Ezekiel Elliott knows better than most what it takes to beat Michigan State. That much hasn't really changed since he arrived at Ohio State.
"They have a very tough interior seven and it'll basically be our will versus their will, our big guys versus their big guys," Elliott said Wednesday. "A pretty tough game."
The Spartans enter Saturday's Big Ten East tilt No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The Buckeyes are No. 3 after hardly being challenged through 10 games, but it's getting to that point in the calendar where the country's top teams begin to separate themselves.
It's time for those who wish to vie for championships to round into form.
"I think there's an identification with where we're not nine strong yet," Urban Meyer said. "We're working awfully hard to get there, it's not one unit. This game, it wasn't quite where we needed to be."
The Buckeyes dispatched Illinois, 28-3, Saturday in Champaign, Illinois. Elliott ran for 181 yards and a pair of scores, while J.T. Barrett added another touchdown on the ground and one through the air to Michael Thomas. His protection struggled at times, however, a glaring issue that will be exposed by a stellar Michigan State front seven.
That, strong special teams, winning the turnover battle and field position game are calling cards of a Mark Dantonio-coached squad.
"I think you put the top five, six, seven coaches in America, he's certainly there. I always watch special teams and I always watch the little things," Meyer said. "I've known coach for a long time, we're friends. I wouldn't say good friends, but we're friends and it's obvious what he's done for that program."
Dantonio has his team again on the cusp of a Big Ten East Division title despite a shocking loss at Nebraska two weeks ago, with perhaps the best quarterback in the conference calling the shots.
“Every once in awhile a team, a unit does and I feel in the room there's such an urgency to get that fixed. I think that's the term 'culture' comes in. Everyone is very workmanlike and businesslike.”– Urban Meyer
"They've got obviously a really good quarterback who can throw it to some weapons and he can make all the throws," Joshua Perry said of Connor Cook. "They've got that run game with those big guys up front who create lanes for running backs."
Cook left last weekend's 24-7 victory against Maryland with a shoulder injury. The severity of it is unknown, but it's safe to say he'll play Saturday and pose a challenge to Ohio State's defense. Just like Michigan State's defense will pose problems for Elliott and the Buckeye offense.
But with everything to this point largely immaterial, the Buckeyes know they must be better to beat Michigan State and stay atop the standings.
"If you see two or three dog units, we've got a problem like we had a couple years ago. We don't have that," Meyer said. "Every once in awhile a team, a unit does and I feel in the room there's such an urgency to get that fixed. I think that's the term 'culture' comes in. Everyone is very workmanlike and businesslike."
The 3:30 p.m. kickoff provides a national stage for the Buckeyes to yet again prove themselves and their preparation worthy of a spot among the nation's best college football teams. Signs are posted around the facility informing the players and coaches that "The most prepared team will win this game."
They know what's at stake, and how the game will be determined.
"I think people are still unsure of what we got and this is a statement game," Elliott said. "It's a game we've been waiting for all season and it's a game against what other people will recognize as good competition. It's a game that we have go out there and show who we are and what we can do."
