Not so hot take, bye weeks in the third week of the season need to be banned. The Buckeyes return back home for their third game of the season, and final non-conference game as they welcome Marshall before starting Big Ten play next week.
They Buckeyes made sure to use this week off as an improvement week to work on the fundamentals and prepare for how teams would attack the things they have done well n their first two games.
Ohio State should get back starting left guard Donovan Jackson, who was out the first two games due to injury, and cornerback Denzel Burke, who was ejected at the end of the first quarter due to a questionable targeting call.
FOX and Big Noon Kickoff will be on campus for this game, their first trip to the Horseshoe this season, and the first chance they get to see the third ranked team in person. Kickoff will be at 12pm on FOX, and the Buckeyes are currently 40 point favorites.
Know The Opponent:
Head Coach: Charles Huff (4th season)
2024 Record: 1-1
Conference: Sun Belt
Location: Huntington, WV
Ohio State Preview
Ohio State cames back from their bye week, which Ryan Day made sure was an improvement week. He had hired an analyst this offseason to help provide insight on decisions they have made in games, and compared to how other teams including in the NFL have done in those scenarios. I think we are seeing another way Ryan Day has changed his role as head coach since relieving himself of play calling duties, and allowing himself to look more at the big picture, and I am hoping to see those extra little things make a big difference as we get further into the season.
After being off for a week, and some teams playing a few more competitive games, the Buckeyes dropped to 3rd in both the Coaches and AP Poll, but if you ask Day, he is not fazed.
“We’re not where we need to be yet,” Day said.
Will Howard has don a great job so far as the starter. He has passed for 520 yards with 4 touchdowns, and has not taken a sack yet this season. It will be interesting to see though who the backup will be, especially since the team had a chance to evaluate if Devin Brown is still the back up or if freshman Julian Sayin has made a step up. This should be a game where we see the back ups have a chance to play.
Quinshon Judkins leads the team in rushing with 163 yards on 22 carries and 3 touchdowns. TreVeyon Henderson is second on the team with 18 carries and 131 yards with 2 touchdowns. They should have a good opportunity to rush against this Marshall defense.
Freshman Jeremiah Smith leads the team with 11 receptions for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns. Emeka Egbuka is second on the team with 9 catches for 149 yards. Carnell Tate is third with 7 catches for 103 yards and 1 touchdown.
Marshall Preview
Of the opponents Ohio State has faced so far, the Marshall head coach Charles Huff seems like a coach that would be fun to players. In his press conference this week, he jokingly tried to get some of the Ohio State players to transfer.
“I feel good about the players we have,” Huff said. “I would love to have some of those guys from Ohio State, too. So, if any of those guys who run really, really fast at Ohio State like Tudor’s biscuits, I promise you: all you can eat, all day, if you transfer here.”
As tempting as that might be, I am sure the Buckeyes players are happy where they are at.
Marshall enters this game 1-1, and coming off a bye week like the Buckeyes. They opened their season against FCS opponent Stony Brook where they won 45-3. They then traveled to Blacksburg, VA to take on the Hokies, and lost 31-14.
Stone Earle is the starting quarterback, and has passed for 228 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception, and has rushed for 86 yards on 18 carries. Braylon Braxton is the back up quarterback and has played in some time as well. He has passed for 2 touchdowns and 141 yards. He also has added 18 yards on the ground on 4 carries.
AJ Turner is the lead running back, and might be the best player. He has rushed for 222 yards on 14 caries and has 1 touchdown. Jordon Houston is the third leading rusher on the team with 55 yards on 17 carries.
Christian Fitzpatrick is the leading receiver with 8 catches for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns. Elijah Metcalf is second on the team with 7 catches for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns. Carl Chester is the third leading receiver with 3 catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Buckeye Spotlight
Jack Sawyer. We have been focusing a lot on the offense so far this season, but the defense has been as advertised in the first two games. Sawyer could have a break out game after recording a sack against Western Michigan, and if Marshall is going to try and play a passing game, he could have an opportunity to have a multiple sack game.
Thundering Herd Spotlight
AJ Turner. Turner might be the best offensive weapon for the Thundering Herd, and he is one of three players to have a multiple rushes of over 60 yards in the country.
Water Cooler Stat of the Game
139 Miles. The distance between these two schools, that have only played each other 2 other games, is 139 miles. For those coming up from Huntington, WV, please bring Stewarts Hot Dogs, which is the best hotdog in the world.
Prediction
Both Ohio State and Marshall had a bye week leading up to this game, so I anticipate that both teams will show some new wrinkles that have not been on the game film before. This could cause the Buckeyes to have a slow start, but I think that won’t matter in the end, and we will see Ohio State takeover in the second quarter after making the right adjustments. Put the (Stewart) dogs in the truck and lets go home.
Ohio State 56 – Marshall 3
Photo Credit: Marshall.edu