Michigan State is coming off a victory. That is something that has not been said in this column for the past several weeks. The Spartans' 20-17 win over Nebraska on senior day last Saturday could rejuvenate MSU after the program dealt with six-straight losses prior to that.

MSU (3-6 overall, 1-5 in Big Ten play) now looks to build on that momentum, but the Spartans are in for an incredibly difficult challenge this weekend as the team travels to Columbus to take on the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0, 6-0 in conference play).

Ohio State currently ranks as the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff rankings and No. 3 in the Associated Press top-25 poll.

The prime-time contest on Veterans Day is set to begin at 7:33 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday at Ohio Stadium (the "Horseshoe") and the game will be broadcast on NBC.

Michigan State interim head coach Harlon Barnett looks forward to the challenge against the top-ranked team in the nation.

"They're a good team, to be honest," Barnett said about the Buckeyes on Monday. "They always get a lot of great talent down there. (Wide receiver) Marvin Harrison (Jr.) is an outstanding football player, and they have others as well. So, they're not lacking for talent — offense, defense, or anywhere."

Under head coach Ryan Day, Ohio State ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring offense (32.8 points per game), and second in scoring defense (10.7 points allowed per game, which also ranks second in the country, behind only Michigan). While perhaps the Buckeyes aren't quite as explosive offensively as the team has been over the past couple of years, OSU still has the No. 1 passing attack in the Big Ten (283.2 yards per game).

The game preview is below.

Michigan State:

-Record: 3-6 (1-5 in Big Ten)
-Offense (per game averages): 319.1 total yards, 216.1 passing yards, 103 rushing yards
-Defense (per game averages): 351.53 total yards allowed, 222.33 passing yards allowed, 129.2 rushing yards allowed
-Third-down offense: 33.88%
-Third-down defense: 31.62%
-Cumulative Points Scored: 164 (18.22 per game)
-Cumulative Points Allowed: 239 (26.56 per game)

Ohio State:

-Record: 9-0 (6-0 in Big Ten)
-Offense (per game averages): 417.52 total yards, 283.22 passing yards, 134.3 rushing yards
-Defense (per game averages): 271.18 total yards allowed, 156.78 passing yards allowed, 114.4 rushing yards allowed
-Third-down offense: 43.59%
-Third-down defense: 30.66%
-Cumulative Points Scored: 295 (32.78 per game)
-Cumulative Points Allowed: 96 (10.67 per game)

Current SP+ rankings:

-Michigan State: No. 72
-Ohio State: No. 3

-All-time head-to-head record: Ohio State leads 36-15
-Current streak: The Buckeyes have won seven games in a row
-Last Michigan State win: Nov. 21, 2015 (17-14)
-Last Ohio State win: Oct. 8, 2022 (49-20)
-Michigan State all-time record: 729-485-44 (.597)
-Ohio State all-time record: 962-331-53 (.734)

Michigan State is going with a green-white-green combination against Ohio State. The green helmet features a white Greek key stripe and green face mask. The jerseys are white with green lettering and numbering. The pants are green.

A closer look at the Veterans Day uniforms can be seen in the images below:

Ohio State:

Ohio State is going with the all-gray look: gray helmets, gray jerseys and gray pants. The uniforms are accented by scarlet lettering and numbering with white outlines.

Michigan State 20, Nebraska 17

Michigan State received the ball to begin the game, and thanks in part to a 46-yard pass from quarterback Katin Houser to tight end Jaylan Franklin, the Spartans found the scoreboard first. The drive eventually stalled, though, and kicker Jonathan Kim knocked through a 35-yard field goal to give MSU an early 3-0 lead.

Later in the first quarter, Michigan State safety Jaden Mangham intercepted Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg to give the Spartans the ball back. However, MSU went three-and-out and punted the ball back to the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska found end zone in the second quarter after a 10-play, 59-yard drive. Haarberg took the ball into the end zone himself on a five-yard rushing play. The Cornhuskers led 7-3 with 12:40 left in the second quarter.

Michigan State responded immediately with a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a touchdown pass from Houser to wide receiver Christian Fitzpatrick (his first career touchdown) that gave the Spartans a 10-7 lead with 9:14 remaining before halftime. The possession also included a 42-yard pass by wide receiver Alante Brown to wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. on a trick play.

Just before halftime, Nebraska kicker Tristan Alvano added a 24-yard field goal, and the two teams were tied 10-10 at the break.

The only score in the third quarter came on a 50-yard field goal from Kim, which put MSU up 13-10 with 5:11 remaining in the quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, true freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt came in, as was already planned by the coaching staff, and led a quick, four-play, 38-yard drive that ended in him throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Foster. Michigan State was up 20-10 with 12:43 left to play.

Later in the fourth quarter, Haarberg threw another interception, this time to MSU safety Khalil Majeed. Nebraska later got the ball back, however, and found the end zone once again. Running back Emmett Johnson scored a touchdown from four yards out, and after the extra point, the Spartans' lead was down to three points at 20-17.

Nebraska's defense then forced a three-and-out and got the ball back to its offense. However, the Michigan State defense stepped up when true freshman defensive end Jalen Thompson strip-sacked Haarberg, which was recovered by MSU linebacker Cal Haladay.

A few plays later, Kim missed a field goal, and the Cornhuskers got the ball back with 43 seconds remaining. However, Michigan State's defense held, and the Spartans earned the 20-17 victory, putting an end to a six-game losing streak.

For the full game recap, click here.

Ohio State 35, Rutgers 16

Rutgers put up a fight in this one, but Ohio State eventually won fairly handily.

