EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Robert Smith and Butler By'not'e each ran for touchdowns and Kirk Herbstreit threw for another score Saturday, leading Ohio State to a 27-17 victory over Michigan State.
The win enabled the Buckeyes, 5-2 overall and 2-2 Big Ten, to pull into an eight-way tie for second place in the Big Ten. The Spartans, 2-5 and 2-2, blew a 14-3 first-half lead.
Smith gave Ohio State a 24-14 lead at 2:18 of the third quarter when he broke away for a 20-yard TD run. The score was set up after Herbstreit's 39-yard pass to Brian Stablein gave the Buckeyes the ball at the MSU 25.
Michigan State pulled within 24-17 when Bill Stoyanovich kicked a 48- yard field goal at 11:08. The Spartans lost quarterback Bret Johnson to a knee injury on the drive and replaced him with Mil Coleman and fourth- stringer John Gieselman. Johnson was replacing for regular starter Jim Miller, who was out with a separated shoulder.
Tim Williams built Ohio State's lead to 27-17 with four seconds to go in the quarter with his 35-yard field goal. The Spartans never threatened in the fourth quarter, moving no further than their own 44.
Ohio State took a 3-0 lead at 4:06 of the first quarter on its first possession, taking the opening kickoff 35 yards and settling for a 47- yard field goal by Williams.
The Spartans went in front 7-3 at 10:30 on Johnson's 26-yard TD pass to Coleman, who jumped at the goal line and pulled in the ball over OSU's Roger Harper. The drive began after Ohio State's Joel Kessel managed only a 17-yard punt, giving Michigan State possession at the Buckeyes 40.
Johnson hit Coleman with a 13-yard scoring toss at 3:07 of the second quarter, pushing Michigan State's lead to 14-3. The Spartans moved the ball 87 yards in 12 plays, with Coleman capping the drive with a diving catch in the left corner of the end zone.
Ohio State rallied to a 17-14 halftime advantage with two TDs in the final 6:01.
Herbstreit pulled the Buckeyes within 14-10 at 8:49 when he led the team 77 yards, capping the drive with a 12-yard TD throw to Beatty. Herbstreit passed three times to Beatty on the march for 40 yards.
On Ohio State's next possession, Herbstreit guided the Buckeyes downfield with a mix of passes to Stablein and the running of By'not'e. His two passes to Stablein for 23 yards set up By'not'e's 15-yard TD sprint around left end, giving OSU the lead with 1:08 remaining.
