Ohio State Football: 3 keys to victory vs. Michigan State in Week 6

Ohio State football hosts Michigan State in Columbus this weekend for a top 25 matchup. Will the Buckeyes pass their first ranked test of the year?

Ohio State plays host to Michigan State this weekend in Columbus, with two teams that are fighting for a Big Ten Championship, both will need to be on their A-game on Saturday. Transfer quarterback Justin Fields comes into the game with 23 total touchdowns on the year and has put himself in the thick of the Heisman conversations.

Fields have lifted the Buckeyes to 52 points a game and over 530 yards of total offense each game this year. With Fields and running back J.K Dobbins as the dynamic duo in the backfield, the Buckeyes have been nearly unstoppable. Dobbins comes in with 654 yards and ranks in the top five in the country for total rushing yards.

Michigan State has played well on both sides of the ball to begin the season. Giving up only 15 points a game and leading them to a 4-1 record with their only loss against Arizona State at home on a last-second missed field goal. The Michigan State defense has really been the key to success thus far, only giving up 55 rush yards a game and terrorizing offenses upfront.

Ohio State will have to find a way to give Justin Fields time in the pocket and force the Michigan State defense to play more of zone coverage. Michigan State’s strength is its defensive line and will try and bring a ton of pressure throughout the game.

The over/under for the game has been set at 49.5 which goes to show how much respect everyone has for the defenses in this game. Here are three keys to victory for Ohio State this Saturday.