Ohio State faces a struggling Purdue team to begin the final third of the season riding the momentum from beating Penn State in Happy Valley last week. 

The No.2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will return home for three of their final four games to end the regular season, starting with a matchup with the Purdue Boilermakers. The Buckeyes will have an easier matchup this week and next week before two very tough games to end the season.

Purdue is 1-7 on the year and 0-5 in conference play. The Boilermakers defeated Indiana State 49-0 before dropping their next seven games. Two of their last three games have gone to overtime including a battle with then-No.23 Illinois on the road 50-49. They lost to Northwestern 26-20 in overtime last week, and the game before which was two weeks prior they got shut out by then-No. 2 Oregon 35-0 at home.

Ohio State suffered a one-point loss in heartbreaking fashion to Oregon followed by a very close call in a four-point win in the Shoe against Nebraska. Things didn’t get easier as they headed to Happy Valley last weekend to take on then-No. 3 Penn State. However, a complete performance by the Buckeyes helped earn a well-deserved victory 20-13 over the Nittany Lions.

This momentum by the Buckeyes will only help them as they get deep into the regular season, and they have easier games in the near future. Their next two games feature teams with five combined wins, before two tougher matchups to end regular season conference play. Let’s dive into the two teams clashing in the Horseshoe on Saturday.

Buckeyes Rounding Into Form

Will Howard had a season-low 182 passing yards last weekend and had very big plays not go his way. A pick-six very early into the game and a fumble into the endzone made it seem like a very bad game. He fought his tail off and helped seal the win, and had two touchdown passes along with some crucial runs. Howard is approaching 2,000 passing yards with a touchdown-interception ratio of 19:5.

The dynamic duo at running back found more success against Penn State’s tough defensive line than they did the week prior against Nebraska. Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson have over 1,100 yards on the ground combined, and both average at least 6.5 yards per carry and have at least four rushing touchdowns. They will both get steady carries this game and hopefully will earn some rest with James Peoples potentially getting a plethora of carries.

Big-play ability will be there this week for the star wideouts who did not see a ton of action last week, with the game script favoring the run last week. Emeka Egbuka found the endzone and is up to seven receiving touchdowns, just behind Jeremiah Smith’s eight. Smith still leads the team with 678 receiving yards and continues to break freshman records. Brandon Inniss made some great plays last week and found the endzone for the first time this season. I expect guys like Inniss, Bryson Rodgers, and Jayden Ballard to each see more reps and targets if this game gets out of hand. Both Smith and Egbuka may find the endzone in this one as Purdue is the easiest conference game this season.

The Buckeye defense held Penn State to just 150 passing yards and 120 rushing yards, with a 3.8 yards per carry average. A pick-six was Penn State’s only touchdown of the game, as the Silver Bullets defense held the blue and white to just six points on two field goals. They also had multiple key stops including two sequences inside the five-yard line. The defense came to play, and players across the board showed why they are the best in the Big Ten and country at their positions. Cody Simon, Caleb Downs, and Davison Igbinosun were all crucial in the win to name a few.

Purdue Visits the Shoe

Senior quarterback, Hudson has played most of the snaps at quarterback for the Boilermakers and has just over 1,000 passing yards with eight passing touchdowns and four interceptions. Freshman Ryan Browne has also seen time and may come in late if the game is out of reach. He has a slightly better completion percentage and also touchdown to interception ratio in less than half the passing attempts.

Junior running back Devin Mockobee leads the team with 91 carries, 539 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. Senior Reggie Love III is second on the team with 60 carries, 325 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns. Purdue as a team only has eight rushing touchdowns on the year. Their ground game will be used early, but if they start to trail by multiple scores could vanish to an extent.

Sophomore Max Klare is a talented tight end and has ten more receptions than anyone on the team with a team-high of 30. He has more than twice the receiving yards of any other player and has 462 receiving yards. He is one of five Boilermakers tied for the team lead with two touchdown receptions. Sophomore wide receiver Jaron Tibbs is second on the team with 20 receptions and third on the team with 204 receiving yards. Junior wideout Jahmal Edrine is second on the team in yards with 215.

Sophomore defensive back Dillon Thieneman leads the team with 64 total tackles. Senior Kydran Jenkins is a talented linebacker who is second on the team with 58 total tackles and leads the team with five and a half sacks. Sophomore defensive end Will Heldt helps power the line with five sacks and 37 total tackles. Junior defensive back Kyndrich Breedlove leads the team with three interceptions on the year. Purdue’s defense has given up 66 to Notre Dame, 52 to Wisconsin, 50 to Illinois, and 38 to Oregon State. They held Oregon relatively in check to 35 points but lost by 35. Ohio State hopes to exceed the number of points the Ducks score with ease.

Buckeyes Will Roll in This One

Ohio State is currently 38-point favorites with the over/under set at 53.5. The offensive line and ground game found their mojo last week, and the air raid will be on full display in the first half of this game. Hopefully, everyone gets in on the action and then gets some rest in the fourth quarter. TreVeyon Henderson will hopefully see more action early and find the endzone. Wideouts Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss may see more usage and targets as Tate finds the endzone.

The defense showed out at all levels against the Penn State offense last week and played well the week prior against Nebraska. I could see them giving up one touchdown the whole game, and maybe not even one. The defense has the ability to test some schemes out against an inferior opponent and offense, with depth pieces getting their time to shine. The Buckeyes roll from start to finish as they are starting to become a very complete team.

Prediction: Ohio State 45 Purdue 10