Jonathan Smith not using Ohio State game as measuring stick for Michigan State

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Michigan State Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith walks the sidelines during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. - Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State has lost each of its last eight meetings with Ohio State and is a 23.5-point underdog heading into this year’s matchup, which is set for Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.

The last Spartans win in the series was also the most recent chapter of an MSU-OSU upset saga. A 41-yard Michael Geiger field goal clinched a 17-14 Spartans victory and stunned Buckeyes faithful in the Horseshoe as a talent-laden 2015 Ohio State squad saw its College Football Playoff hopes dashed.

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Sometimes it’s green, sometimes it’s white, but Michigan State has often been the kryptonite for Ohio State, like in 1998 when John Cooper’s top-ranked Buckeyes squandered a 24-9 lead, or in 1974 when Woody Hayes’ No. 1 Buckeyes fell victim to an infamous goal line finale in a still-controversial 16-13 “Bizarre Bowl” defeat.

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First-year Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith was asked this week if he used the Oregon game as a measuring stick when he was previously coaching at Oregon State and, likewise, if he’ll use the Ohio State game as such for this year’s Michigan State team, which is 3-1 after a disappointing loss in a Week 4 thriller at Boston College.

“I don’t know if we sit here and pinpoint, ‘OK these two opponents are going to tell us where we’re at as a program,'” Smith said. “We got a bunch of respect for them. But again, we’re going to treat this Saturday and our approach to this Saturday very similar, understanding that you’re going to have to play really well to win a game, and I think we approach that week in and week out.”

While Michigan State has a knack for beating the odds in games against Ohio State, things haven’t been close lately in the series. After the Buckeyes escaped the 2016 matchup with a 17-16 victory, here are the scores of their last seven wins over the Spartans: 48-3 (2017), 26-6 (2018), 34-10 (2019), 52-12 (2020), 56-7 (2021), 49-20 (2022) and 38-3 (2023).

Smith, though, isn’t focused on past results.

“We’re excited about the opportunity on Saturday,” he said. “We get 12 of them guaranteed. I want our approach to be pretty consistent. We respect everybody we play. Obviously, these guys demand some respect, and so we’ll give them that with our work and preparation. I think, hopefully, we’ll get to the point on Saturday where they’re going to be excited to play in this game.

“There’s some good players on the other side, and the atmosphere at our place, counting on it being packed and full of energy. They’re going to be excited to play.”

While Smith is staying in the moment and not placing significant importance on what’s transpired before his time in East Lansing, he understands and appreciates the meaning of the series between Michigan State and Ohio State.

“I know it means a ton,” Smith said about Saturday night’s game. “I just think about the recruiting side. We want to be in [Ohio] recruiting, so playing the flagship program of the state, that means something. I haven’t been in the league, but you know this logo, this brand of football. It’s a big-time opponent.”