As an Ohio State fan, I'm concerned about this weekend's game. There are a number of reasons including:
First, MSU always seems to play up for tOSU. I'm sure everybody here remembers MSU knocking off what was, IMHO, one of the best tOSU teams ever in 2015. In the four years since that tOSU has gone 4-0 against the Spartans but several games were a lot closer than you would expect just from the records:
- 2016: A tOSU team that finished 11-2 beat an MSU team that finished 3-9 by a single point on a failed 2pt conversion by MSU in the closing minutes.
- 2017: A tOSU team that finished 12-2 beat an MSU team that finished 10-3 by 45 points. I will note that tOSU was coming off of a bad loss to Iowa and basically took their frustrations out on MSU.
- 2018: A tOSU team that finished 13-1 beat an MSU team that finished 7-6 by 20 points.
- 2019: A tOSU team that finished 13-1 beat an MSU team that finished 7-6 by 24 points.
Second, after not playing last week and being off for a while due to COVID I am concerned that the Buckeyes could look a little lethargic and/or rusty.
Third, they haven't told us exactly who is out, but we know that tOSU will be "short handed".
Fourth, apparently Texas and Urban Meyer are in some stage of talks and from the anonymous sources quoted it sounds like Meyer may have reached out to multiple tOSU assistant coaches who used to work for him. This is concerning because guys planning a move or even thinking about whether or not to move aren't 100% focused on the job at hand.
Fifth, and this actually should be #1, I just have no idea what to expect out of MSU. In three of their five games (IU, IA, and RU) the Spartans have looked dreadful. Their performance against each of those teams is worse than any other team against that opponent this year. However, in their other two games the Spartans have a road win in Ann Arbor and the only win so far this year against Northwestern. Who knows.