It’s time for the game we’ve all been waiting for.
#3 Oregon
Ducks
The entire first half of Ohio State’s 2024 season has built up to tonight’s game in Eugene, Oregon, where the second-ranked Buckeyes face the third-ranked Oregon Ducks in one of the biggest games of the entire season. While Ohio State was heavily favored to win all of its first five games, it faces a true test tonight against another national championship contender who’s also viewed as the Buckeyes’ top competition to win the Big Ten.
That leaves no shortage of questions to be answered in tonight’s game and calls for many Buckeyes to step up and play well if Ohio State is to return to Columbus with a 6-0 record.
We dive into what we view as our biggest questions entering the top-three showdown, which players we’re expecting to make a big impact on tonight’s outcome and our predictions for some of the specific things we think will happen tonight in Last Call: Oregon edition.
Questions
Will Ohio State’s pass protection hold up?
For all the well-deserved praise Ohio State’s offensive line has received for its play in the first five games, tonight will be the first time it’s faced a defensive line with the pass-rushing talent to truly test whether it’s solved its woes from last season in pass protection.
I’m reasonably confident that Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson will hold up on the left side and that Seth McLaughlin will provide a strong anchor in the middle, but the right side is a concern given Tegra Tshabola’s inexperience in big games and Josh Fryar’s poor performance in last year’s big games – especially after he admitted Wednesday that he doesn’t love the big-game spotlight. Oregon will likely attack the right side in hopes of exploiting a weakness, and how well Fryar and Tshabola respond to that challenge could play a big part in determining whether or not Ohio State wins this game.
– Dan Hope
Are the Buckeyes' linebackers prepared against the pass?
Michigan State and Marshall both found some success throwing quick passes over the middle against Ohio State, and even Iowa's beleaguered passing attack connected with tight end Luke Lachey five times for 39 yards last weekend. Lachey converted a 3rd-and-8 catching a ball isolated against Cody Simon short of the sticks, then battling forward through the linebacker for a first-down conversion.
The combined threat of Oregon slot receiver Tez Johnson and tight end Terrance Ferguson over the middle is far greater than any the Buckeyes have faced thus far. Johnson has 43 receptions for 395 yards and Ferguson has 16 for 259. Sonny Styles showed clear strides against the Hawkeyes and both he and Cody Simon look strong against the run for the Buckeyes, but how they hold up in coverage will be critical vs. the Ducks' quick passing attack.
– Andy Anders
Will Jeremiah Smith's rise to stardom continue?
People know how good Smith is. But I don't think people know how good Smith is. That's largely because Ohio State has yet to face a ranked opponent this season and, therefore, Smith hasn't had the same platform as, say, fellow freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams at Alabama. Against a top-three opponent on the road, how will Smith look? My guess is that he'll continue his rise with a solid performance, even if that performance doesn't involve some must-see one-handed touchdown catch like he's made the past two weeks in Ohio State's wins over Michigan State and Iowa.
– Chase Brown
How healthy is Oregon DE Jordan Burch?
Rumors started circulating over the interwebs Thursday that Oregon defensive end Jordan Burch suffered an injury in practice. Oregon media confirmed Burch hurt something in practice, but it sounded like it was only a minor tweak. The possibility of Burch missing the game became more real when ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Saturday morning that Burch’s status is uncertain. If Burch is limited at all on Saturday or misses the game, that could be a big boost for the Buckeyes considering Burch is one of the Ducks' most important players defensively.
– Garrick Hodge
Players to Watch
Caleb Downs
Games like this are why Ohio State pulled out all the stops to land Downs as soon as he entered the transfer portal. Against an Oregon offense that can attack the middle of the field through the air with Tez Johnson and Terrance Ferguson and run the ball effectively, Downs’ ability to both cover wide ground on the back end and explode downhill as a tackler could be vital to the Buckeyes’ defensive success.
Downs has seemingly gotten better with every game this season and has shown since he was a freshman last year at Alabama that he’s comfortable in the spotlight. Ohio State needs Downs to be a difference-maker tonight, and I expect him to respond to the challenge.
– Dan Hope
Josh Fryar and Josh Simmons
As Dan mentioned in the previous section, Fryar received criticism this week when he admitted that he doesn't love big games on national television. As a now-obvious target for Oregon's defense, I am curious how often Ohio State sends Fryar tight ends and running backs as a reinforcement. If Ohio State does that often, it will likely leave Simmons on an island, making him another player to watch for the Buckeyes as he could handle several one-on-one snaps against a stout Oregon front seven.
– Chase Brown
Carnell Tate
Good defenses know how to slow down a team's top one or two weapons. Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith should still make plays on Saturday because they are that good, but with them attracting so much attention I anticipate a big game from Tate, who's been quietly awesome as the Buckeyes' No. 3 wideout.
– Andy Anders
Tyleik Williams
Oregon's interior offensive line is its weak point, which could set up a big day for Williams, one of the best defensive tackles in the country. If Ohio State is going to limit Oregon offensively, clogging up the middle may be a big part of the path to victory, and Williams can certainly be a difference-maker in that regard.
– Garrick Hodge
Predictions
Will Howard outplays Dillon Gabriel
The transfer quarterback storyline in this contest is fascinating considering most pundits have more faith in Gabriel than Howard. Both are experienced, talented signal callers albeit with some obvious limitations. On this night and in this game, though, I expect Howard to make less mistakes and more impact plays, leading OSU to a narrow victory.
– Garrick Hodge
Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton combine for three TFLs
It could be that Williams gets one and Hamilton gets two or each get 1.5 or one gets three, but I expect a big game from Ohio State's defensive tackles against an Oregon interior offensive line that's had questions all season. The Ducks have struggled to run the ball at times, averaging no more than three per carry in first two games before picking things up the last few weeks, but the TNT combo could also get TFLs in the form of quarterback sacks as both have great capabilities as interior rushers.
– Andy Anders
Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson both surpass 100 scrimmage yards
In Oregon's 37-34 win over Boise State, the Ducks allowed Heisman contender Ashton Jeanty to record 200 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 27 touches. Now, Jeanty is a very good football player, but so are Judkins and Henderson. I think Ohio State relies on their one-two punch often in Eugene, with Judkins and Henderson both collecting 15 or more touches. What that many opportunities, I expect both ballcarriers to surpass 100 scrimmage yards in the top-three matchup – and maybe even add a couple of touchdowns to the box score, too.
– Chase Brown
There will be at least one fourth-quarter lead change
I expect there to be plenty of ebbs and flows in this matchup of two elite teams, and I’ll be surprised if either team pulls away for a comfortable victory. I expect both teams to hold the lead at least once in the fourth quarter, and I expect the game to come down to the final minutes with Ohio State either needing a late game-winning drive to earn a victory or a fourth-quarter defensive stand to preserve a narrow lead.
– Dan Hope
