This year at LGHL, the day before Ohio State games we are trying something a little different. “3 & Out” is going to inform you on the upcoming opponent for the Buckeyes. By the name, you probably could
tell we are going to handle things in threes.
Along with highlighting three key players from Ohio State’s opponents, we will shed some light on three things the Buckeyes have to be wary of, and close things out by having a little fun by mentioning three notable alumni or facts from the school that’ll be matching up with Ohio State.
First down
Players to watch for Purdue
1) Michael Jackson III
The senior wide receiver is having a big season in his first year with Purdue. Jackson has 50 catches on the season. The 39 catches Jackson has in Big Ten play currently leads the conference.
The best game for Jackson came in the loss to Illinois, where he finished with 14 catches, which are the most by a Purdue wide receiver since Rondale Moore in 2020. With three more receptions, Jackson will reach 100 catches in his college football career.
This marks Jackson’s third stop in his college football career. After starting off at USC, Jackson transferred to Georgia, winning an SEC Championship with the Bulldogs before making his way to West Lafayette for the 2025 season.
Jackson’s role in the Boilermaker offense will likely be expanded more the rest of the season after the loss of running back Devin Mockobee, who did a little bit of everything. In last week’s loss to Michigan, Jackson caught six passes for 58 yards.
2) Mani Powell
The Purdue linebacker had a memorable game earlier this season when he recorded 20 tackles in the loss to Northwestern, the most by a Boilermaker since 1997. After starting his career at Arkansas where Barry Odom was an assistant, Powell followed Odom to UNLV, and finally to Purdue for his senior season.
Powell is currently tied for the Big Ten lead in tackles with teammates Charles Correa and Tahj Ra-El.
Saturday’s game will be interesting for Powell since his he is from Columbus. Of his 81 stops his season, 8.5 of his tackles were behind the line of scrimmage, with three of those TFLs being sacks. Powell will have his hands full in trying to help his teammates slow down an Ohio State offense that is clicking on all cylinders.
The senior will likely have his named called early and often since he has been around the football pretty much all year long.
3) C.J. Nunnally IV
Another strong get from the transfer portal for Purdue during the offseason has been defensive end C.J. Nunnally IV. During two seasons at Akron, Nunnally recorded 26.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and twice was named First Team All-MAC.
The senior from Georgia has continued to produce in the Big Ten, leading the Boilermakers in TFLs and sacks. Entering this week’s game, Nunnally has 7.5 TFLs and five sacks, as well as two forced fumbles.
Even though Ohio State’s offensive line has been tough for opponents to crack this season, if there is a Purdue player who could cause some trouble for the line it would be Nunnally. The defensive end does have the advantage of already taking on the Buckeye offensive line, as he was part of last year’s Akron team that lost 52-6 to the Buckeyes in their season opener.
Second Down
What Ohio State has to be wary of
1) Watch out for the letdown
So far this season Ohio State hasn’t really had a game they didn’t play up to their potential in. If there was a game it could happen, this might be the one. Last week the Buckeyes had an emotional game against Penn State, where the Nittany Lions pushed them in the first half of the game before Ohio State pulled away in the second half.
Now they head to West Lafayette as a big favorite to take on a Purdue team that has lost seven straight games.
At some point during the season, every team has a clunker. The Boilermakers have given Ohio State trouble in the past during this century, recording five wins since 2000 over the Buckeyes. While this Purdue team might not look like a squad that has the talent and depth to trouble the Buckeyes, just remember that last week the Boilermakers pushed Michigan in Ann Arbor, losing by just five points to the Wolverines.
2) Don’t play reckless
Last week in the second half there were a few moments where Caleb Downs had Buckeye Nation sick. It looked like Downs would miss the rest of the Penn State game, as well as the first half of this week’s game against Purdue because of a targeting penalty.
Somehow replay overturned the penalty, allowing Downs to stay in the game and avoid the first half suspension against the Boilermakers.
Even though Ohio State’s home game against UCLA next week isn’t particularly intimidating, the Buckeyes still want to have all hands on deck as much as possible this season. Even losing one starter for a period of time could throw things out of balance and give opponents some confidence and turn a game that should be a blowout into a close battle.
After seeing eight games of Ohio State football this year, it feels like the only way a team beats the Buckeyes is if Ohio State beats themselves.
3) Barry Odom knows ball
The new Purdue head coach broke into the coaching ranks as a defensive assistant before being elevated to head coach at Missouri. Even after his four years at Missouri, Odom was hired at Arkansas to be their defensive coordinator, spending three years in Fayetteville before moving on to become the head coach at UNLV.
Obviously Purdue has confidence in Odom to bring him back into the Power 4 ranks after an underwhelming stint at Missouri.
Just look at the improvement Purdue’s defense has made during the season. After three straight games where the Boilermakers allowed at least 30 points in losses to USC, Notre Dame, and Illinois, since then Purdue hasn’t allowed more than 27 points in the last four games.
Even though the Boilermakers will have a tough task in keeping the Buckeyes below 30 points, Purdue has some playmakers on defense and are buying into Odom’s system in West Lafayette.
Third Down
Fun Ohio State/Purdue connections
1) Darrell Hazell
The former Ohio State assistant coach was Brian Hartline before Brian Hartline became the wide receivers coach of the Buckeyes. In fact, Hazell was actually Hartline’s wide receivers coach during Hartline’s playing days at Ohio State.
Hopefully the last lesson Hartline has taken from Hazell is to not take the Purdue job if he is ever offered it!
After he was at Ohio State as an assistant coach from 2004-10, Hazell spent two years at Kent State before he was picked to replace Danny Hope following the 2012 season. Unfortunately for Hazell, his time in West Lafayette didn’t go well.
The former Buckeye assistant coach wouldn’t win more than three games in any of his four seasons as head coach of the Boilermakers, finishing with a 9-33 record before he was fired.
2) Max Klare
Prior to joining Ohio State in the transfer portal following the 2024 season, the tight end began his career at Purdue, hauling in 73 passes for nearly 900 yards and four touchdowns over two seasons. Klare’s breakout season came last year when he caught 51 passes for 685 yards on a Purdue tema that finished the season with just one win.
The 2025 season has been a bit of an up-and-down campaign for Klare in Columbus. The season started slow for the Purdue transfer but he is becoming more comfortable in the offense with each game. The biggest change for Klare is last year he was the primary target with the Boilermakers.
This season not only do the Buckeyes have wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, the tight end room at Ohio State is loaded with Will Kacmarek, Jelani Thurman, and Bennett Christian all battling for playing time.
3) Stephan Bonnar/Mark Coleman
If you’re familiar with UFC, you’ll definitely knows these two names. Coleman actually starred not only in NCAA Division I wrestling, he was also an Olympic Freestyle wrestler. Following the conclusion of his wrestling career, Coleman moved on to MMA, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in the sport.
Bonnar and Forrest Griffin would fight in the finals of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter in a battle that many people have said possibly saved the UFC.
The two legendary fighters would eventually meet on the UFC 100 card in 2009. While the fight was on the preliminary card, it doesn’t take away from either fighter’s importance to the sport. The fact is the UFC 100 card was loaded.
Even Jon Jones was on the prelims and he went on to become one of the top fighters in UFC history. Coleman would go on to earn a unanimous decision victory over the Purdue grad in what would be the second-to-last fight in Coleman’s career.
& Out
Prediction: 38-6, Ohio State
Go Bucks!
