First Posted: 10/17/2014
COLUMBUS — Some people said Maryland got its welcome to the Big Ten moment when Ohio State rolled over the Terrapins 52-24 two weeks ago the last time it was on the field.
This week, the Big Ten’s other new team, Rutgers, comes in to Ohio Stadium. It’s possible the Scarlet Knights will get a similar greeting on the field.
But it’s also possible Rutgers has already had a little bit of a welcome to the Big Ten moment from the Buckeyes. Earlier this week, OSU offered a scholarship to New Jersey high school standout Ronnie James, the younger brother of Rutgers running back Paul James.
James had already verbally committed to Rutgers, where his older brother was the leading rusher before a season-ending knee injury.
So, if the Scarlet Knights didn’t already know they’d stepped up a level in competition on and off the field, they probably know it now.
Rutgers (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) has been the surprise team in the Big Ten so far this season. Its only loss was 13-10 to Penn State in its first game in its new conference. Two weeks ago it got a signature win of sorts when it beat Michigan 26-24.
Not much was expected from the Scarlet Knights, who were 6-7 a year ago and 3-5 in their former league, the American Athletic Conference.
Even less was expected from their senior quarterback Gary Nova, who was benched the final three games last season because he was ineffective.
But with the hiring of former Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen as offensive coordinator, Nova has become a more efficient quarterback and Rutgers has become better offensively.
Defensively, Rutgers’ strength is an aggressive defensive line. It has 24 quarterback sacks and 42 tackles for losses.
The best of the bunch on the defensive line are end Kemoko Turay (5.5 sacks) and tackle Darius Hamilton, whose dad, Keith Hamilton, played 12 years with the New York Giants.
After the Maryland game, Ohio State appeared to have built some significant momentum.
Led by quarterback J.T. Barrett, running back Ezekiel Elliott and a quickly maturing offensive line, OSU has rolled up 66 points, 50 points and 52 points against Kent State, Cincinnati and Maryland.
Admittedly, those teams all are struggling on defense. In Cincinnati’s case it ranks last nationally in total defense. But there is no doubt the Buckeyes are much improved on offense.
Defensively, they have cut down on the big plays they have allowed and the linebackers have begun to show signs of filling the cavernous hole left in the defense after Ryan Shazier left for the NFL after last season.
There has been a lot of speculation about the effect of a bye week last week on Ohio State’s momentum.
Any chance Rutgers has to derail OSU’s momentum probably depends on Nova.
Will he be the quarterback who passed for 404 yards and three touchdowns against Michigan? Or will he be the guy who threw five interceptions in a the loss to Penn State?
Will Ohio State’s defense make him look better than he is, like it did against Virginia Tech QB Michael Brewer (who leads the FBS division with 11 interceptions) or make him look worse than he probably is, like it did against Maryland’s C.J. Brown?
Ohio State has continued to get better the last three games. Despite Rutgers’ record, this game should be another step in that direction for the Buckeyes.
The prediction: Ohio State 35, Rutgers 17.
