October 28, 2023; USA, Madison, Wisconsin At Camp Randall Stadium in the second half of the NCAA football game against the Wisconsin Badgers, Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates a defensive stop. Oh State prevailed 24-10.
On Saturday morning, Ohio State Football will take on a Rutgers team that is far more formidable than anything we have seen in previous years.
Despite their victory over Wisconsin the previous weekend, the Buckeyes’ performance left much to be desired. The Scarlet Knights and the Badgers are similar in that they both rely heavily on their ground game for offensive production and play excellent defence.
Ohio State will need to accomplish more than a few things in order to secure their ninth victory of the season. These five factors, in my opinion, will enable the Buckeyes to win on the road once more and go on to a journey that could have some very significant consequences at the conclusion.
Why it is logical
Teams know what to expect from McCord because we have seen who he is this year. He frequently has problems because he waits too long to make decisions or doesn’t get the ball out in time. Who knows if he is overanalyzing; all he has to do is spot a gap and seize it. McCord could get the ball to our playmakers and cause far fewer sacks and fumbles if he can accomplish that.
The rationale behind it
This weekend, the run stoppers will be put to the test rather than the secondary, which is not a problem for the Buckeye defence. Gavin Wimsatt, the quarterback, has only completed 50% of his attempts, but he has only taken 7 sacks and ran for 362 yards on 73 carries, or 5 yards per attempt. In addition, running back Kyle Monangai averages more than five yards per carry and has seen more than twenty carries in consecutive games. Stopping Rutgers’ run game is imperative for the Buckeyes.
Why it is logical
TreVeyon Henderson needs to be fresh during the final few weeks of the season, but I’m all for getting him the ball as often as possible. He won’t probably need to be against Rutgers, but he was a workhorse against Wisconsin. Chip Trayanum needs to play a lot and give Dallan Hayden some leeway if he’s healthy.
Why it is logical
This is closely related to ending the run because safety Lathan Ransom will not be available for some time. One of the Buckeyes’ best backend defenders, who finished with 34 tackles, two passes defended, and a pick, won’t be available. Though it might not seem like much, he was a major contributor to Ohio State’s defensive comeback this year. It will be fascinating to watch how Sonny Styles’ role is expanded. He has, in my opinion, had a mixed year, but he performed admirably against Wisconsin. This team has to perform well.
Why it is logical
Marvin Harrison Jr. is having a great game. He has scored a touchdown and gained over 100 yards in four straight games. The rest of the offence will have more opportunities as the team works even harder to stop him. In the previous game, tight end Cade Stover was held without a catch, while the other players—aside from the running backs—caught five passes for 51 yards. They didn’t perform well for the team’s supposedly deepest room and must improve against Rutgers.
