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Michigan State Football: What went wrong vs. Ohio State in Week 11?

By Connor Muldowney

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 11: Hunter Rison #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shakes off the tackle from Malik Harrison #39 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the fourth quarter to pick up yardage at Ohio Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Michigan State 48-3. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 11: Hunter Rison #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shakes off the tackle from Malik Harrison #39 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the fourth quarter to pick up yardage at Ohio Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Michigan State 48-3. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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After a devastating loss to Ohio State in Week 11, we look back at the game to see what went wrong for Michigan State football.

What do we make of Michigan State football after a blowout loss to Ohio State in Week 11? The Spartans had been playing some impressive football in the weeks leading up to the top-15 matchup, but Ohio State was just too much for them to handle.

Must Read: MSU Recruiting: 5 bold predictions for November

Michigan State fell behind early on and wasn’t able to catch up. The Buckeyes took a 35-3 lead into the locker room at halftime and only added 13 more in the second half, but it seemed as if they took their foot off the gas late.

It didn’t seem like anything went right for the Spartans on Saturday in Columbus, but what exactly went wrong?

Here’s a quick list:

  • Pass protection could not keep Brian Lewerke upright. The sophomore quarterback was getting drilled all day.
  • Lewerke’s confidence was shot after getting rushed and hit so many times. He just looked off as he felt pressure before it even got there. He completed just 18-of-36 passes for 131 yards and two picks.
  • Receivers couldn’t create any separation. While the Ohio State pass rush was on Lewerke seemingly before he could say hike, the receivers weren’t able to get open down the field to bail him out.
  • The run game struggled again. It’s a play-calling and execution problem at this point. The Spartans can’t run the ball between the tackles, yet that play is called 15-20 times a game for a total of 40-50 yards, at most. Michigan State couldn’t get a push up front.
  • No pressure on JT Barrett. He was able to sit back and pick apart the Michigan State secondary when he was given time. He did throw two picks, but he was still 14-for-21 with 183 yards and two scores.
  • The run defense was absolutely gashed. This was the first time all year the run defense looked poor, allowing 335 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. It’s time for this front-seven to regroup.
  • The tackling remained poor. The secondary seems to have forgotten how to tackle and the front-seven was letting ball-carriers slip through their grasps as well.

All-in-all, it was an ugly game for Michigan State, winding up as the most lopsided loss in Mark Dantonio’s tenure.

Next: MSU Football: 5 bold predictions for November

Plenty went wrong, but this team is young. We will see how the Spartans correct their mistakes against a reeling Maryland team in East Lansing next weekend.

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