EAST LANSING – It was another lopsided score in the series as Ohio State extended its winning streak against Michigan State to nine.

Unlike most of those previous matchups, the Spartans (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) struck back but couldn’t overcome critical mistakes early as they lost 38-7 to the No. 3 Buckeyes (4-0, 1 -0). on Saturday evening.

A pair of fumbles in the red zone and a dropped interception in the end zone were extremely costly as Michigan State went into halftime trailing by 17, while Ohio State scored 28 unanswered to seal the victory.

Aidan Chiles was sharp off the start as he completed nine of his first 10 throws, but is still plagued by turnovers. He finished 13-for-19 passing for 167 yards, one touchdown and an interception, along with a fumble, before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter as the Spartans dropped their second consecutive game.

Chiles wasn’t helped by a run game that was still underwhelming as Nathan Carter and Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams combined for 62 yards on 15 carries. Receiver Jaron Glover returned after missing the last two games due to injury and posted four catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Ohio State’s Will Howard threw for 244 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while Emeka Egbuka led the team with seven receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Jeremiah Smith had another standout performance with five grabs for 83 yards and a score along with a 19-yard touchdown run.

A competitive first half was followed by a one-sided second as the Buckeyes cruised to a fourth straight blowout to open the season as backups on both sides closed out the night.

Ohio State got the ball to start the game and drove down the field on short throws as Howard went 7-for-7 on the opening possession. A personal foul propped the Buckeyes up in the red zone and the Spartans got a stop to force a 30-yard field goal from Jayden Fielding. That marked a stretch of four straight games in which Ohio State scored a touchdown on its opening possession against Michigan State.

The Spartans put together an impressive first possession before stalling as an aggressive move didn’t pan out. Jonathan Smith kept his charge down the field, but Chiles was stuffed on fourth-and-1. Ohio State followed with a 14-play, 80-yard drive and after Malik Spencer dropped a would-be interception in the end zone, Howard hit Gee Scott for a 3-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead less than a minute into the second. quarter.

Michigan State squandered another scoring opportunity when Jack Velling fumbled in the red zone on a 26-yard pickup. An interception by linebacker Jordan Turner returned to the Ohio State 12 and was followed a moment later by Chiles finding Glover for a touchdown as the Spartans pulled within three.

After a 19-yard touchdown run on a reverse to Jeremiah Smith that put the Buckeyes up 17-7, Michigan State continued to hold itself back. Chiles moved the Spartans down the field and back into the red zone before starting a play in which the officials missed a clear face mask that the quarterback had taken from defensive tackle Tywone Malone.

Boos from fans watching replays of the blown call were echoed when officials overturned a TreVeyon Henderson fumble. Although the Spartans got that stop, they followed with their first kick and then true freshman and former five-star recruit Smith made a pair of ridiculous one-handed catches in the two-minute drill. The second was a 17-yard touchdown from backup Devin Brown after Howard was injured on a hit by Turner. That gave the Buckeyes a 24-7 lead with 29 seconds left in the quarter as they entered the locker room.

Howard returned after the break and, facing fourth-and-5, connected with Egbuka for a 33-yard touchdown. An interception by Chiles was followed by Howard scoring on a 6-yarder that sent even more fans in green and white rushing for the exits late in the third quarter.

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