SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 29, 2012
Ohio State 17, No. 18 Michigan State 16: Braxton Miller accounted for 315 total yards and threw a go-ahead touchdown pass late in the third quarter as the visiting Buckeyes stayed unbeaten.
Miller overcame three turnovers and a knee injury by throwing for 179 yards and rushing for 136 yards on 23 carries as Ohio State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) won for the seventh time in eight meetings at Michigan State.
Devin Smith had two receptions for 79 yards, including a 63-yard scoring strike down the right sideline to give the Buckeyes a 17-13 lead with 3:05 left in the third quarter.
Spartans quarterback Andrew Maxwell completed 22 of 42 passes and a touchdown and Le'Veon Bell was limited to 45 yards on 17 carries for Michigan State (3-2, 0-1).
Michigan State's Keith Mumphery caught a dazzling 29-yard scoring pass in the third quarter, breaking at least six tackles, and Dan Conroy booted three field goals for the Spartans, including a 50-yarder and one from 48 that sliced the lead to 17-16 with 7:07 to play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: First-year Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer improve to 11-0 in conference openers and 39-4 in September. ... Michigan State center Travis Jackson was carted off the field in the second quarter and did not return. ... Ohio State lost running back Jordan Hall to a knee injury in the first half. He capped the Buckeyes' first possession with a 1-yard touchdown run.