Ohio State is about to play under the lights for the first time this season.
Western Michigan
Broncos
With Western Michigan in town, the Buckeyes are hosting their first night game of the year on Saturday with hopes of putting on a show for a primetime crowd in the Shoe. After beating Akron 52-6 in Week 1, Ohio State is hoping for an even more dominant performance as it plays another MAC opponent in its second of three non-conference games to begin the year.
As we count down the hours until the Buckeyes play their second game of the season, we share our biggest questions entering the game, four players we’ll have an eye on for potential big games tonight and predictions for what we’ll see on Saturday night in the Shoe.
Questions
Can Ohio State get out to a fast start?
Ohio State scored touchdowns on only two of its six first-half possessions against Akron last week, giving the Buckeyes only a 14-point lead at halftime and preventing them from taking their starters out of the game until the fourth quarter. Now that the Buckeyes have a warmup game under their belts, starting fast and putting the game away early will be a point of emphasis for Ohio State tonight – especially considering the scare Western Michigan gave Wisconsin last week, when the Badgers trailed early in the fourth quarter after scoring only 13 points in the first three quarters.
Western Michigan’s defense is no slouch, as evidenced by its performance against Wisconsin last week, so a strong start out of the gates offensively would be a clear sign of progress for the Buckeyes in Week 2.
– Dan Hope
Can the Buckeyes find better consistency on the ground?
Ohio State's running game flashed a few bits of brilliance against Akron, but it flashed an equal number of runs that went for minimal gain. The Buckeyes did go from averaging 4.8 yards per carry in the first half to 5.5 in the second, but a larger ratio of chunk runs to ones that set the offense behind the chains would be a positive sign for the future of the offense.
– Andy Anders
Can the defensive front continue its dominance?
While Ohio State's defense wasn't perfect against Akron, its front six was the stuff of Zips nightmares for the most part. The Buckeyes racked up five sacks and 10 plays for loss against an overwhelmed offensive line as OSU looked every bit as capable as it was hyped up to be defensively in the preseason. With Jack Sawyer leading the way, OSU knocked out Akron's starting quarterback and made life miserable for Akron offensive players. Will we see Western Michigan also be completely overwhelmed by this terrifying front?
- Garrick Hodge
How many quarterbacks play?
This is a copy and paste from last week for me. As Ohio State entered its season opener against Akron, I was curious to see the number of snaps Will Howard and Devin Brown receive as Ohio State's QB1 and QB2. Howard took 56 and Brown took 10. We will see a similar split this week? Will Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz or Air Noland get in the game? That's what I'll be looking for with the Buckeyes entering the Western Michigan game as five-touchdown favorites.
– Chase Brown
Players to Watch
TreVeyon Henderson
In addition to a pancake block that broke the Internet, Henderson carried the ball eight times for 65 yards and also caught two passes for 18 yards in the season opener. However, he didn't get in the end zone like fellow running backs Quinshon Judkins and James Peoples. That said, I'm looking for Henderson to reach paydirt this week as Ryan Day and Chip Kelly continue to establish a new identity in the run game with the Buckeyes.
– Chase Brown
Emeka Egbuka
While Jeremiah Smith scored the first touchdown of the season for Ohio State last week, that touchdown probably should have been Egbuka’s, who got a hand down in the end zone for what would have been a spectacular 20-yard touchdown catch had the officials credited him with possession of the ball before he touched down out of bounds.
Because of that touchdown snub, Egbuka had a relatively quiet season opener (four catches for 51 yards) in comparison to Smith (six catches, 92 yards, two touchdowns), who continued to steal the headlines in Ohio State's receiving corps just as he did all offseason. Tonight seems like a good night for Egbuka to remind everyone with a big game that he’s still one of the nation’s best wide receivers.
– Dan Hope
Jack Sawyer
Sawyer will echo like a phantom in the recesses of Ben Finley's mind for months to come, gathering four pressures and three massive hits against the Zips' quarterback. Expect more dominance off the edge from Sawyer against the Broncos, be it in run or pass defense.
– Andy Anders
Arvell Reese
In Week 1, Reese played like a man with his hair on fire and recorded four tackles while flying around all over the place. He certainly flashed enough to merit the praise bestowed on him in the preseason by Jim Knowles and Ryan Day, and I'm wondering what's next for the talented linebacker. Day is hopeful Cody Simon may play Saturday after missing Week 1 with a minor injury so that may limit Reese's playing time if he can go, but when Reese is on the field, does he continue to look like a future building block for the Buckeyes' defense?
– Garrick Hodge
Predictions
Jeremiah Smith catches another touchdown
Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith lived up to the hype and then some for Ohio State last week, catching six passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' season opener. I'm predicting he'll maintain that momentum in Game 2 and catch at least one more touchdown pass.
- Garrick Hodge
The Silver Bullets force two turnovers
Ohio State forced three turnovers against Akron. Two of them were returned for touchdowns, including a scoop-and-score for Lathan Ransom and a pick-six for Gabe Powers. This week, I think the Buckeyes force another pair of turnovers. (I'd love to predict just one turnover, but that doesn't seem bold enough, so give me two!)
- Chase Brown
Ohio State scores on three of its first four drives
Answering my own question, I’m predicting that Ohio State will get out to a fast start by scoring on three of its first four drives – while the defense will be largely dominant for the second week in a row – to build a multi-score lead over the Broncos early in the game. Being more specific, I’ll predict that at least two of those four drives, including Ohio State’s opening drive, will go for touchdowns.
– Dan Hope
Buckeyes get 200 rushing yards
I stated above that my biggest question was whether Ohio State finds consistency in the running game, and I think it takes steps toward that goal against Western Michigan. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins both find ways to gash the Broncos' ball-stoppers and the Buckeyes build on their 170 rushing yards against Akron.
– Andy Anders
