It’s on all of our minds.
Western Kentucky. Ohio State. On national television in what is one of the toughest opponents the Hilltoppers will have faced in several seasons.
With help from Kevin Noon of Buckeye Huddle, an Ohio State-based site, I was able to get some more insight on what this Saturday will look like, getting answers to questions that fans and media alike have been hard-pressed on:
1.) The quarterback room has been a big question for the Buckeyes, but it seems they may have settled on Kyle McCord. Do you think McCord will retain the spot, and how will he do against Western Kentucky?
Well, we learned on Tuesday that Kyle McCord has been named the starter and for the sake of this game, that’s the final word unless something happens in practice to change Ohio States direction.
It has always felt as if this is the decision that Ohio State was going to make but in turn the Buckeyes wanted to have a fair competition at quarterback and there is not a huge amount of separation between the two.
At the end of the day, McCord is a year older, has three starts under his belt (one in 2021, two this year) and has taken more of the game snaps throughout the season.
As for how he will do, that is the million-dollar question. Ohio State’s offense is like an exotic supercar, all of the bells and whistles, more horsepower than you could ever need but yet the Buckeyes have not managed to get beyond second gear this season.
The Buckeyes are averaging 29 points per game so far this season, a far cry from the 44.2 points per game in the 2022 season. Granted, the Buckeyes had an experienced offensive line and a two-time Heisman finalist at quarterback with CJ Stroud.
Is this the game that Ohio State turns it all around? I am not sure there is going to be a moment where the lightbulb suddenly is flipped on and offense lights the way for the Buckeyes, it is going to be more of a work in progress. Could this be the week that Ohio State breaks into the 40s in terms of scoring? It is highly possible. No matter how much you think that Alex Golesh may be able to do at South Florida, a rebuilding USF team scored 24, Ohio State has to be worth a couple of more scores, right?
The biggest thing for WKU is to disguise coverages and keep an inexperienced quarterback off balance. Teams have managed to keep McCord out of his comfort zone and the offense has not really flowed. Will a full week of starter reps be the answer? If you are a fan of Ohio State, then the answer is yes, but the Buckeyes certainly also have an eye on Notre Dame as its following opponent, but can they go into this game with a clear mind and just focus on the Hilltoppers?
2.) Marvin Harrison Jr is a generational receiver. Aside from Harrison, who else should the Hilltoppers keep an eye on?
This is a difficult question to answer because Ohio State recruits so many four and five-star talents that picking one or two may be unfair, just because there are so many potential weapons.
Thus far, almost all of these weapons have been stuck in the holster so there is not a de facto list of these two or three guys that are must watches.
Everyone is going to focus on Marvin Harrison Jr. but don’t lose sight of Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State’s second option, but still a top-five type of national wide receiver. The combo of the two gives the Buckeyes all sorts of advantages because it is hard to keep both in check. Granted, Ohio State needs more out of its quarterback position to get the ball to these guys.
If you are not paying attention to the tight end then Cade Stover could be an issue, much as he was in game one of the season against Indiana. He had a handful of catches and close to 100 yards. The Buckeyes are not one of these teams that uses the tight end as a focal point of the passing game, but it is there with Stover if the Hilltoppers are unable to account for him.
Ohio State is very deep at running back with five highly rated backs, but with fewer plays and less footballs to pass around than wanted, it breaks down to just three seeing action most of the time with starter TreVeyon Henderson at the top of the list. Henderson was injured for much of the 2022 season and while he played hurt, you could just tell that he was not right. He seems to be in a better place this season but has not really had that breakout game that reminds people of his 1,200-yard freshman season.
On defense I would say keep an eye out for Sonny Styles at safety. He is a player that could play on all three levels and now is more of a hybrid in terms of safety and linebacker. While he could be subbed out for stretches of this game with WKU’s desire to throw the ball, Styles has the skills to be a three-down player if called upon.
3.) Where does Ohio State have the edge competitively? What gives them the best chance to win?
