Barrett, Ohio State race past Michigan State

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- J.T. Barrett threw for three touchdowns and ran for two in a sensational performance, and 14th-ranked Ohio State scored almost at will against Michigan State's vaunted defense, beating the No. 8 Spartans, 49-37, last night.

With one overwhelming offensive display, the Buckeyes (8-1, 5-0) re-established themselves as the Big Ten's dominant team under Urban Meyer, avenged their loss to Michigan State in last year's conference title game.

Barrett, who became the starting quarterback for the Buckeyes before the season because Braxton Miller needed shoulder surgery, went 16-for-26 for 300 yards.

The Buckeyes erased a 21-14 deficit in the second quarter when Barrett passed 79 yards to Michael Thomas for a tying touchdown with 3:19 left, then hooked up on a 44-yard scoring pass to Devin Smith with 56 seconds left in the half for a 28-21 lead.

OSU tacked on two more TDs, one a 7-yard pass from Barrett to Dontre Wilson, to take a 42-24 lead with 12:07 left in the game.-- AP