Welcome back to another edition of Opponent Film Room! After a week off (feels a lot longer), this week’s film series features the top-ranked team in the country and the defending national champions. With
Ohio State boasting top talent at just about every position on the football field, I will do my best to break down how exactly they have been steamrolling past opponents every week.
There is no need for me to look further than the Buckeyes’ 48-10 domination of the UCLA Bruins for the film study, but first, a look at Ohio State’s defense, which is every bit as good (if not even better) than last year. This graphic is through the first nine games, but these numbers just jump off the page.
When diving into the statistics, Ohio State looks even more impressive. They rank first in scoring defense, averaging just 7.5 points per game. The Buckeyes have allowed a season-high 16 points to Illinois, 14 to Penn State, just six to the usually high-flying Washington attack, and 10 points in back-to-back contests against Purdue and UCLA, with both teams scoring their lone touchdown in garbage time.
I have to admit that I was skeptical about the defensive line after every starter was drafted last year, but running against this team feels like running up against a brick wall. The goal-line stands are every bit as back as last year, with the fourth-down stop against Texas emblematic of how suffocating this line can be. In total defense, Ohio State is allowing just 212.6 yards per game and just 3.87 yards per play. For comparison, the Scarlet Knights are allowing just about double that with 425.5 yards per game and a staggering 7.48 yards per play.
Behind them, linebackers including Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese have been as good as advertised, while the ballhawking secondary has the likes of cornerback Davison Igbinosun and All-Pro safety Caleb Downs anchoring the back end of the defense. Safe to say, it will be difficult for Rutgers to run, pass, score, or even move the ball against the Buckeyes on Saturday, as the defense has no visible weaknesses.
Now to the fun part of this exercise. As insane as the defense is, what attracts so many college football fans to Ohio State is the sheer talent and explosiveness of the offense. The Buckeyes often feature multiple future NFL receivers, elite quarterback play, multiple great running backs, and a top-notch offensive line that gives the skill players nothing but time and space to work with. This year is no different.
On the first possession of the game, Jeremiah Smith did Jeremiah Smith things, hauling in this one-handed catch near the right sideline. The sensational sophomore wide receiver makes these types of plays every week, with this acrobatic catch against Penn State defying both physics and reality.
The drive was capped off with a one-yard touchdown rush from Bo Jackson, with the freshman running back bursting onto the scene to become Ohio State’s top option on the ground. Although this Bo Jackson is not related to the former NFL and MLB star, he leads the Buckeyes with 110 carries for 725 yards and three touchdowns this season, while averaging 6.6 yards per attempt and over 80 yards per game. Against the Bruins, he finished with 112 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
Fellow freshman tailback Isaiah West has also been an important piece for Ohio State, with his production seeing an increase due to CJ Donaldson being out with an injury. He had eight carries for 61 yards and a touchdown on 7.6 yards per carry. He also possesses the ability to burst through open gaps and turn on the jets for big gains.
With Ohio State up 10-0 past the midpoint of the second quarter, Julian Sayin threw his first touchdown pass of the night, finding Bryson Rodgers in the end zone for his first career touchdown. Sayin has been exceptional at quarterback this season, consistently posting efficient stat lines with high completion percentages and rarely turning the ball over.
This game was a bit quieter, but the Heisman candidate still went 23-31 for 184 yards and a touchdown without Carnell Tate and with Jeremiah Smith exiting the game before halftime with a nagging injury. On this play, the Buckeyes’ offensive line gives Sayin tons of time as they win every matchup, but Sayin rolls to the right and zips the pass to the reserve wide receiver.
The Buckeyes were not finished yet in the first half. With under 1:30 remaining, Sayin handed the ball off to James Peoples, who made a nice cut and proceeded to hurdle a UCLA defender, staying in bounds for the Ohio State touchdown. Peoples, who was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2023, joined Donaldson as the expected top two backs for the Buckeyes, but the freshman standouts have given OSU a complete running back room this year.
With the defense forcing a UCLA punt, Will Karoll booted the ball low and made it easy for Caden Curry to block. Ohio State recovered the ball at the 14-yard line, setting up Jayden Fielding for a 33-yard field goal to give the Buckeyes a 27-0 lead at halftime.
Special teams will be something to watch out for on Saturday, as the Buckeyes scored their first kickoff return touchdown since 2010 against UCLA. In the final seconds of the third quarter, Lorenzo Styles Jr. ran the kickoff from his own end zone to the opposite end zone, going 100 yards to put the Buckeyes up 41-7.
Given that Rutgers has struggled with kickoff returns earlier this season, the Scarlet Knights will have to be vigilant in their punt coverage units. Rutgers will need to capitalize on short fields, long possessions, turnovers, and strong special teams play to pick up easy points and flip the field when they have the opportunity. Even still, it will likely be an uphill battle for the Scarlet Knights in Columbus on Saturday.
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