Ohio State football coach Ryan Day has a conversation with quarterback Kyle McCord during a game earlier this season against Western Kentucky at Ohio Stadium.
Don Speck | The Lima News
QUARTERBACKS
Kyle McCord brought the good and the bad in a 24-10 win at Wisconsin by Ohio State (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) last Saturday night. He hit 17 of 26 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. But he also threw two interceptions and fumbled while being sacked.
The development of quarterback Gavin Wimsatt in his fourth year in the Rutgers program has played a big role in the Scarlet Knights (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) having their best start since 2012. He has thrown for 1,134 yards and 7 touchdowns and has rushed for 362 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Advantage: Ohio State
RUNNING BACKS
Having a healthy TreVeyon Henderson run for 162 yards at Wisconsin was a reminder he brings things to Ohio State’s running game that no other running back on the roster can.
Kyle Monangai leads Rutgers’ ground game with 744 yards rushing. He has a chance to become the first Rutgers running back in the last 10 seasons to rush for 1,000 yards.
Advantage: Ohio State
RECEIVERS
Ohio State coach Ryan Day called Marvin Harrison Jr. the best player in college football after the win at Wisconsin. If Harrison (48 catches, 889 yards, 8 touchdowns) keeps up his current pace he might convince some more Heisman Trophy voters that is correct. Or at least build a case for winning the Biletnikoff Award.
Wide receiver Christian Dremel’s 23 catches and 3 touchdown receptions lead Rutgers. Tight end Johnny Langan was a 3-star recruit as a quarterback before switching to tight end. He has 12 catches this season.
Advantage: Ohio State
OFFENSIVE LINE
Ohio State ranks ninth in the Big Ten in yards per rushing play (3.9) and ninth in sacks allowed (16).
Getting bigger and stronger on the offensive and defensive lines was a priority for Rutgers and it seems to have had some success in doing that. It ranks fifth in the Big Ten in scoring at 28.1 points a game, is second in the Big Ten in rushing and has dramatically reduced the number of sacks and tackles for losses it allows from last year.
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE LINE
OSU’s defensive line didn’t allow Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke to get comfortable too many times. Tyleik Williams added two more tackles for loss to raise his team-leading number to eight for the season.
Rutgers’ starting edge rushers Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey have combined for six sacks and 7.5 tackles for losses. Rutgers allows 15.8 points a game, which ranks fifth in the Big Ten.
Advantage: Ohio State
LINEBACKERS
Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers rank 1-2 in tackles for OSU for the season and have ranked that way in five of the Buckeyes’ eight games.
Tyreem Powell leads Rutgers with 53 tackles and Deion Jennings has 51 tackles. Mohamed Toure, who missed all of last season because of ACL surgery, is Rutgers No. 3 tackler with 50.
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE BACKS
After missing the Penn State game because of an injury, Denzel Burke returned to Ohio State’s lineup against Wisconsin and made plays.
Rutgers cornerback Max Melton was honorable mention All-Big Ten last season. Safety Desmond Igbinosun has five tackles for losses.
Advantage: Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding is 10 of 11 on field goals. Rutgers’ Jai Patel is 8 of 10.
Advantage: Ohio State
