Ohio State at Michigan State: What you need to know about Saturday’s game

Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.

TV/Radio: ABC/1410

Series history: Ohio State leads 35-15 and has won the last six. The Buckeyes are 18-5 in East Lansing and have won their last eight there. They have fewer losses to the Spartans there than at home (10).

Last meeting: Ohio State scored on its first seven possessions en route to a 56-7 win. The Buckeye led 49-0 at halftime, and C.J. Stroud finished the day 32 for 35 passing for 431 yards and six touchdowns.

Coaches: Ohio State’s Ryan Day is 39-4 in three seasons, including 25–1 in the Big Ten. Mel Tucker is 15-10 overall in three seasons at Michigan State and 20-17 as a head coach.

Ohio State notes: The Buckeyes have scored on all 25 of their red zone trips this season, including 23 touchdowns… Ohio State has scored a touchdown in 12 consecutive quarters… Ohio State and Alabama are the only teams in the country in the national top 10 in total offense and total defense… Ohio State strength and conditioning coach Niko Palazeti played at Michigan State and was a letter-winner in 2011 and ‘12.

Michigan State notes: Dayton native Marco Coleman is in his first season as defensive line coach at MSU. The Patterson Co-op grad is also run defense coordinator for the Spartans… The Spartans’ three wins over Ohio State since 2011 are more than any other Big Ten team… They have topped Ohio State 10 times when the Buckeyes entered the game ranked in the AP Top 25, including five times when the Buckeyes were ranked in the top five (No. 5 in 1972, No. 1 in 1974, No. 1 in 1998, No. 2 in 2013, No. 2 in 2015) and seven in the top 10 (previous five games listed plus No. 7 in 1951 and No. 9 in 1971)… Bryce Baringer is the top punter in the country at 53.3 yards per punt…MSU ranks 88th nationally in scoring (27 points per game), 92nd in total offense, 99th in rushing, 72nd in passing and 77th in pass efficiency… They are 54th in scoring (22.6 points per game), tied for 100th in total yards allowed per game, tied for 63rd in rushing defense and 115th in pass defense (275 yards per game)… Tucker is an Ohio native (Cleveland) who coached at Ohio State from 2001-04 as defensive backs coach for three seasons and co-defensive coordinator for one.

Quoted: Tucker on facing Ohio State’s offense: “The challenge is that they’re very balanced. They’re extraordinary in the run game and also in the pass game. They have arguably the best quarterback in the country. Everyone’s at the point of attack on every play.”

Next week: Ohio State has next Saturday off before returning to action Oct. 22 at home against Iowa. The Spartans play host to Wisconsin next Saturday.

Prediction: Ohio State 31, Michigan State 20