Michigan State Snaps Ohio State's 23-Game Win Streak

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Breaking down No. 9 Michigan State's 17-14 win Saturday at No. 2 Ohio State:

THE BIG PICTURE: Even though they had been unimpressive and lacked significant victories, College Football Playoff committee chairman Jeff Long was adamant in recent weeks that the Ohio State Buckeyes' best football was ahead of them.

Well, so much for that.

The reigning national champions will likely not be back to defend their title, and it occurred in shocking fashion at home as Michigan State was the more physical team, the more poised team and the team with a better gameplan.

The Spartans, left for dead after that shocking loss at Nebraska on Nov. 7, own Big Ten tiebreakers against East Division foes Ohio State and Michigan and are very much alive for the national title after junior Michael Geiger kicked a 41-yard field goal through the wind and rain with no time left on the clock to break a 14-14 tie and silence Ohio Stadium.

And they did it without their All-American candidate quarterback Connor Cook, who was unavailable due to a shoulder injury. It took an unreal effort from Michigan State's defense, which limited the Buckeyes to 132 yards on 45 plays and the ability to overcome two major mistakes that basically gifted Ohio State (10-1) two touchdowns.

But the Spartans (10-1) got it done and can win the Big Ten East with a home victory against Penn State next weekend. Meanwhile, this was supposed to be the stage for Ohio State — after beating (and at times sleepwalking) through 10 overmatched opponents — to finally show its championship stuff. It simply never happened.

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2015/11/21/michigan-state-ohio-state-college-football/76187062/