B1G Rewind: Meltdown in Columbus, Iowa-Michigan State breakdown

Ohio State's 23-game win streak was snapped on the game's final play Saturday against Michigan State, and the Buckeyes had a difficult time processing it.

Spartans kicker Michael Geiger hit a 41-yard field goal as time expired to upset Ohio State 17-14 at Ohio Stadium. Michigan State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) now holds the edge for the East Division's title-game berth, while Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) needs to beat rival Michigan and hope Penn State upsets the Spartans this Saturday.

Instead of hunkering down and supporting one another in a tough defeat, Ohio State players turned to a dark place. Running back Ezekiel Elliott obviously was frustrated with the defeat and blamed the coaching staff. Elliott ran just 12 times for 33 yards against Michigan State after posting 15 consecutive 100-yard games. After halftime, he rushed twice for 3 yards.

'I'm disappointed in the play-calling. I'm disappointed in the situations that we were put in, and I wish it all played out differently,' Elliott told reporters afterward. 'It is very disappointing. In the one drive that we had where we kind of had some momentum after we scored on the strip sack, the plays we ran, we ran a lot of gap schemes and we were gashing them. You guys saw that on that drive. We had a lot of momentum.

'Honestly, we didn't see those plays for the rest of the game. Those plays weren't called anymore. I asked for those plays to be called, and they weren't. It just hurts. It hurts a lot because of how we lost. I feel like we just weren't put in the right opportunity to win this game. We weren't put in the right situations to win this game.'

Defending national champion Ohio State mounted just 132 yards of total offense and 57 after halftime. The Buckeyes gained only two first downs in the second half and were outscored 10-0 in the fourth quarter.

After a Michigan State fumble late in the first quarter, Elliott ran on eight of Ohio State's 10 plays that culminated in his 1-yard score on fourth down. Both of Ohio State's touchdowns came after MSU turnovers in its territory. The second TD was set up by a fumbled punt at the Michigan State 6-yard line.

'We lost the line of scrimmage,' Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer said. 'And obviously you start loading up the box in those kind of situations and we were — the passing game was just, it was not there. I think we maybe had a couple of opportunities, but it just was obviously tough conditions to throw the ball. But we tried inside/outside and they beat us at the line of scrimmage, and we were unable to execute in the throw game. That was a very poor performance.'

It's a shocking turnaround for a team that returned nine primary starters on offense and seven on defense. The Buckeyes were chosen unanimously as the Associated Press' top-ranked team in the preseason. BTN aired an all-access series 'Scarlet and Gray Days' last August, and the Buckeyes were treated like rock stars. But multiple lackluster performances caused Ohio State to slip to No. 3 by the College Football Playoff selection committee.

The loss ended Ohio State's conference record 30-game winning streak in regular-season Big Ten games. It didn't end the Buckeyes' hopes for a College Football Playoff berth, but they need help. The best scenario includes OSU winning at Michigan, Penn State upsetting Michigan State and then Ohio State topping Iowa for the Big Ten championship.

Ohio State's players apparently have checked out. Junior quarterback Cardale Jones, who lost his starting job midway through the season, wrote on Instagram that it was his final home game. Elliott, also a junior, told reporters he would leave as well.

'This will be my last game in the 'Shoe,' he said. 'There's no chance of me coming back next year. I have to make the most of my time left. I just want to thank Buckeye Nation for making this place so special, and I'm sorry about (Saturday).'

SPARTY-HERKY COMPARISON

With its win at Ohio State, Michigan State (10-1, 6-1) has become the latest team favored to leapfrog Iowa (11-0, 7-0) in the College Football Playoff rankings and crush the Hawkeyes for the Big Ten title. But the numbers suggest there's not much separation for the former Legends Division rivals.

The teams have played three common opponents and the results are somewhat similar. Both teams beat Purdue, Indiana and Maryland. Iowa's margin of victory in those games was 44 points, while Michigan State's was 46.

Iowa beat Maryland 31-15, and MSU stopped the Terrapins 24-7. Both teams had interception returns for touchdowns. Iowa led Maryland 21-0 at halftime; Michigan State scored the last 17 points against the Terrapins. Iowa outgained Maryland 293-241, while Maryland outgained Michigan State 289-262.

Michigan State led Purdue 21-0 at halftime. The Hawkeyes led the Boilermakers 20-0 in the second quarter. Purdue outgained Iowa 405-387, while the Spartans outgained the Boilermakers 406-301. Iowa outscored Purdue 20-7 in the final 20 minutes to win 40-20. The Boilermakers rallied to cut Michigan State's lead to 24-21 and had the ball past midfield in the final three minutes before the Spartans thwarted Purdue's upset hopes.

In the early fourth quarter, Iowa led Indiana 21-20 before pulling away 35-27. MSU led the Hoosiers 28-26 early in the fourth quarter before scoring three touchdowns in the final five minutes for a 52-26 win. Iowa outgained Indiana 467-407, while the Spartans held a 540-389 edge in yards.

Michigan State plays in the higher-profile division and owns wins over ranked Michigan (9-2) and Ohio State (10-1), both of which were on the road. Iowa beat ranked Northwestern (9-2) and Wisconsin (8-3) on the road. In non-conference play, Michigan State edged Oregon (8-3) 31-28 at home. Iowa edged Pittsburgh (8-3) 27-24 at home.

The teams will have one more common opponent. Friday, Iowa plays at Nebraska. Michigan lost 39-38 at Nebraska earlier this month.

