Ohio State's dominant offensive performance secured the belt in East Lansing, as the Buckeyes built a commanding lead through the first three quarters. Troy Smith orchestrated an efficient passing attack, connecting repeatedly with Anthony Gonzalez and other receivers to set up five touchdown drives, including a spectacular 60-yard punt return for a score by Ted Ginn Jr. in the second quarter. Michigan State's offense struggled to generate consistent momentum, managing only 198 total yards and failing to mount any serious threat until a late touchdown by A.J. Jimmerson with 1:08 remaining made the final margin closer than the game itself. Ohio State's superior time of possession (20:21 to 15:02) and third-down conversion rate (10-16 vs 6-15) reflected their control throughout, and despite the Spartans' late-game activity, the Buckeyes never relinquished their grip on the belt.
Written by Claude from the box score and play-by-play on this page — a plain-English recap of the numbers below, not a substitute for them.