Michigan State Notebook: Chris Olave Relishes Record-Setting Senior Day, Three Ohio State Defenders Suffer Injuries and Noah Ruggles’ Perfect Season Ends

By Dan Hope on November 21, 2021 at 6:00 am
Chris Olave
19 Comments

Chris Olave arrived at the postgame press conference after Ohio State’s win over Michigan State with a football in his hands.

There was good reason for that. It was the ball Olave caught with 2:31 to play in the first quarter for a 43-yard touchdown, his second touchdown catch of Saturday’s game and more meaningfully, the 35th touchdown reception of his Ohio State career, which moved him ahead of David Boston for the most touchdown catches in school history.

Olave admitted after the game that he didn’t think about keeping the ball initially, but it was ultimately retrieved for him.

“I had to get the ball,” Olave said. “I forgot to keep it. Somebody had to go get it. And I just got it after the game.”

He’ll surely be keeping the ball in a safe place now, though, as it represents the history made on what was an all-around special day for the fourth-year wide receiver from California, who caught seven passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns in his final home game as a Buckeye.

Olave said “it’s a huge blessing” to now hold the Ohio State record for touchdown catches.

“When I first came in, I came in as a three-star ... I didn’t know this would come to this day, but I just kept my head down and kept working,” Olave said. “And tried to maximize my potential here. And I feel like I’ve done that. I’ve got a lot of blessings.”

Setting the record on Senior Day, in his last game at Ohio Stadium and with his family in Columbus to cheer him on, made the moment that much more special.

“I never thought this day would come. I feel like it went by so quick,” Olave said. “Running out for Senior Day, I never thought it would come, but that’s why I’m here, and I’m just glad my fam was here.”

Olave was one of 24 Senior Day honorees before Saturday’s game along with Aaron Cox, Jack Jamieson, Robert Cope, Austin Kutscher, Jagger LaRoe, Corey Rau, Ryan Batsch, Cade Kacherski, Sam Wiglusz, Chris Booker, Cameron Brown, Master Teague, Mitch Rossi, Tyreke Smith, Nicholas Petit-Frere, Sevyn Banks, Bradley Robinson, Jeremy Ruckert, Marcus Williamson, Antwuan Jackson, Demario McCall, Haskell Garrett and Thayer Munford.

For all the Buckeyes who played their final game in the Shoe on Saturday – though it’s still possible some of those players could come back for additional years of eligibility – they’ll have reason to remember their final home game fondly as Ohio State defeated Michigan State in dominant fashion, 56-7.

“Very emotional, very unique but I knew the first objective was to beat this team and put my brothers first,” Garrett said after the game. “It was truly a special moment, and I just thank all the fans and all the love that they give us.”

RELATED C.J. Stroud Asserts Himself As A Heisman Frontrunner with Nearly Flawless Performance Against Michigan State

Simon, Burke and Kacherski injured

While Saturday was an excellent day for Ohio State’s defense from a performance standpoint, as the Buckeyes held Michigan State to just 224 yards and seven points, they took a few lumps in the form of injuries along the way.

Starting middle linebacker Cody Simon left the game in the first quarter and did not return after taking a hit to his shoulder while making a tackle against Michigan State tight end Tyler Hunt on the Buckeyes’ second defensive play of the game. He remained with the team on the sidelines but did not go back in.

Starting cornerback Denzel Burke immediately grabbed his shoulder in pain after breaking up a pass in the second quarter, but was able to return to the field later in the half. He did not play at all in the second half, but that might have just been precautionary, as Ryan Day said the Buckeyes were conservative about who they played in the second half after taking a 49-0 lead into halftime.

“I had to talk some guys off the ledge a little bit because they were upset about not getting back in the game, but it was the right thing to do,” Day said. “If it was even a thought at all, we took them out of the game.”

The worst-looking injury of the day occurred on the opening kickoff of the second half when Kacherski’s Senior Day ended in unfortunate fashion as he went down with what appeared to be a non-contact leg injury. Kacherski, who also suffered an injury on kickoff coverage that ended his season last year, did not return to the game.

With Simon sidelined for all but the first two defensive plays, Tommy Eichenberg saw most of the playing time at middle linebacker against the Spartans – 50 snaps, his second-highest defensive snap count of the season, per Pro Football Focus – and tied Kourt Williams for the team lead with seven tackles. Day made a point to praise Eichenberg when he was asked about the defense after Saturday’s game.

“Tommy was really all over the place today,” Day said.

With Sevyn Banks also out for Saturday’s game with an injury, Lejond Cavazos checked into the game at cornerback when Burke had to leave the game. Ryan Watts and Demario McCall also saw regular playing time in the second half.

Day did not provide any updates on Simon, Burke, Banks or Kacherski after Saturday’s game. He was asked about the absence of kickoff returner Emeka Egbuka, who was unavailable for Saturday’s game, and said Egbuka’s unavailability was not expected to be a long-term situation.

Ruggles no longer perfect

On a day where almost everything went well for Ohio State, one thing that surprisingly didn’t go well was Noah Ruggles’ lone field goal attempt of the game.

Going into Saturday’s game against Michigan State, Ruggles had made every kick he attempted this season for Ohio State; his 16 made field goals were the most of any kicker in college football that hadn’t yet missed a field goal this season.

Dating back to the end of his North Carolina career, Ruggles had made 18 consecutive field goals, which was the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He was unable to extend that streak to 19, however, as he missed a 38-yard field goal wide right following Ohio State’s opening possession of the third quarter.

Fortunately for the Buckeyes, that field goal was of little consequence to Saturday’s game, which they still won by 49 points. Ruggles did convert extra points after all eight of Ohio State’s touchdowns to improve to 65-for-65 on PATs this year.

RELATED Photos from Ohio State's 56-7 Win over Michigan State

Attendance finishes strong

When Ohio State barely topped 100,000 fans for its marquee non-conference home opener against Oregon and failed to reach that threshold for its next three home games – most starkly, when only 76,540 fans attended the third game of the season against Tulsa – there was reason to wonder if the days of Ohio Stadium regularly drawing six-digit crowds for Buckeye games had come and gone. That said, attendance at the Shoe bounced back for each of Ohio State’s final three home games of the year.

Ohio State’s official attendance for Saturday’s final home game of the season was reported to be 101,858, marking the third straight game with more than 100,000 in the stands as the Buckeyes had 102,951 people in attendance for their Oct. 30 game against Penn State and 101,009 people in the building for their Nov. 13 game against Purdue.

Ohio State’s 2021 Home Attendance By Game
Date Opponent Attendance
SEPT. 11 OREGON 100,482
SEPT. 18 TULSA 76,540
SEPT. 25 AKRON 95,178
OCT. 9 MARYLAND 99,277
OCT. 30 PENN STATE 102,951
NOV. 13 PURDUE 101,009
NOV. 20 MICHIGAN STATE 101,858

Ohio State will look to keep the momentum going with a big crowd inside the Shoe when it begins its 2022 season with a Sept. 3 home game against Notre Dame. The Buckeyes have eight home games at Ohio Stadium next season – one more than usual – and announced Thursday that prices for tickets in the two cheapest seating zones of Ohio Stadium would be reduced in an effort to sell out more games next season. 2022 season ticket sales begin Tuesday.

Ohio State Dominates Michigan State
19 Comments

Ohio State Makes Statement, Blows Out Tennessee 42-17 in First Round of College Football Playoff

Jeremiah Smith

Five Things: More Like Rocky Flop As Ohio State Pummels Tennessee, 42-17, in CFP Quarterfinal

Joy and pain
View 19 Comments