Ohio State is supposed to win this game. You don’t get a 27-point margin edge and show up at the stadium feeling like an underdog. Most of the players on this team have been to the College Football Playoff and while a good number on the roster have not won a Big Ten title, they know what it is to win a lot of games.
Ohio State recruits four and five stars among the best teams in the nation, there is not going to be a shortage of talent in the home scarlet uniform tops and gray pants.
I don’t think I can answer a “what gives them the best chance to win” because Ohio State is supposed to win this game. If WKU is going to pull the upset, it has to show up and take this game away from Ohio State. If this game is played straight-up, Ohio State wins the game without much resistance.
Yes, Ohio State’s offense has been very meh for the first eight quarters of this season. Scoring 29 points per game is not going to get things done. Yes, WKU is not going to be held to Ohio State’s defensive average of scoring five points (a safety and field goal combination seems highly unlikely). The Buckeyes are going to have to score some points because plays will be there for WKU.
But Ohio State’s mix of athleticism and experience is going to make the Buckeyes tough to beat when it comes to a Group of Five team marching into Ohio Stadium and shocking the world.
4.) Where does Western Kentucky have the edge competitively? What gives them the best chance to win?
I see two things off the top of my head, quarterback and expectations.
Austin Reed is going to be the best quarterback on the field on Saturday and I have no hesitation in saying that. Could Kyle McCord surpass Reed by the end of his career at Ohio State? Well, that is difficult too because Ohio State quarterbacks play two years tops with the Buckeyes before going to the next level, so from a longevity standpoint, that seems to be difficult.
Reed will need to play one of his best games, however, and score a lot of points because while the Ohio State defense appears to be stuck in the mud, a little traction on that spinning tire could get the Buckeyes out of the ditch and off to the races.
I also see the fact that WKU is a 27-point dog as something that helps because there are no expectations from anyone outside of the team and their immediate circle of friends and family. WKU can call gadget plays and go for it on 4th-and-whatever from all parts of the field. Is there going to be any less said or thought of the Hilltoppers between an eight-point loss or a 40 point loss? Probably not. WKU has to be on the attack as much as it can, it has to hit Ohio State in the face over and over and over again.
Let’s not forget, Ohio State’s biggest weak point last year was its secondary… meaning that a team with the ability to throw the ball all over the field has a shot. Ohio State’s secondary looks better this year but there are still some leaky plays now and then. Indiana couldn’t take advantage, neither could Youngstown State. WKU has the athletes to punish Ohio State on those plays and find the endzone on plays where Ohio State’s previous opponents could only move the chains.
5.) What's your prediction for Saturday?
Is this the bait and switch? I talked nicely about WKU and now am I going to pick an Ohio State rout?
Well, sort of.
I see WKU scoring some points, I have told any Ohio State fan who will listen not to flip out if WKU scores 20-plus points. And in my prediction, I am going to say that WKU in fact does that.
But I don’t see a WKU team that will be able to stop Ohio State’s offense, whether it be running the ball the way that USF did or just getting more out of McCord and the pass game.
WKU will stand up and keep it close through a quarter or quarter-plus, having to make a decision if it wants to play fast or take the air out of the ball like IU and YSU and keep Ohio State’s offense on the sideline. It will be a rare dilemma for a team that is used to being the hunter and not the hunted.
But Ohio State’s advantage will prove to be too much as the game wears on. WKU will start to find less offensive success as the Buckeyes make in-game adjustments and the Buckeyes will continue to score. It may not be pretty, but they will find the end zone.
The Buckeyes won’t cover for the third straight week this season but by the time it is all over, the Buckeyes will have done more than enough, and Ohio State fans will complain that the score margin was not more with Notre Dame awaiting.
Ohio State 45, Western Kentucky 21
Western Kentucky will travel to Columbus, Ohio and take on the Ohio State Buckeyes at 3:00 p.m. EDT, live on Fox. You can see my Q&A with Noon and Buckeye Huddle, here.
****
Talk about it on RED TOWEL TALK.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
Follow us on Twitter: @WKU_Rivals, @SeanW_Rivals, @Drew_Toennies, @Derrick_Deen
Like us on FACEBOOK.
- ILB
- DT
