Game Preview: Ohio State vs Youngstown State
The Buckeyes host the Youngstown State Penguins in their home opener, and first of six home games for the season. Both teams are coming in to the game with a 1-0 record, but this game should not be a close one based on the talent comparisons, but Youngstown State will have a soft spot for most Buckeye fans because of their ties to Jim Tressel.ย
This game will also be the alumni game, where the alumni band will be performing with the current TBDBTL roster and form 4 Script Ohios.ย
The Buckeyes dropped two spots in the AP Poll and will be using this game as a chance to right the offense after a conservative appoach against Indiana. We all know though that this game, and the game next week against Western Kentucky are two chances for the Buckeyes to get experience where they need and prepare for an epic match up against Notre Dame, which will likely be a top 10 match up at the time of the game.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฅ. ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฟ๐ฅ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/IpA6PRrilQ
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 7, 2023
Know the Opponent:
Head Coach: Doug Phillips (4th season)
2023 Record: 1-0
Location: Youngstown, OH
Conference: MVSC
Ohio State Preview
The Buckeyes are coming home for there second game in the 2023 season, and are looking to shake off a lot of the doubters after a very conservative offensive performance against Indiana. The Silver Bullets were impressive, but were not challenged in the air, but that will change soon. The goal for this game will be a shutout, and an offense that we have been used to seeing since Ryan Day has taken over as the offensive coordinator in 2017 with a lot of points, and a passing attack that stretches the field.ย That is not to say Kyle McCord and Devin Brown are not capable, but we were not able to see either quarterback attack the field with the best receiver room in the country.
Youngstown State Preview
Youngstown State enters this game 1-0 after a big win against Valparaiso, and will likely walk out with a 1-1 record and $800,000 richer. The head coach Doug Phillips began his college coaching career as a defensive quality control coach at Ohio State in 2006. Youngstown Stateโs roster includes two Ohio State transfers: starting safety Marcus Hooker and reserve wide receiver Blaize Exline. Exline spent one year with the Buckeyes as a walk-on in 2022.
Buckeye Spotlight
Kyle McCord and Devin Brown. Once more we got a response from Ryan Day this week in his press conference that made use believe the competition was not over despite Brown only getting 6 snaps against Indiana, and only 3 of them were in meaningful time. If Brown really is in the thick of the competition, then he should get more than 2 series against the Penguins, and a chance to work with the first team as long as he can.ย
Penquin Spotlight
Tyshon King. Running Back Tyshon King transferred from Northern Michigan, and was explosive on limited carries in his first game as a Penguin. I am sure he will be eager to play his first game ever against a D1 opponent.
Water Cooler Stat of the Game
171.2. These two Ohio collegiate campuses are 171.2 miles away from each other.ย
Prediction
This is the honorary Tressel game, and as nuch as Ohio State should respect the opponent, this is a game where you can treat as a practice to work on fixing things they need to get fixed. If there really is a quarterback competition still, this shoukd be an evenly split game with Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, and let them both get to work with the 1โs through the 3rd quarter to let each of them get experience. Notre Dame is looming in 2 weeks, and no offense to the Penquins or the Hilltoppers, but that is the game Ohio State is getting ready for to keep any chance of playoff aspirations alive. If the defense can play lights out again, and help give the offense more possessions to work on its chemistry, that is where the real win comes in this game.