Ohio State got on the board first with a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle McCord to tight end Gee Scott Jr. The Buckeyes took an early 7-0 lead with 8:35 remaining in the first quarter, but that would be the only touchdown of the first half for either team.

Rutgers kicker Jai Patel hit three field goals in the second quarter, including one just before halftime after McCord threw an interception to RU linebacker Mohamed Toure. The Scarlet Knights, surprisingly, led the Buckeyes 9-7 at the break.

However, in the third quarter, Ohio State would regain control. Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt threw a pick-six, as OSU cornerback Jordan Hancock returned the interception 95 yards for a touchdown. Later in the quarter, Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson crossed the goal line from five yards out, and the Buckeyes led 21-9.

In the fourth quarter, Rutgers made things interesting early. Wimsatt hit wide receiver JaQuae Jackson for a 19-yard passing touchdown. After Patel's extra point, Ohio State's lead was down to just five points, 21-16.

However, the Buckeyes took over in the final quarter. McCord connected with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. on two four-quarter touchdowns, and the score eventually went final at 36-15.

The Buckeyes remain undefeated.

-Marvin Harrison Jr. versus Dillon Tatum/Chance Rucker: Maybe Ohio State's offense isn't quite as lethal as it was with C.J. Stroud at quarterback, but it is still very good, and features arguably the best wide receiver in the country in Marvin Harrison Jr. He leads the Buckeyes with 52 receptions for 914 yards and 10 touchdowns. Harrison is going to be an incredibly difficult matchup for young cornerbacks Dillon Tatum and Chance Rucker, or whoever is defending him on a given play. As of now, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior wide receiver is widely expected to be the first wide receiver taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. According to Pro Football Focus, Tatum has allowed 24 catches on 42 targets against him this season (57.1%) for 308 yards (12.8 yards per reception) and two touchdowns. Also according to PFF, Rucker has given up 10 receptions on 24 targets (43.5%) for 115 yards (11.5 yards per reception), with zero touchdowns allowed. Trying to contain Harrison is going to be a tall task, and even if the Spartans can do so, Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord also has wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate and Julian Fleming to throw to, as well as tight end Cade Stover. There are plenty of playmakers available for the Buckeyes, and there is a reason OSU has the top passing offense in the Big Ten.

Update, Nov. 11: Tatum is listed as "out" for the Ohio State game.

-Can Michigan State's offense move the ball against Ohio State's defense? Basic question, I know, but Michigan State's chances to win this game are slim, and if the offense is as stagnant as it was against other top-10 teams such as Washington and Michigan (in which the Spartans combined for seven points in those two contests), then this will end in blowout fashion. Quarterback Katin Houser will likely make his fifth-consecutive start, while the status of true freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt is still up in the air because if he plays, it will be his fifth game this season, and he will burn his redshirt. Whoever is under center, and the offense as a whole, has the unenviable task of going up one of the country's best defenses. Ohio State ranks second in the country in scoring defense (10.67 points per game), fifth in total defense (271.1 yards per game) and fourth in passing yards allowed per game (156.7). Additionally, OSU's rushing defense ranks 25th nationally (114.4) and the Buckeyes haven't allowed a rushing touchdown in four-straight Big Ten games. There really is no easy solution for how to attack this unit, and offensive coordinator Jay Johnson has his work cut out for him. This is obvious, but essential — the Spartans want to have any chance in this one, the offense has to find a way to pick up third down conversions, sustain drives, and ultimately, find the end zone. Easier said than done, though.

Michigan State defensive line versus Ohio State offensive line: If there is maybe one area where MSU might be able to win a matchup, it could be in the trenches. Ohio State doesn't have many weak spots, but the offensive line could be vulnerable. The unit struggled early this season, and only had one 100-yard rusher in its past seven games, when running back TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 104 yards against Notre Dame on Sept. 23. Henderson then missed time with injury, however, since returning to the lineup over the past two games, he has amassed at least 128 rushing yards in each contest. Still, as a team, Ohio State ranks just seventh in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (134.3). The ground game has gotten better for the Buckeyes, but Michigan State just held a Nebraska team that has the top rushing offense in the Big Ten to more than 36 yards below its average last week. The Cornhuskers came into the game averaging 190.1 rushing yards per game, and finished the loss to the Spartans with 154 yards on the ground. In terms of the pass rush, MSU is coming off of a seven-sack performance versus Nebraska, and ranks fifth in the Big Ten in total sacks with 25. OSU has given up 17 sacks this season, which ranks eight in the conference. The defensive line/pass rush needs to put pressure on McCord and disrupt the passing game, while the Spartans need to contain Henderson on the ground. If the defense can keep the Spartans hanging around and put the offense in good position, perhaps there is a (small) chance for an upset.

-Date/Kickoff Time: Saturday, Nov. 11 at 7:33 p.m. Eastern Time
-TV Channel: NBC
-TV Announcers: Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Kathryn Tappen (sidelines)
-Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
-Weather Expectations: Clear skies with temperatures around 43 degrees at kickoff and winds blowing north/northeast around five miles per hour
-Current Line: Michigan State +31, according to DraftKings

Let's be honest here, nobody is really giving Michigan State a chance in this game, and for good reason.

There is a scenario where this plays out close to Ohio State's game versus Rutgers last week in which the Spartans keep things close at halftime and gives fan hope, but then the Buckeyes take over in the second half.

Ohio State has scored at least 49 points against Michigan State in each of the past three meetings. The total score over those three matchups has been 157 points for OSU, and 39 points for MSU.

The Spartans have not defeated the Buckeyes since 2015. It is unlikely that streaks comes to an end in 2023 against the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes.

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