Ohio State Football: Can the Buckeyes Contain the Big Ten's Best Passing Duo?

No. 3 Ohio State has one of the nation's stingiest pass defenses, but it hasn't faced a quarterback-wide receiver tandem as dynamic as the one it'll see when No. 9 Michigan State comes to town this Saturday. 

The Spartans offense has revolved around quarterback Connor Cook, and he's used his connection with wideout Aaron Burbridge to slice up defenses all season. The pair has hooked up for 65 receptions and 1,021 yards—marks that lead the conference—to complement six touchdowns.

Disrupting that explosive connection will be a stiff task for the Buckeyes.

“My confidence is at an all-time high, and the chemistry I have with Connor is at an all-time high,” Burbridge said, according to Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press.

Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

That chemistry will be tested by a stout Buckeyes secondary. 

Led by safety Vonn Bell and standout cornerbacks Eli Apple and Gareon Conley, Ohio State boasts one of the best secondaries in the country, allowing just 171.6 yards through the air per game. That ranks eighth in the country, and the unit has emerged as the one of the team's strengths this year.

But the architect of Ohio State's stingy pass defense—co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash—knows the difficult challenge ahead, via Patrick Murphy of The Ozone.

"

I think that their offense is like most good offenses. If they’re in a funk, they rely on [Burbridge] to make a play and they’re no different than what we are.

It’s no different for Michigan State. They have good players on the offense and if it may not be going the way they scripted it, they’re going to rely on somebody to make a big play and he happens to be a guy they go to a lot.

"

Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

The Buckeyes have allowed only two pass-catchers to eclipse 100 yards receiving this year—Western Michigan's Daniel Braverman and Penn State's Chris Godwin. But Burbridge has at least 100 receiving yards in seven of Michigan State's 10 games this year, including a nine-catch, 132-yard performance against Michigan's sixth-ranked pass defense in Week 7.

So will the Buckeyes hold, or can Cook and Burbridge burn another elite pass defense this Saturday? 

Apple, Ohio State's lead cornerback and the one who'll be responsible for Burbridge most of the game, is excited for the big matchup.

“This is definitely one of those games you get excited for as a corner because you know you’re going to get tested,” Apple said, via Murphy. “You know there’s going to be deep balls, there’s going to be some fades, you’re going to get your targets for sure.”

Whoever wins that battle will likely be celebrating with the winning team Saturday night. 

David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.