Buckeyes stomp Spartans 52-12

  Ohio State managed to squeeze their game in against Michigan State and despite three missing starters on the offensive line and others on defense, Ohio State scored the first thirty-five points and easily dispatched the Spartans 52-12 in East Lansing.

Justin Fields threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, while Trey Sermon topped 100 yards in rushing while Chris Olave did the same in receiving yards.

The now 5-0 Buckeyes are scheduled to play Michigan next Saturday, but the Wolverines canceled their game with Maryland on Saturday and may not be able to play next week either.

Ohio State may be able to play another game if someone has an opening or they can hope the Big Ten changes their edict on teams needing to play six games to be eligible for the Big  Ten title game in two weeks.

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1) This one is shorter than usual after a crazy day and more Ipad problems, but rumblings have begun that should Michigan not be able to play and Ohio State finishes 5-0 that the Buckeyes may be allowed to play in the Big Ten title game after all.

2) Justin Fields showed lots of poise in a situation that begged for poise to be lost, but what was most impressive was as simple as concentrating on getting the snap.

Harry Miller's snaps often weren't on the money, forcing Fields to move around to get the football like a shortstop roaming the infield.

3) Haskell Garrett's tip and grab of a Rocky Lombardi pass in the first half in the end zone was a score that when you know about Garrett's offseason has to make you feel good for Garrett.

Garrett was shot in the face while breaking up a fight and it wasn't sure that Garrett would be able to play this season at all, let alone at a high level.

4) Trey Sermon's day was paced by a long run of sixty plus yards, but Sermon showed that he has the breakaway speed to keep defenses honest.

Sermon has been a mild disappointment since arriving from Oklahoma as a grad transfer, but he seems to be rounding into form at just the right time.

5) The offensive line played well for missing both starting tackles and their center and shows one thing above all others- Recruit well and emergency situations become far easier to handle.

Ohio State was plugging in backups that most schools would be thrilled to see as starters and yet didn't really miss a beat.

6) Guard Wyatt Davis did play but was injured in the fourth quarter.

Davis limped off the field, but no word on how serious the injury is.

7) Larry Johnson might finish his career as a head coach at 1-0 as he replaced Ryan Day for the game with Day sidelined by Covid.

I get the feeling that Johnson might have been an excellent head coach for someone and that they missed out on quite a coach.

8) I don't know if Ohio State will play Michigan next week, Northwestern in the Big Ten title game, or the winner of next week's Iowa-Wisconsin game in the Big Ten showdown Saturday game, but the Buckeyes will have to be impressive to keep their playoff hopes alive..

However, the victory will come first and I'm starting to think that the one scenario that could damage the Buckeyes most would be a Clemson ACC title win over Notre Dame and a Florida upset of Alabama in the SEC championship.

Clemson is likely to do the former, Florida is unlikely to do the latter and of the remaining teams, the only possible team to worry about would be if the SEC pushes one-loss Texas A&M for the 4th slot.

If it is the Aggies or the Buckeyes, I think Ohio State is OK.