As the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes prepare to take on the Ohio Bobcats under the lights Saturday night in Columbus, here are five things to know about the Bobcats and first year head coach Brian Smith.
Parker Navarro is a true dual-threat quarterback
Ohio starting quarterback Parker Navarro had a breakout season last year, passing for 2,423 yards for 13 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,046 yards on 160 attempts and recorded 18 touchdowns with his legs.
So far this season, he has kept up being a legitimate dual threat, and someone the Buckeyes will
really have to scheme for. Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs will all have to have make sure they are in the right places all the time, or Navarro has the skill to exploit that.
The rushing threat does not stop with Navarro
In addition to Navarro, Sieh Bangura is one of the top running backs in the MAC. Bangura is back at Ohio after transferring from Ohio to Minnesota last season and only getting four carries. However, in 2023, he ran for 811 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2022, he ran for 1,078 yards and 13 touchdowns.
So far this season in two games, Navarro has rushed for 180 yards and one touchdown, and Bangura has rushed for 152 yards and a score. This is a tough and balanced rushing attack that will challenge an Ohio State defense that has given up some yards on the ground this year.
They can make mistakes
In two games, quarterback Navarro has thrown three interceptions — all last week against West Virginia — and the team has fumbled the ball twice, recovering both of them.
The Ohio State defense and new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia have done a good job with confusing opposing quarterbacks with different looks in the secondary. With that, the Buckeyes should be able to force a couple turnovers in this one.
They have new faces on defense
Last year, Ohio had one of the best defenses in the country. The Bobcats allowed just 18.1 points and 303.1 yards per game.
However, their four top leading tacklers and top defenders are all gone. Linebacker Blake Leake and safety Dustin Johnson were the top two tacklers, and they have graduated. Linebacker Shay Taylor transferred to Charlotte, and defensive end Bradley Weaver transferred to Rutgers. Weaver led the team in sacks last season.
The Buckeyes can exploit the new faces on defense and jump on the Bobcats early to put pressure on the offense.
Ohio State is looking to extend its 104-year state winning streak
The Buckeyes have not lost to a team from Ohio since Oberlin College beat them 7-6 in 1921. During that time, they have defeated Ohio three times, most recently in 2010.
Ohio State is a total of 52-0-1 against Ohio teams since its loss to Oberlin.
