#9 Ohio State (8-1, 4-1) 37 -
#20 Michigan State (5-3, 2-3) 13

In the 1997 OSU -vs- Michigan State game, which Buckeye DB scored two TD's - one on an interception return and another on a blocked punt return? Answer below.

Below, check out a few pictures taken at the game. We hope to get a "fan's eye view" of several games this season by posting pictures taken by fans. If you have pictures from a recent game and would like us to post them on the TriviaZone site, please contact us at oasys@primenet.com for more details.

Ohio State (7-1, 3-1) at Michigan State (5-2, 2-2)
(Saturday, 3:30 PM ABC)

Like Northwestern, Ohio State has not met MSU on the gridiron, since 1994. In that game, at East Lansing, OSU LB, Greg Bellisari, returned an interception for a TD in the fourth quarter to seal a hard-fought, come-from-behind win, 23-7. Playing at Michigan State again will be another tough game for the Buckeyes. Spartan Stadium is not an easy place to play, especially when an improved team with a coach that has NFL experience awaits. Nick Saban has put together a tough team on both sides of the ball. Although this is a team that is probably a year away from making some serious noise in the Big Ten and nationally, the ability is there to beat anyone. Don't be fooled by their 23-7 loss to rival Michigan, they hung with the Wolverines and had the lead for awhile. Michigan might be the Nation's top team with a brick wall defense led by the best all-around athlete in the country, CB/WR - Charles Woodson. What was a surprise was their 19-17 setback at Northwestern a week earlier. The offense is good, averaging 30 points a game. The running game is the strength of this unit led by double threat TB, Sedrick Irvin (1067 yards rushing 40 receptions in 1996). QB, Todd Schultz, is steady (62% completion rate and second team All-Big-Ten last year), except for the Michigan game when he threw five interceptions. The O-Line is solid, anchored by Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award hopeful, right tackle - Flozell Adams (6-7, 330), an Orlando Pace caliber lineman.. The defense is better this season, limiting the opposition to 13.7 points a game. That is a significant improvement from last year when they allowed 25 a game. OLB, Ike Reese (team best 115 tackles in 1996) leads this group with help coming from the other OLB, Courtney Ledyard, who moved from the right DE spot he played last season. Three Things to Remember: Nick Saban is a defense-oriented coach (Defensive Coordinator for the Browns before getting the head job at MSU in 1995). He knows the strength of our offense is in the passing game. Look for tons of blitzing. If the game is tight, the Spartans may have the advantage in place-kicking with experienced Senior, Chris Gardner (17-22 FG in 1996), even though his last minute field goal against Northwestern was blocked. The OSU defense has not allowed a TD in eight quarters and has given up only 343 yards during that time. More of the same will be needed to get out with a victory in a very hostile environment. The Bucks better be ready! This is an important game for both squads. The Spartans are now playing for bowl positioning. They still have a good shot at a New Year's Day bowl. The Buckeyes are still in the Big Ten race for the Rose Bowl. If not the Granddaddy of them all, an Alliance bowl, this would sure be a great consolation prize, if you want to call it that. Commentary: Those of you who are upset with the OSU coaching staff for alternating the quarterbacks, don't be. Consider the situation a luxury. When a team has two proven specialty players at the same position, the only logical choice is to play them both. Stan can run and Joe can pass. The qualities that both bring to the table, and the way the coaching staff has it set up with Jackson as the starter and Germaine as the backup, make the Bucks an extremely difficult team to defend, and even more challenging to prepare for. So, for those of you who boo and hiss at the games, please, for the sake of the team, the University, and the majority of the fans, show a little class and be quiet! Playing at home is supposed to be an advantage, not a disadvantage. There are potential recruits at these games. Nobody wants to see a highly-touted High School athlete turn Ohio State down because of some poor behavior by a group of unhappy fans. Prediction: OSU 27 - 17