The Buckeyes return to the field today after an unconventionally early bye week to conclude the non-conference portion of the regular season.
Marshall
Thundering Herd
Ohio State’s third game of the season against Marshall isn’t expected to be significantly more competitive than its first two games of the season against Akron and Western Michigan. It’s nevertheless an important opportunity for the Buckeyes to continue honing their craft in all phases of the game as it’s the last true tune-up game for Ohio State before it begins Big Ten play next week at Michigan State.
With that in mind, here are our biggest questions, top players to watch and predictions for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Thundering Herd at Ohio Stadium.
Questions
How many quarterbacks play?
I asked it in the Last Calls before Akron and Western Michigan, and I’ll ask it again here. (I could ask it again next week – or until Dan tells me to stop). In the season opener, Will Howard took 56 snaps and Devin Brown took 10. The following week, Howard took 48, Brown took 18, Lincoln Kienholz took five and Julian Sayin took four. With Marshall in town for the final non-conference game of the regular season, will quarterback snap counts look like the Akron game or the Western Michigan game? (I think I’ll take the former).
- Chase Brown
Can the defense record another shutout?
Ohio State's defense posted a zero on the opposing scoreboard for the first time since 2019 when it faced Western Michigan two weeks ago. With the Buckeyes' last Group of Five gimme on the docket for Saturday, Jim Knowles' bunch will undoubtedly be looking do accomplish that same feat again. In doing so, OSU will need to slow Marshall's rushing attack led by A.J. Turner.
– Andy Anders
Will Brandon Inniss give the Buckeyes a spark on kickoff returns?
Inniss gave the Buckeyes a big spark on punt returns in Week 1, when he had 60 yards on four punt returns, but better hangtime and punt coverage from Western Michigan limited Inniss’ impact as a returner in Week 2. He could get even more opportunities in the return game against Marshall, however, as Ryan Day said Wednesday that Inniss took reps at kickoff returner this week.
While Day hasn’t yet named Inniss the starting kick returner over Jayden Ballard, it seems like an inevitable move after Ballard misplayed Western Michigan’s only kickoff in Week 2, resulting in Ohio State getting the ball at the 6-yard line. And Inniss has already demonstrated that he’s a big play waiting to happen in the return game, giving him the potential to be a difference-maker on kickoff returns, too.
Ohio State’s last return touchdown on either a kickoff or punt came when Jalin Marshall returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown against Indiana in 2014. It would be fitting if Inniss ended that drought against Marshall 10 years later.
– Dan Hope
Can Ohio State surpass Georgia in the AP Poll with a blowout win?
My question is relatively meaningless in the big picture, I'm more so asking this for curiosity's sake and to change up the angle when the opponent is probably one that will leave Columbus not feeling great about its self-esteem.
With Georgia idle and the Bulldogs producing a lackluster showing against Kentucky their last time out, you have to wonder if the Buckeyes can supplant Georgia for the No. 2 spot in the AP poll if they handle their business against Marshall, or if the voters will continue to give the Bulldogs the benefit of the doubt. They're not going to pass Texas no matter what barring a total disaster from the Longhorns, but I've always been someone oddly curious with the week-to-week fluctuations with the AP Poll, so this could be something fun worth watching.
- Garrick Hodge
Players to Watch
Donovan Jackson
Projected to be Ohio State's top offensive lineman this season with 26 starts already under his belt as a Buckeye, Jackson returns to his left guard position after missing Weeks 1 and 2 with an injury. How the offensive line performs now that it has its full complement of five starters will be among the more interesting storylines from Saturday's contest.
– Andy Anders
Ty Hamilton
Marshall starts a sophomore at right guard named Jalen Slappy, an all-name team nominee. No matter how Hamilton lines up in relation to Slappy, I expect the future All-Big Ten defensive tackle to feast on him. I won’t be so bold as to predict that Hamilton will pancake Slappy as he did Western Michigan All-MAC center Jacob Gideon, but I expect Hamilton to assert his dominance often on Saturday.
- Chase Brown
Cody Simon
Marshall’s most dangerous offensive weapon is running back A.J. Turner, who already has two runs of more than 60 yards in just two games this season. Simon, from his middle linebacker spot, will play a crucial role in ensuring that doesn’t happen against Ohio State. Simon looked as good as ever in his season debut against Western Michigan after missing the season opener with a lower-body injury, and he’ll look to build upon that with a big day as the leader of Ohio State’s defense now that he has a game under his belt.
– Dan Hope
Emeka Egbuka
Egbuka has been a little overshadowed so far this season, primarily because OSU's offense hasn't needed to force-feed him against lackluster opponents and Jeremiah Smith is simply doing insane things as a true freshman. But a gut feeling tells me Saturday may be the game Egbuka turns in a big performance and showcases why he's so highly respected in NFL draft circles. As you'll see below, Dan agrees with my thinking.
- Garrick Hodge
Predictions
Ohio State finishes its non-conference schedule not allowing a single offensive touchdown
So far, the Buckeyes' defense has been as advertised, holding Akron to two field goals and Western Michigan to a big zero on the scoreboard. Marshall may have a sweet all-you-can-eat NIL deal with Tudor's Biscuit World, but it doesn't have an offense that's going to threaten the Buckeyes consistently on Saturday. I'll give the Thundering Herd a field goal on Saturday, but I'm forecasting they'll be kept out of the end zone and the Buckeyes will head to East Lansing next week without any touchdowns allowed in the 2024 season.
- Garrick Hodge
Emeka Egbuka will score two touchdowns
Nine different players have combined to score 15 touchdowns for Ohio State through two games, but none of them have been Emeka Egbuka. He’s overdue to end that drought, especially considering he probably should have had a touchdown against Akron. I’m predicting Egbuka does so in a big way by scoring twice against the Thundering Herd.
– Dan Hope
TreVeyon Henderson rushes for 100 yards
Quinshon Judkins had a big day carrying the ball for Ohio State against Western Michigan; this week should be Henderson's turn. The Buckeyes have kept his carries down early in the season but he's proven effective in his opportunities, gathering 131 yards and two touchdowns in just 18 attempts (7.3 yards per carry). Henderson is 124 yards away from 3,000 for his career.
– Andy Anders
Ohio State scores a defensive touchdown
The Silver Bullets scored two defensive touchdowns in the season opener but recorded zero last week. If the Ohio State defense is to be perfectly balanced – as all things should be – then the Buckeyes will need one score from that side of the ball against Marshall. (I think we can all agree that a special teams touchdown would be acceptable, too).
- Chase Brown
