UPDATE (12:10 p.m.): McDowell is out.
It's looking more and more like Michigan State will be without one of its best defensive playmakers against No. 2 Ohio State.
On Tuesday, Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio said junior defensive tackle Malik McDowell, who the team removed from the depth chart earlier in the day, would either start or not play at all due to lingering ankle and rib injuries.
The plot thickened Saturday morning in East Lansing. McDowell, reportedly a future first-round pick and former Ohio State recruiting target, was not listed on the Michigan State dress list.
Here's a look, via the indomitable Tim Shoemaker, whom you should follow on Twitter:
Now, this could all be a ploy by Dantonio, and McDowell could run out of the locker room two minutes before kick dressed in full pads. We'll see. But right now, it's looking more like McDowell won't play.
By comparison, Ohio State will be without senior wide receivers Dontre Wilson and Corey Smith. They duo didn't make the trip to East Lansing as they recover from injuries.
No. 2 Ohio State at Michigan State kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.
