Looking ahead to Ohio State

• When/where: 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing

• TV: Ch. 7, 12, 41, 53

• Radio: WJIM 1240-AM, WMMQ 94.9-FM

• Series: The Buckeyes hold a 26-12 edge and won last year, 24-17.

• Coach: Jim Tressel, 8th season

• Record: 6-1, 3-0 Big Ten

• Last game: The Buckeyes' Etienne Sabino scored the game's only TD by returning a blocked punt, and their defense shut down Curtis Painter and Purdue's offense for a 16-3 win Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes also held Purdue RB Kory Sheets to just 67 yards on 20 carries.

• Players to watch: One of the preseason Heisman Trophy favorites, RB Chris Wells is the key to the Buckeye attack. He is a rare blend of power and speed. At 237 pounds, Wells can run through arm tackles and the speed to take it the distance if he gets an opening. After missing three games with a toe injury, the junior has rushed for 368 yards and a TD, including 94 yards on 22 carries vs. Purdue. For the season, Wells has 479 yards on 71 carries and two scores. In last year's game vs. MSU, Wells ran for 221 yards and touchdown.

True freshman QB Terrelle Pryor replaced senior Todd Boeckman as the starter following their loss to Southern Cal. Pryor, the most coveted quarterback recruit in the nation last year, is a dual-threat athlete. At this point in his career, the 6-foot-6, 235-pounder is more adept at running than throwing. For the year, Pryor is 52-of-79 for 537 yards and five TDs through the air and 339 yards with four scores on the ground.

Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis leads the Buckeye defense. Laurinaitis won the Butkus Award in 2007 as the nation's top linebacker and the Nagurski Award as the best defensive player in 2006. The reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year leads the conference with 67 tackles. He made 12 tackles against MSU a year ago.

Malcolm Jenkins is one of the best cornerbacks in the country. A first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American in 2007, Jenkins leads the team with three interceptions and five breakups and blocked the punt against Purdue.

• Forecast: After a blowout loss to USC earlier in the year, many people were eliminating Ohio State as a national title contender. However, with the slew of upsets going on around college football, the Buckeyes are very much back in the hunt. This is a very talented Ohio State team with a lot of senior leadership. This will be the best team Michigan State has played so far and could be the best it faces all season.