Marvin Harrison Jr. leads Ohio State in a 38-3 thumping of Michigan State with a quick strike.
Ohio’s Columbus (AP) — No. 3 Ohio State began to appear like a team that is peaking at the right time as Marvin Harrison Jr. strengthened his claim to the Heisman Trophy.
In a brilliant performance, Harrison caught two of Kyle McCord’s three touchdown passes and added another touchdown via rushing, as the Buckeyes crushed Michigan State 38-3 on Saturday night.
McCord remarked, “I can’t really quantify how impactful he is to this offence,” pointing out that despite frequently being double-covered, Harrison still finds openings or attracts enough attention to allow other receivers to find openings.
McCord, who threw for a career-high 335 yards, declared, “I’m spoiled.” “There’s no other way to put it.”
The Spartans (3-7, 1-6) were outclassed by the Buckeyes (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP), who scored touchdowns on five of their six first-half drives.
Despite the absence of several important players due to injuries, Ohio State’s defence limited Michigan State to 182 yards overall and just two third-down conversions on 14 attempts.
Prior to their matchup with No. 2 Michigan on November 25, which is currently mi
red in a scandal involving sign theft that resulted in coach Jim Harbaugh’s suspension, Ohio State will host Minnesota the following weekend. On Saturday, the Wolverines defeated No. 9 Penn State, 24–15.
“I think this is what I’ve kind of been talking about all year,” McCord stated. We just keep getting better and bigger every week, so now that November has arrived, I believe we need to play our best football yet. Additionally, I believe that the players now understand the coaches’ sense of urgency. And to be offensive, I believe we were aware that we needed to have a successful week.”
Before being replaced in the fourth quarter, McCord completed 24 of his 31 passes. Tight end Cade Stover tied a career high with seven receptions for 79 yards, while Harrison finished with seven receptions for 149 yards.
Ohio State’s outstanding start was ignited by Harrison. Moving to the left, he grabbeda pitch, circling the right end for his first career rushing touchdown after going 19 yards.
Harrison returned to his best after the Spartans missed a field goal attempt, catching a 26-yard pass that McCord threw over his shoulder in the back corner of the end zone.
“Marv is a special player, and we’re always going to find ways to get him the ball,” Ryan Day, the coach, said. “It’s not always simple. Even though there was a lot of double coverage tonight, he was still able to make plays.”
An early second-quarter touchdown pass of nine yards was caught by Harrison. At the half, Ohio State led 35-3 after Treyvon Henderson ran one in from nine yards out and Stover turned around in the end zone to grab a pass for an eighteen-yard touchdown.”They’re good,” Harlon Barnett, the interim coach at Michigan State, said. “It’ll be interesting to see how this thing all works out when it’s all said and done as far as the playoffs and all that kind of stuff, but they’re a good team.”
THE LESSON
Michigan State: Despite winning their first Big Ten game of the year the previous week, the Spartans were unable to match Ohio State’s peak play.
Ohio State: If the Buckeyes don’t lose to Michigan the following week, they’re headed for another thrilling matchup.
OVERCOME DEFENCE
Josh Proctor and Lathan Ransom, the starting safeties, were also out for the Buckeyes, along with linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, who was their best defensive player. Proctor and Eichenberg, the team’s top tackler, suffered injuries during last week’s victory over Rutgers. The Wisconsin game on October 28 resulted in injuries to Burke and Ransom. Ransom “is a little more long term,” but Eichenberg and Proctor are “week to week,” Day says.
MARV ORE
Harrison made Ohio State history as the first receiver to receive 1,000 yards in two seasons. He started the season with 1,063 and finished with 1,263 in 2022.
While he expressed gratitude and felt “blessed to be in the (Heisman) conversation,” he did not have travel plans to New York City in the near future.
“So whatever happens in December happens in December,” he stated. “Right now, I’m focused on the corrections being made (after) this game and moving on to Minnesota.”
IMPLICATIONS FOR POLL
After a convincing victory over a weak Big Ten team, Ohio State shouldn’t be changing, if it moves at all.