison breaks up a pass from Thorne intended to Ricky White. 

12:20 p.m.: Thorne completes to Tyler Hunt for 16 yards for a first down at the Michigan State 35.

12:15 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE. Stroud finds Olave for 23 yards in the end zone and puts the Buckeyes on the board in their opening drive. After the extra point is good, Ohio State leads 7-0 with 10:42 remaining in the first quarter. 

12:07 p.m.: Stroud completes to Garrett Wilson for 12 yards to give the Buckeyes a first down at the MSU 37. 

12:03 p.m.: After a false start penalty on the opening play of the game, Stroud makes consecutive completions to Chris Olave for a first down. 

12:00 p.m.: Michigan State wins the coin toss and defers. Ohio State starts with the ball from the 14 after the kickoff. 

Ohio State vs. Michigan State start time

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 20
  • Kickoff: Noon ET 

Ohio State vs. Michigan State will kick off at noon ET from Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

How to watch Ohio State vs. Michigan State

  • TV channel (national): ABC
  • Live stream: ESPN App, fuboTV

This matchup between Big Ten powers will air on ABC. Chris Fowler will handle play-by-play duties with former Buckeyes QB Kirk Herbstreit joining him as the analyst. The two will be accompanied by Holly Rowe reporting from the sidelines.

Ohio State football schedule 2021

Opponent Date Outcome
at Minnesota Sept. 2 Ohio State 45, Minnesota 31
vs. No. 12 Oregon Sept. 11 Oregon 35, Ohio State 28
vs. Tulsa Sept. 18 Ohio State 41, Tulsa 20
vs. Akron Sept. 25 Ohio State 59, Akron 7
at Rutgers Oct. 2 Ohio State 52, Rutgers 13
vs. Maryland Oct. 9 Ohio State 66, Maryland 17
at Indiana Oct. 23 Ohio State 54, Indiana 7
vs. Penn State Oct. 30 Ohio State 33, Penn State 24
at Nebraska Nov. 6 Ohio State 26, Nebraska 17
vs. Purdue Nov. 13 Ohio State 59, Purdue 31
vs. Michigan State Nov. 20 TBD
at Michigan Nov. 27 TBD

Michigan State football schedule 2021

Opponent Date Outcome
at Northwestern Sept. 3 Michigan State 38, Northwestern 21
vs. Youngstown State Sept. 11 Michigan State 42, Youngstown State 14
at No. 24 Miami (FL) Sept. 18 Michigan State 38, Miami 17
vs. Nebraska Sept. 25 Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (OT)
vs. Western Kentucky Oct. 2 Michigan State 48, Western Kentucky 31
at Rutgers Oct. 9 Michigan State 31, Rutgers 13
at Indiana Oct. 23 Michigan State 20, Indiana 15
vs. Michigan Oct. 30 Michigan State 37, Michigan 33
at Purdue Nov. 6 Purdue 40, Michigan 29
vs. Maryland Nov. 13 Michigan State 40, Maryland 21
at Ohio State Nov. 20 TBD
vs. Penn State Nov. 27 TBD

Jake Aferiat contributed to this article. 

Author(s)
Dani Mohr
American Football
Ohio State
Michigan State
ncaa-football
Ohio State v Michigan State
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