Ohio State To Battle With Upset-Minded Ohio

It’s not often the two programs with “Ohio” in their names get to face off on the gridiron. This year, Ohio State and Ohio will play for the eighth time in history. Hopefully, Rufus (Ohio’s mascot) doesn’t go rough and attack Brutus as he did all those years ago. Jokes aside, Ohio State’s non-conference slate will close out with an upset-minded Bobcats squad fresh off an impressive win over West Virginia. And, in the week prior, Ohio took Rutgers to the brink, but fell by three.

The last time these two faced off, the Buckeyes won, 43-7, a win that was later vacated. However, the previous matchup was in 2008, and Jim Tressel’s team only prevailed, 26-14, after falling behind at halftime. This year, these two programs are looking to continue last year’s success. Ohio took the MAC, but lost a handful of coaches and players to the portal. Even then, it looks like the MAC is the Bobcats’ to lose.

As five-touchdown favorites, Ohio State should be able to cruise to victory. However, as any Power 4 program can attest, taking a MAC program lightly can result in some infamous moments.

Ohio State Cannot Underestimate Ohio

A Gamer at Quarterback

With how poorly the Week 1 visiting quarterback played against the Buckeyes, there is a decent argument (at least, for now) that Ohio’s Parker Navarro is the best quarterback on Ohio State’s non-conference slate. In two games, Navarro leads the MAC with 486 passing yards and four touchdowns. Perhaps the most impressive fact is that he did so against two Power 4 opponents. Even if those two were Rutgers and West Virginia, Navarro has continued his development as a play-making quarterback.

For the third week in a row, Ohio State’s defense will face off against a dual-threat, as Navarro also has 186 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Last year, Navarro accounted for 18 rushing touchdowns, leading all MAC players. Add that to the fact that he’s completing nearly 70% of his passes, and the Buckeye secondary had better be ready.

His top receiver to this point is Chase Hendricks. The junior is breaking out with 236 yards and one score off 17 receptions.

Because Ryan Day-coaches teams have lost to the likes of Davis Warren, Brady Cook, Anthony Brown, and Cade McNamara, therein lies a glimmer of hope for a quarterback to the caliber of Navarro.

Continue Defensive Dominance

Ohio State shutting out Grambling State was to be expected. The talent gap between the Buckeyes and Tigers was staggering. While that dominant performance was great, it was what was supposed to happen. Shutting down Texas and holding the Longhorns out of the end zone for 56:32 was the more impressive performance. It will need to be more of the same against the Bobcats.

Ohio’s offense will be solid this year within the MAC. However, against a foe like Ohio State, it should struggle. The Bobcats run the ball nearly 40 times per game behind Navarro, Sieh Bangura, and Duncan Brune. If Ohio tries to test Ohio State’s interior defensive line, it likely won’t go well. There is still a slight concern for the Buckeyes’ ability to defend the outside runs, as both Texas and Grambling State had a little success. Given, neither offense had a whole lot of success in general, so that could have just been a fluke.

Ohio’s offensive line has been solid to this point. Against Rutgers, it did not allow a sack. Against West Virginia, Navarro was sacked three times.

This game looks like another Arvell Reese masterclass in the making. The linebacker led the way in the win over Texas and was dominant in the first half last week. It should be more of the same as the Buckeyes’ defensive line provides him opportunities to wreck the game.

The Pride of the Sayins

In his two tests to this point, Julian Sayin has seemingly passed with flying colors. He’s been nearly perfect, completing 31-of-39 passing for 432 yards and five touchdowns. It is not unrealistic to think that Sayin, along with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, will be a bit of a bad matchup for the Bobcats. In two matchups against MAC foes last year, Smith kicked off his incredible freshman season with 211 yards and three touchdowns off just 11 receptions.

Ohio’s strength on defense is its run defense. Rutgers and West Virginia combined to average just 3.4 yards per carry. While it’s not unrealistic to expect that the Buckeyes can be better, it may be better to lean into the passing attack. Ohio’s defensive front has been solid thus far, with five sacks. Its secondary was tested against Rutgers, resulting in Athan Kaliakmanis completing 78.3% of his attempts.

It should go without saying, but Ohio State’s passing attack should be better than Rutgers’s. Ohio is going to come into this game high off a Power 4 upset, looking to upset big brother. Overlooking the Bobcats would be a grave mistake, so stamping out the threat as soon as possible would be the best mode of action. Brian Hartline should make sure to get Sayin, Smith, and Tate cooking early.