Buckeyes Fall
Footabll fans across the country knew that the only thing that could stand between Ohio State and the Fiesta Bowl was a team from Michigan. But few expected it would be 4-4 Michigan State handing the top-ranked Buckeyes their first loss.
Julian Peterson forced three fumbles and Renaldo Hill intercepted Joe Germaine's last-gasp pass at the goal line with 1:12 left as the Spartans -- four-touchdown underdog going into the game -- shocked the Buckeyes 28-24 on Saturday.
"We came in here with the attitude we were the squirts in the neighborhood who had to pick a fight with the bully," MSU coach Nick Saban said. "We've been an inconsistent team this year. We're young. For us to grow up and make the plays at the end of the game like we did is a positive step for our program."
It was the third time in four years an undefeated Ohio State team has fallen to a team from Michigan. The Buckeyes (8-1, 5-1 in the Big Ten) came in No. 1 in both major polls and the Bowl Championship Series standings and had beaten every opponent by at least 17 points before running into the Spartans. Now, hopes of a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and the National Championship are all but history.
"This hurts, no question about it," Ohio State coach John Cooper said. "It seems like anything that could happen to us did happen to us."
The Spartans (5-4, 3-2 in the Big Ten) trailed 24-9 early in the third quarter following a 73-yard interception return by Damon Moore. However, Michigan State rallied and took a 25-24 lead on Sedrick Irvin's 3-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter, then padded the margin on Paul Edinger's fifth field goal of the game with 9:26 left.
Ohio State drove to the Michigan State 15 in the closing minutes, but three straight incompletions left the Buckeyes facing fourth down. The Spartans blitzed, leaving flanker Dee Miller isolated in single coverage on Hill. But quarterback Joe Germaine underthrew the pass, and Hill picked it off near the goal line to seal the victory.
It was Michigan State's first victory over a No. 1 team since the Spartans upset Michigan 28-27 in 1990, which was also the last time an unranked team defeated a top-ranked squad. As for Ohio State, the former No. 1 is now not even the top team in their conference. The Buckeyes have dropped to third in the Big Ten behind Michigan and Wisconsin, both unbeaten in conference play.
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