Since Mark Dantonio took over at Michigan State in 2007, Iowa leads their series 4-3 and holds a 153-141 scoring edge. Two games went into double-overtime (both Iowa wins) and two others were decided in the final minute (split). Iowa's touchdown pass on the game's final play at Michigan State in 2009 provided the program with an iconic moment of the Kirk Ferentz era. Michigan State's comeback win at Iowa in 2013 propelled the Spartans into a national power.

History suggests a close game if Iowa plays Michigan State at any location. This season's numbers show that as well.

QUOTABLE

'Actually I thought we won it a couple times, but we didn't.' — Wisconsin Coach Paul Chryst, whose squad had two touchdowns reversed on replay in the final minute of a 13-7 loss to Northwestern.

POLL WATCHING

In both polls, Iowa moved up to No. 3 (from 6th) and Michigan State to No. 6 (from 9th), Ohio State fell to No. 8 from No. 2 and Michigan ranks 12th and Northwestern is No. 17. Wisconsin dropped out but still receives votes.

THUMBS UPS

Michigan State's defense held Ohio State to 132 total yards and just five first downs. ... Rutgers rushed for 254 yards at 6.5 yards a carry. ... Northwestern's defense kept Wisconsin to 2 of 13 on third down. ... Michigan held Penn State to 207 total yards. ... Iowa clinched its first divisional title and finished 7-0 at home. ... Indiana rallied from a 21-3 deficit to outscore Maryland 44-7 the rest of the game. ... Maryland rushed for 319 yards on 46 carries. ... Minnesota held the ball for 35:40 and converted 8 of 17 on third down.

THUMBS DOWNS

Ohio State held the ball for just 9 minutes, 16 seconds in the second half. ... Wisconsin rushed for minus-26 yards on 26 attempts and was sacked six times. ... Penn State's passing game was just 13 of 32 for 137 yards, one score and four sacks. ... Purdue was 4 of 18 on third down. ... Illinois allowed Minnesota to rush for 255 yards at an 8-yard clip.

WEEKEND STARS

Maryland RB Brandon Ross rushed for 250 yards and three TDs. ... Wisconsin LB Joe Schobert recorded 13 tackles, including three for loss. ... Iowa QB C.J. Beathard completed 12 of 20 passes for 213 yards and three TDs. ... Indiana QB Nate Sudfeld passed for 385 yards and four TDs. ... Minnesota RB Shannon Brooks ran for 174 yards and three TDs. ... Michigan QB Jake Rudock threw for 256 yards and two TDs.

NOTEWORTHY

Ohio State LB Joshua Perry registered 15 tackles. ... Michigan State punter Jake Hartbarger averaged 40.4 on five punts and drilled three inside the 20. ... Rutgers RB Paul James rushed for 116 yards and three TDS. ... Northwestern RB Joshua Jackson rushed for 139 yards and a TD. ... Purdue backup QB Austin Appleby passed for 259 yards. ... Illinois WR Malik Turner caught 11 passes for 126 yards and a score. ... Penn State safety Marcus Allen had 12 tackles and a pass breakup.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Iowa (2) 11-0 7-0

Two wins from a playoff berth, hard to imagine 3 months ago

2. Michigan State (3) 10-1 6-1

Never rule out resilient Sparty

3. Michigan (4) 9-2 6-1

Would like to see how this team performs vs. SEC in bowl game

4. Ohio State (1) 10-1 6-1

No matter how justified, players blaming coaches for defeat lacks character

5. Northwestern (6) 9-2 5-2

Impressive turnaround in Evanston by Coach Pat Fitzgerald

6. Wisconsin (5) 8-3 5-2

Failed to score fourth-quarter TDs at 1-yard line in both close league losses

7. Penn State (7) 7-4 4-3

Nittany Lions have shot at big say in East Division race

8. Nebraska (8) 5-6 3-4

Chance to turn annual series with Iowa into a rivalry — and bowl berth

9. Minnesota (9) 5-6 2-5

Heck of a deal: Win the Axe, go to a bowl

10. Indiana (11) 5-6 1-6

Hoosiers can earn 2nd bowl berth since 1993 with rivalry win

11. Illinois (10) 5-6 2-5

Gave up home game to play Northwestern in Chicago with bowl at stake

12. Purdue (12) 2-9 1-6

Fights hard but just a few players away from winning big games

13. Rutgers (13) 4-7 1-6

Will Rutgers join expansion mate Maryland in looking for next coach?

14. Maryland (14) 2-9 0-7

Season mercifully ends Saturday

STANDINGS

WEST DIVISION

Iowa 11-0 7-0

Northwestern 9-2 5-2

Wisconsin 8-3 5-2

Nebraska 5-6 3-4

Illinois 5-6 2-5

Minnesota 5-6 2-5

Purdue 2-9 1-6

EAST DIVISION

Michigan State 10-1 6-1

Ohio State 10-1 6-1

Michigan 9-2 6-1

Penn State 7-4 4-3

Indiana 5-6 1-6

Rutgers 4-7 1-6

Maryland 2-9 0-7

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Iowa 40, Purdue 20

Michigan 28, Penn State 16

Minnesota 32, Illinois 23

Indiana 47, Maryland 28

Rutgers 31, Army 21

Northwestern 13, Wisconsin 7

Michigan State 17, Ohio State 14

Idle: Nebraska

NEXT WEEKEND

Iowa at Nebraska, 2:30 p.m. (ABC), Friday

Ohio State at Michigan, 11 a.m. (ABC)

Indiana at Purdue, 11 a.m. (BTN)

Maryland at Rutgers, 11 a.m. (BTN)

Wisconsin at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m. (BTN)

Northwestern vs. Illinois (Soldier Field), 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Penn State at Michigan State, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com