The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes travel out west for a tough matchup with the surging Washington Huskies for the first road test of the season.

The No.1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off their first bye week and have their eyes set on the first road game and Big Ten matchup of the season as they travel to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies. Both teams are 3-0 and have shown flashes of what great teams can do through four weeks and three games.

Ohio State’s last game was on September 13th when they beat the Ohio Bobcats 37-9 at night in the Shoe. A sluggish start, where the offense couldn’t finish drives, led to the game being close at halftime and in the early third quarter. The Buckeyes gave up a big touchdown to open the second half, which made the score 13-9. However, they closed the game on a 24-0 run, giving them some momentum heading into the bye week.

The Washington Huskies had their bye week in week three and beat their rival, Washington State, on the road last weekend, 59-24. Very similar to Ohio State’s previous game, Washington found itself in a competitive situation late in the third quarter, leading 31-24. They made plays on both sides of the ball and outscored the Cougars 28-0 in the final frame to win by 35 points.

Both teams are finding their stride, with big plays on offense and some turnovers on defense. This game out west could end up being a shootout if both offenses are clicking. Let’s preview the action.

Sayin Will Have Another Test

New starting quarterback Julian Sayin has been as advertised through three games and set a consecutive completions record to start the Scarlet and Gray’s last outing. He’s completing his throws at a very impressive 78.9 percent clip, with 779 yards through the air, eight passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. Sayin is currently second in the country in completion percentage and third nationally in quarterback rating. He has also only been sacked once through three games. He will make his first road start and conference start in a hostile environment where he will need to lean on his line and weapons in order to play a clean game.

The running back room was thought to be a dynamic duo just like last season, but third-string running back to start the year, Bo Jackson, has stolen the show. He has 217 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown, and is averaging an astounding 12.1 yards per carry. It will be interesting to see how the true freshman fits into the game this week, alongside CJ Donaldson (151 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns) and James Peoples (126 rushing yards).

The two more experienced backs might start the game, but Jackson has shown explosiveness to start the season and will get a shot even in a tough environment. The offensive line has been great thus far and will be leaned upon heavily in this one.

Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate have been Sayin’s best friends through three games, and would be any quarterback’s favorite targets. They have made plays all over the field and have had huge touchdown receptions already. They are the only two Buckeyes with more than five catches, as Smith has 20 and Tate has 12. Smith leads the team with 315 receiving yards, while Tate has 219 receiving yards. Both are tied for the team lead with three receiving touchdowns.

Three tight ends have found the endzone for the scarlet and gray and are 3rd, 4th, and 5th on the team in yards. The Buckeyes’ offense is blessed to have the best wide receiver, the best wide receiver duo, and arguably the best tight end room in college football. The whole unit will look to make plays and take the pressure off Sayin yet again.

It seems like every player on the Silver Bullets defense has made a handful of plays this season, with linebackers Arvell Reese and Block O Recipient Sonny Styles forming the nation’s best linebacking duo. Reese has 20 total tackles, two sacks, and two passes defended, and is boosting his draft stock every week. Styles has 14 tackles and a forced fumble, proving to be one of the best players on the defense and in the Big Ten.

Caleb Downs and the rest of the secondary have been flying around and have only given up arguably two big plays through three games. Downs and Jermaine Matthews Jr. both have picks, and Jaylen McClain has been a great starter thus far with 17 tackles, which is second on the team. The injury to Lorenzo Styles Jr. was a concern, but Ryan Day said he is healthy for Saturday. 

The defensive line lost all its starters from a year ago, but has been a pleasant surprise. Kayden McDonald, Caden Curry, Beau Atkinson, Eddrick Houston, and crew have seven sacks and have forced the quarterbacks to be uncomfortable through three games. It is very challenging to replicate last year’s production, but collectively, they have managed very nicely.

Washington’s Dynamic Duo Will Be A Handful

Sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has been playing mistake-free football and has been a threat with his arm and legs. He is completing 73.5 percent of his passes for 778 passing yards through three games, and has six passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. He is also the second leading rusher, toting the rock 34 times for 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He will be a handful for this Buckeye defense, and the linebackers will need to keep an eye on him in the running game.

Senior running back Jonah Coleman has been elite and is arguably the best running back in the Big Ten. He is up to 347 rushing yards, 6.8 yards per carry, and nine rushing touchdowns already. Adam Mohammed is third on the team with 145 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. The ground attack is explosive and will be another area of concern for the Buckeyes in this game. However, the Buckeye defense has proven time and time again over the past year that it can handle strong running attacks and shut them out of the game.

Junior Denzel Boston is the main threat out wide for this Huskies offense and has twice as many receptions as anyone else on the team, with 16 catches. He leads the team with 249 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Jonah Coleman is actually the second leading receiver with eight catches, 150 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown. Wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck has added six catches, 104 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown. Only one tight end has a catch for their offense, and has 26 yards receiving. The Huskies have been on the front foot all year in their games, so it will be interesting to see their passing attack if they find themselves trailing.

Linebackers Deven Bryant and Taariq Al-Uqdah are the motor for the Huskie defense and have 32 combined tackles. Safety Alex McLaughlin is a great piece in the secondary with 16 tackles, two passes defended, and two interceptions, including a pick-six on the year. Jacob Lane and Isaiah Ward are guys to watch on the edge for a Huskies defense that has forced eight sacks and four interceptions.

Buckeyes Get It Done

Ryan Day’s side was tested from the jump when they welcomed the then top-ranked Texas Longhorns to Columbus, and this will only help them in this game and down the road. The Huskies beat Colorado State, who lost to UTSA last weekend, and Washington State, who lost by 49 to North Texas in their matchup prior to the Huskies.

Don’t get me wrong, Washington is a very good team that I have had a lot of respect for this season. They have put up big numbers and made plenty of plays, but that offense has not faced anything remotely close to the defense they will face Saturday afternoon. I think the defense and game script will hopefully force the Huskies to beat us through the air, which could lead to some punts or even turnovers, including a first interception for Demond Williams Jr.

It will be interesting to see the passing and rushing balance from the scarlet and gray offense, especially if the game is close early. The Buckeyes have three running backs at their disposal to help take the pressure off Sayin in his first big start away from home. I think someone outside of the leading receivers will step up as well, and it may just be the Max Klare breakout game.

I could see this game being faster-paced than expected early, with the Buckeye defense helping out the offense en route to a great team win. Sayin makes enough pay to prove he’s the real deal, while Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs showcase the talent that has led to them being the best players in the country on their respective sides of the ball.

Prediction: Ohio State 34 Washington 17