On this date in Ohio State football: Oct. 15, 1966

Taking a look back at a game Ohio State played on this date:

Michigan State 11, Ohio State 8

Setup: Ohio State was determined not to lose a third consecutive game, which had not happened in the 16-year Woody Hayes era. But the Buckeyes' task was a tall one as Michigan State came to town with its No. 1 ranking, built on a suffocating defense anchored by 6-foot-7 Bubba Smith and 6-4 George Webster.

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Stars: Offense was tough to find on a rainy day in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State finished with only 43 plays for 183 yards, compared with the Spartans' 70 plays for 214 yards. OSU quarterback Bill Long passed for 144 yards; Billy Anders had seven receptions for 98 yards.

Turning point: The Buckeyes led 8-3 after Long and Anders hooked up for a 47-yard scoring pass on the first play of the fourth quarter before Michigan State went on a drive of nearly eight minutes. QB Jimmy Raye completed four passes for 69 yards on the drive to move the ball to the OSU 2-yard line, but he was stopped short of the end zone on three straight runs. On fourth down, fullback Bob Apisa squeezed in — barely — and the Spartans added a two-point conversion. OSU's final two drives ended with interceptions of Long.

Impact: Ohio State ended its losing streak the next week against Wisconsin but limped home with a 4-5 record, the second of two losing seasons in Hayes' tenure.

Quotable: "I suppose there should be some solace in playing the No. 1 team in the nation within three points. But it's still a loss." — Hayes, whose Buckeyes had lost 32-7 to Michigan State the year before.

rstein@dispatch.com