Ohio State Must Keep The Train Rolling at Purdue

In the history of Ohio State vs. Purdue, there have been plenty of upsets. The Spoilermakers have been the architects of some of the worst losses for the Buckeyes since the turn of the century. Since 2002, only three programs have at least four wins over Ohio State: Michigan, Penn State, and Purdue. Since that 2018 beatdown, the Buckeyes have regained control of the series. Regardless, the Boilermakers are not going to lie down.

Purdue enters this game 2-7, having lost seven consecutive games. Star running back Devin Mockobee is out for the remainder of the season, so the Buckeyes should be able to take care of business.

The strength of the Ohio State offense is through the air. Throwing it 30+ times would likely result in a convincing win. However, Ryan Day has been playing with his food all year. The Buckeyes have significantly slowed their pace of play. On average, Ohio State runs 61.1 plays per game. That is good to tie for the fourth-fewest in all of college football with Wisconsin and Central Michigan. On the surface, it looks like Ohio State’s offense has taken a step back. In reality, Day is shortening games to keep his players fresh.

In this one, the Buckeyes could work on their run game. Over the next three weeks, Ohio State plays three rough teams at the bottom of the Big Ten. That means there are plenty of opportunities to address the few issues that exist. While Ohio State may not need to fully establish the run until it hits the CFP, barreling into the postseason with a weak or non-existent rushing attack could be the difference. Last year’s run was predicated on an elite one-two punch at running back. This year, it’s a bit more muddled.

Bo Jackson has taken over the backfield and leads the way with 538 yards and two touchdowns. He has been the most efficient back in the room, and his vision is easily the best. Behind him, there is a question mark. CJ Donaldson has found the endzone seven times, but he is more of a goal-line back. Freshman Isaiah West has come along since the second bye, and James Peoples had a bit more juice against Penn State than he’s shown all year.

Purdue has allowed 230+ yards on the ground three times. Two of those were in the last three games. If the Buckeyes want to get the ground game going, this game should be a good opportunity.

At the same time, Day and Brian Hartline could look at his other offensive weapons and just want to blitzkrieg the Purdue defense. Ohio State has taken spreading pro-Buckeye propaganda to a new level this year. As a result, the program has launched websites to promote both Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith for the Heisman Trophy.

Sayin and Smith have been phenomenal this year. Smith broke out last year as a true freshman and is on pace for another elite performance. Through eight games, Smith leads the Big Ten with 55 receptions for 725 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s coming off his third 100+ yard game of the year and eighth of his young career. His running mate, Carnell Tate, is having his own incredible season. Tate has 711 yards and seven touchdowns on just 39 receptions. He leads the Big Ten with 18.2 yards per reception.

It all goes through Sayin, though. The redshirt quarterback is now the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman. The Buckeyes will likely ask him to put the offense on his back once again in this one. He is on pace to break the single-season completion percentage record, currently sitting at 80.7%.

Purdue has allowed over 350 yards through the air twice this year on a schedule without many elite quarterbacks. One of those 350+ games was against Rutgers, which may give some indication of this secondary’s capabilities.

With another near-perfect performance, Sayin could start to take control of the Heisman discussion. He can’t control the schedule in front of him, and how weak it is, only how well he plays. Hartline has been calling an offense that tailors to his strengths, and that should continue on Saturday.

The Ohio State defense has been the team’s true strength this year. Through eight games, the Buckeyes have allowed a total of six touchdowns. Four opponents failed to find the endzone, and two were held scoreless. On paper, it looks like it will be tough for Purdue to get anything going on offense.

One reason Ohio State has been able to slow the game down is that Day knows the defense can pick up the offense when needed. It’s been suffocating all year.

The Purdue offense will be without its best player in Mockobee. Led by Ryan Browne at quarterback, the Boilermakers have been able to get some yardage. Browne passed for over 300 yards in back-to-back-to-back games earlier this year, but against good defenses like Michigan and Northwestern, he couldn’t do anything.

It’s all going to start up front, like usual. Kayden McDonald has been a force on the interior defensive line as the Buckeyes’ host of defensive ends have been able to clean it up. This could be another game for breakout linebacker and Butkus Award semifinalist Arvell Reese to have a big game. If Browne has to drop back, the Ohio State secondary should be able to handle the Purdue receivers, with none standing out.

It feels like Day’s teams are more equipped to avoid letdowns, unlike his predecessor. The Buckeyes should be ready to play, despite being expected to sleepwalk through it.