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Michigan State Football: 3 concerns heading into top-10 Ohio State battle

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Matt Coghlin, center, celebrates with Payton Thorne, right, and Cal Haladay after beating Nebraska in overtime on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 291a
Michigan State's Matt Coghlin, center, celebrates with Payton Thorne, right, and Cal Haladay after beating Nebraska in overtime on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 291a /
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Michigan wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (6) can’t make a catch against Michigan State cornerback Ronald Williams (9) during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021.
Michigan wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (6) can’t make a catch against Michigan State cornerback Ronald Williams (9) during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. /

1. Secondary against CJ Stroud, elite receivers

If the thought of CJ Stroud and three All-Big Ten caliber receivers facing Michigan State’s “nation’s worst” pass defense doesn’t worry you, I don’t know what will.

The Spartans have been torched by the likes of Bailey Zappe, Aidan O’Connell, and Taulia Tagovailoa this season so what makes us think that they’re going to fare any better against Stroud and the Buckeyes’ elite receiving corps?

This has to be the most worrisome aspect of Saturday’s top-10 showdown even though the Buckeyes do have one of the best running backs in the country in TreVeyon Henderson.

Michigan State’s run defense is solid, so I’m not overly worried about Henderson (although he will have some highlight runs), but the secondary has been so poor this season and Ohio State basically has three David Bell-level wideouts and a Heisman-contending quarterback.

This secondary is going to face its toughest test of the season against Ohio State on Saturday and it needs to fare better than it did against Purdue if the Spartans want to have a shot.

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