“B1G Things to Know” is your weekly gathering of the 10 most important things you’ll want to know about this week’s Ohio State game. These 10 facts will help you be the most knowledgeable fan at your Game Day activity, no matter where you gather across Buckeye Nation to cheer on the Men of the Scarlet & Gray.
Located in East Lansing, Michigan State University was originally founded as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan in 1855. MSU was the first “Agricultural” college in the United States. Michigan State is not only a Morrill – Land Grant University, but is one of the higher education institutions on which the Morrill – Land Grant Act was originally based upon. The first classes at Michigan State were on May 13, 1857 with 53 male students. The school’s first graduating class was in 1861.
The Spartan Football Team traces its heritage to the fist club team, which began play 1885, before gaining varsity status 11 years later in 1896. That same year, MSU joined the MIAA (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association), where it would compete for the next 10 seasons. Michigan State went independent in 1907, and would remain so until the University of Chicago left the Big Ten. MSU lobbied for and was admitted into the Big Ten in 1953.
Michigan State has an all-time record of 700-456-44. The Spartans claim 6 National Championships, all of which occurred between 1951 and 1966. MSU has a 12-15 record all-time in bowl games. The school has won 11 conference championships including nine in the Big Ten.
- On November 3rd, 2018, Michigan State won its 700th game in school history with a win at Maryland. The Spartans own an all-time record of 700-456-44 (.602) in 1,200 games. MSU became the 27th school in the FBS to win 700 games.
- Saturday’s game is the 47th meeting between Michigan State and Ohio State, and for the fifth time in the last six match-ups, both teams enter the contest ranked in the AP Top 25 (OSU eighth, MSU 24th). The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 31-15, including a 16-5 record in games played in East Lansing.
- Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio is 3-6 during his tenure against Ohio State and 3-8 overall (0-2 at Cincinnati). Dantonio is the only Big Ten coach to defeat Urban Meyer twice during his tenure at OSU (2013 Big Ten Championship Game, 2015 at Ohio State).
- Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio spent three years as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State (2001-03) where he served under Jim Tressel. During Dantonio’s tenure at Ohio State, the Buckeyes posted a combined record of 32-6 (.842), including the 2002 National Championship. Dantonio also was a graduate assistant at Ohio State under Earle Bruce in 1983-84.
- Michigan State ranks first in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 71.4 yards per game. The last two weeks, MSU has held its opponents to season lows in rushing (Purdue with 62 yards; Maryland with 26 yards). The Spartans have held their opponent to under 100 yards rushing seven times this season.
- A trademark of Mark Dantonio’s Michigan State teams has been the ability to produce wins late in the season. Under Dantonio, Michigan State has compiled a 29-11 record (.725) in November. His teams have won 23 of the last 31 games in November.
- MSU rushed for a season-high 269 yards on 46 attempts against Maryland. The Spartans are 72-8 under Dantonio when rushing 40-plus times in a game. The 269 rushing yards were the most by MSU since it had 271 against Maryland last season on Nov. 18, 2017. The Buckeyes are coming off their best rushing performance since the season opener, as they compiled 229 yards on 40 carries against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
- Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins continued on his record-breaking pace, going over the 3,000-yard passing mark for the season while also tossing two touchdowns. He has 32 TDs on the season against just six interceptions. Haskins is 278 yards from the single-season yardage record, currently held by Joe Germaine.
- The Buckeyes are 8-0 in games that J.K. Dobbins rushes for at least 100 yards and the team is 7-0 in games that Mike Weber rushes for at least 100 yards.
- Michigan State’s 2018 roster features 28 players from Ohio: Joe Bachie (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark), Luke Campbell (Lewis Center/Olentangy), Matt Coghlin (Cincinnati/Archbishop Moeller), Andrew Dowell (North Ridgeville/St. Edward), David Dowell (North Ridgeville/St. Edward), Justin Layne (Cleveland/Benedictine), Josiah Scott (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) and LJ Scott (Youngstown/Hubbard). Ohio State has four Michigan natives on its roster: Mike Weber (Detroit/Cass Tech), Bradley Robinson (Troy/Athens), Joshua Alabi (Detroit/Cass Tech), and Michael Jordan (Canton/Plymouth).
And there you have it. You are now officially ready to begin your Game Day activities. You can now lay claim to the title of “Smartest Buckeye Fan at your Tailgate/Watch Party”. Go Bucks!
Each week, Mike Meals scours through the Media Guides of Ohio State and that week’s opponent to find you the 10 most fascinating, important, and/or crazy facts to prepare you for that week’s game. You can also catch Mike along with Hayes & Cannon Content Manager/Writer Brandon Zimmerman on the weekly episodes of “The Sons of Schmidt” podcast on the Ozone Radio Network. Follow Mike on twitter (@mmeals)
