Jack Park, a leading Ohio State football historian, checks in each week during the college football season with a retrospective about the Buckeyes.Ohio State will travel to Michigan State on Saturday for what will be the 45th meeting between the Buckeyes and Spartans. OSU leads the series 29-15, but Michigan State has won three of the past five, including a stunning 17-14 victory last season in Columbus for Ohio State’s lone loss of the season.Michigan State joined the Big Ten in 1953, replacing the University of Chicago Maroons, who had dropped football following the 1939 season. The Spartans made an immediate impact, winning a Big Ten co-championship with Illinois in their initial season and defeating UCLA 28-20 in the Rose Bowl. Taking advantage of a speedy and quick “pony backfield,” Spartans coach Biggie Munn used a multiple-formation offense that outscored its 10 opponents 240-110.Michigan State finished the 1953 season 9-1,…
Continue Reading: Ohio State football | Jack Looks Back: Spartans made a splash entering Big Ten
