Viewing guide: How to watch Ohio State versus Michigan State

COLUMBUS — Ohio State trailed Rutgers last weekend at halftime. The Buckeyes didn’t look good.

But they found a way to earn another road win despite playing one of their worst halves of the season. And the College Football Playoff committee believe the Buckeyes are still worthy of the No. 1 spot in the latest rankings ahead of the primetime showdown against a struggling Michigan State program.

Of course, Ohio State doesn’t care either way. It’s doing everything it can to block out the noise coming from every angle.

“I think you have so many guys on our team that have just kind of been through all this before,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday. “And they know it means absolutely nothing. And their goal is to win the whole thing and to be the No. 1 team at the end of the year. So we want to win them all. And that’s all that matters. And so, at the end, they’ll rank us but we’re just going to try to win them all. And, you know, that continues this Saturday.”

The goal for the Buckeyes — to be the top-ranked team at the end of the season — will be tested again this weekend as the struggling Spartans enter the Horseshoe for the lone primetime game at Ohio Stadium this fall.

Ohio State controls its destiny to get to the Big Ten title game and, eventually, into the College Football Playoff. And the November slate continues with a primetime showdown against Michigan State.

Lettermen Row has every detail you’ll need to get ready for the Buckeyes matchup with the Spartans. Let’s break it all down.

Ohio State vs. Michigan State: Game time, details

Ohio State has won the last seven meetings with Michigan State, winning the last six by double digits over the Spartans. The closest margin of victory for Ryan Day against Michigan State is 24 points, that coming in 2019 — when the Buckeyes had their best team under Day.

The Buckeyes lead the all-time series against the Spartans 36-15. But Michigan State has spoiled undefeated Ohio State seasons in the Horseshoe before, and the goal for that struggling program is to do it again under the lights on Saturday night.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
• TV Channel: NBC
• Date: Saturday, Nov. 11
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Weather: High of 36º RealFeel of 33º, 7% chance of rain, winds 7-9 mph
• The line: Ohio State is a 31.5-point favorite, per FanDuel.
• Over/under: 48.5 points

How to watch Buckeyes

The Ohio State v. Michigan State game will be televised on NBC as part of the Big Ten on NBC matchup with Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (color analyst) and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter) on the call.

How to stream Buckeyes

This week, the Buckeyes can be streamed on Peacock or any streaming service that carries NBC affiliates.

How to listen to Buckeyes

Paul Keels, Jim Lachey and Matt Andrews will have the call on the Ohio State Sports Radio Network 97.1 FM (WBNS).

Ohio State vs. Michigan State betting trends

• The Buckeyes are 5-3-1 against the spread this season. The Buckeyes had covered the spread in every game since it started 0-2 against the number, with the exception of the push at Notre Dame. But they failed to cover by a half-point against Wisconsin two weeks ago.
• The total has gone under in 6 of the last 8 games between Ohio State and Michigan State
• The total has gone over in 14 of Ohio State’s last 19 games against a Big Ten East opponent
• The Buckeyes have went over the total just twice in their eight games this season
• Michigan State is 4-4-1 against the spread this season
• Michigan State is 2-4 against the number in Big Ten play this season
• The total has gone over in four of the last five Michigan State games
• Ohio State has won seven straight games over Michigan State
• Ohio State is 8-0 against the spread in its last 8 games played in Week 11