The fastest way to get from Columbus to Cincinnati is an approximately 110-mile, two-hour drive down I-71.
In between the two metropolises are wide and open spaces of Ohio farmlands and forests. The small towns speckled throughout the countryside illustrate the state’s geographic and sociocultural diversity.
One thing, though — big urban hub or sleepy village — is constant in this place north of 11 million people: most pledge their allegiances to one school and one football team. The scarlet and gray flags that fly in front lawns and off front porches are a reminder in just about every corner of the state. This is Ohio State territory.
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| CINCINNATI BEARCATS |
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2–0, 0–0 AAC ROSTER | SCHEDULE |
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6PM – SATURDAY, SEP. 27 OHIO STADIUM COLUMBUS, OHIO |
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The Buckeyes — a football factory and winners of seven national championships and 30-plus Big Ten titles — are known as a blue bloods of college football. Cincinnati — which has historically been a middling outfit — hasn’t beaten its neighbors to the north since before the turn of the 20th century.
To be sure, the Bearcats who will saunter into the mighty and ancient confines of Ohio Stadium Saturday evening are leaps and bounds different than those of the past. Since 2006, the Bearcats are 74-31 and success in recruiting figures to bode well for the future. Under second-year coach and former Auburn fixture Tommy Tuberville, they went 9-4 last season. This year — with Notre Dame transfer quarterback Gunner Kiel and a corps of wide receivers that’ll surely challenge Ohio State’s weakest links on defense — they’re better.
Even so, Cincinnati’s still generally (and traditionally) perceived as a middle of the pack program trying to claw (no pun intended) its way to the sport’s upper tier — a stopping point, not a destination.
It’s then also a no-brainer for why the Bearcats — and all other Ohio universities outside of the banks of the muddy banks of the Olentangy River — are looked at as Ohio State’s little, less-talented, and less-accomplished brothers and sisters.
Of course, the Bearcats have heard talk like that since the conception of the forward pass. They’re determined to change it — even if for just one fleeting September night in the Horseshoe.
And if it happens?
“They’ll probably party all week in Cincinnati," junior defensive lineman and Queen City native Adolphus Washington said.
Opponent Breakdown
On offense, Cincinnati is led by the aptly-named Gunner Kiel, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound gunslinger who looks every bit the part of a prototypical pocket quarterback.
Naturally, it didn't take much for Kiel — a Notre Dame transfer and five-star recruit out of high school in 2012 — to catch Meyer's attention and respect.
“I see a strong guy, he looks big. Big, strong arms courageous player that throws into the oncoming pass rush. Like most really good quarterbacks, he has really good personnel around him. Really good. I see one of the top quarterbacks in the country,” Meyer said. That's an impressive compliment from someone who’s coached the likes of Tim Tebow, Alex Smith and Braxton Miller.
Kiel, who's completed 66 percent of his passes for 635 yards, 10 touchdowns, and two interceptions this season, kindles a high-flying offense that will challenge the Buckeyes' pass defense — a unit that finished 112th nationally last year.
"(It's) gonna be the call to arms," Meyer said. "They’re really good."
Perhaps what concerns Meyer the most is Cincinnati's wide receivers, which Tuberville lauded as the best unit he's ever had.
"The receiving crew is interesting, when I heard (him) say it’s the best he’s had that’s when you’re like ‘Wait a minute, now,'" Meyer said.
"I’ve known where he’s coached and kind of watched his teams. I’ve coached against his teams and they’ve been real. So when he says that, he catches my eye and I made my team aware of that as well."
Mekale McKay, a 6-foot-6 transfer from Arkansas, leads the team with 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Shaq Washington, the team's leading receiver a year ago, has 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. Next on the list is Max Morrison, who has eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Thing is, Ohio State won't be able to key in on just the three of them. Rather, against Toledo and Miami (Ohio), the Bearcats had 10 and 12 different receivers, respectively, make at least one catch.
On defense, Cincinnati is less threatening, having surrendered 34 points to the Rockets and 24 points to the RedHawks last weekend. Still, Meyer said to expect the Bearcats employ tactics that caused the Buckeyes problems against Virginia Tech earlier in the season.
"They’re a big-play style defense and they blitz you once you start getting into the red zone and that’s where a lot of these big plays take place,” Meyer said. "They’re bringing Zero coverage and a lot of pressure and we struggled with the one team that did that a lot, so we have to be ready for that.”
Buckeye Breakdown
The last time Ohio State lost to another school from Ohio was 1921 — you know, around the time women were granted the right to vote. It might as well be forever, and it feels that way. And typically, the Buckeyes dispatch their challengers with the kind of force that's a constant reminder of who runs the state.
But Urban Meyer’s crew — a team littered with youth, inexperience and unproven commodities — is particularly vulnerable this weekend. Even without the services of star quarterback Braxton Miller, a rare home loss to Virginia Tech was unexpected and equally unnerving for a team that kicked off its 2014 campaign with championship aspirations.
Instead, Ohio State finds itself still trying to find its footing. It's trying to evolve on offense with redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett, a fluid offensive line, a running-backs-by-committee situation, and a group of wide receivers that didn't do much against the Hokies earlier this month.
The Buckeyes used last week's bye to try and expedite growth and experience.
"We practiced a lot of game reps," Meyer said Monday. "More game reps than we’ve ever done in a bye week."
Added Meyer: "We’ve got to be at our best," Meyer said of Saturday. "Expect us to be that."
How It’ll Play Out
Underneath the glare of the bright lights of Ohio Stadium, Ohio State should run out of its new, swanky tunnel as a team determined to avenge a rare loss in the Horseshoe a few weeks earlier to Virginia Tech.
In that contest, the Buckeyes’ shortcomings — notably an offense without an identity or proven playmakers — were exposed.
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Expect Cincinnati to try and attack Meyer and Co. in a similar manner on defense, though it's unclear whether the Bearcats have the personnel to inflict the damage the Hokies did.
On the other side of the ball, it's a given Kiel and Cincinnati will launch an assault through the air that will test Ohio State's overhauled pass defense and force the Buckeyes to make adjustments or risk surrendering chunks of yardage in the passing game.
Still, it's hard to imagine Ohio State losing with its latest defeat so close in the rearview mirror.
The Bearcats are talented and Tuberville's one of the best minds in the game, but questions surrounding a defense that looked shake against Toledo and hapless Miami (Ohio) means there's little room for error against the Buckeyes. Trading punches can be tricky business.
With a home crowd itching to see Ohio State avenge that anti-climatic loss to the Hokies and an overall edge in talent, the Buckeyes should be able to deliver at least one punch its in-state foe won't be able to match.
ELEVEN WARRIORS STAFF PREDICTION: Ohio State 38, Cincinnati 24
