CFP Rankings Projections, Week 12: Ohio State jumps Oregon?

CFP Rankings Projections, Week 12: Did Ohio State do enough to jump Oregon?

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) scores a 51-yard touchdown during the second quarter of the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.Purdue Boilermakers At Ohio State Buckeyes Football /

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Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III, right, runs for a gain as Maryland’s Tarheeb Still closes in during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211113 Msu Maryland 142a /

Michigan State’s defense has been the topic of conversation all week — well, that at a rumored extension for Mel Tucker — but it didn’t exactly look improved on Saturday night against Maryland.

The Spartans raced out to a 27-7 lead and it looked like the defense was figuring some things out, but an 80-yard drive in under a minute right before halftime led to a touchdown and some momentum for Taulia Tagovailoa and Maryland. The Terps only scored 21 in the loss as Michigan State dropped 40, but the defense gave up 350 passing yards yet again.

The worst pass defense in the country didn’t end up costing Michigan State because Payton Thorne had a really good game, throwing four touchdown passes and for 287 yards and Kenneth Walker III rushed for 143 and two scores. This offense continues to step up when the defense struggles.
We’ll see if that’s the case next week against Ohio State. If Michigan State wins that game in Week 12, there will be no more debate about who should be ranked higher, the Spartans or Michigan. For now, Michigan State stays at No. 7.

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