Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) celebrates a primary down run beside Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Kobe King (41) in the course of the NCAA soccer recreation at Beaver Stadium in College Park, Pa. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Ohio State received 20-13. Purdue’s spectacular 5 victories over Ohio State this century, together with an all-time upset in 2018, have one factor in frequent — they had been performed in West Lafayette, Ind.
The struggling Boilermakers (1-7, 0-5 Large Ten) will not have that luxurious in Columbus on Saturday in opposition to the Buckeyes, who’re ranked No. 2 within the season’s first School Soccer Playoff rankings launched Tuesday.
Within the first-ever CFP ballot in 2014, Ohio State ranked sixteenth due to a house loss to Virginia Tech. Two months later, the Buckeyes defeated Oregon within the nationwide title recreation.
The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1) have the identical vacation spot in thoughts this season after a 20-13 victory at No. 6 Penn State on Saturday gave them a transparent path to the Large Ten title recreation and a potential rematch with No. 1 Oregon, which edged the visiting Buckeyes 32-31 on Oct. 12.
Ohio State must win its closing 4 regular-season video games and might’t afford a slip-up in opposition to the Boilermakers earlier than taking part in Northwestern (at Wrigley Area), and No. 8 Indiana and rival Michigan, each in Columbus.
“We’re simply centered on Purdue,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day mentioned Tuesday. “It doesn’t matter what occurred the sport earlier than, that recreation is over with. Regardless of the rankings are, we have at all times mentioned, those that matter are those on the finish of the 12 months.”
Purdue coach Ryan Walters is aware of his workforce is a heavy underdog at Ohio Stadium, the place the Boilermakers have not received since 1988. However he’ll attempt to attract inspiration from six years in the past, when the unranked Boilermakers humbled the second-ranked Buckeyes 49-20, albeit in a house recreation.
“It may be an enormous problem,” Walters mentioned Monday. “Wanting ahead to taking part in in a venue that is as historic as Ohio State and looking out ahead to going and competing in opposition to the perfect. That’s the reason you play on this convention. That is why you come to a faculty like Purdue, to have the ability to go compete with and provides your all in opposition to a few of the higher groups within the nation.”
Nonetheless, within the two most up-to-date matchups in 2023 and 2021, they had been outscored 100-38, and there is cause to imagine one other beatdown is within the offing.
The Boilermakers have been outscored 295-113 by FBS opponents following a season-opening 49-0 win over Indiana State of the FCS.
Add the very fact Ohio State has future NFL picks all through the lineup and it may very well be a protracted day.
“You take a look at their workforce in its entirety; very, very gifted roster,” Walters mentioned. “You couple the gifted roster with the extent of teaching that’s at Ohio State, I’ve received a number of respect for lots of these guys on the employees there. That is why you get a workforce like Ohio State.”
Will Howard leads the best way at quarterback for the Buckeyes, throwing for 1,977 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, with Emeka Egbuka catching 46 passes for 577 yards and 7 touchdowns and Jeremiah Smith hauling in 39 passes for 678 yards and eight scores.
The Buckeyes will look to construct off their efficiency at Penn State, the place they denied the Nittany Lions a late potential game-tying landing regardless of a first-and-goal from the three.
That was adopted by the Buckeyes ranging from their 1 with 5:13 left and working 11 straight instances, together with a kneel-down, for 58 yards and 4 first downs to finish the sport.
However Day is completed speaking about that.
“I believe Purdue’s offense is taking part in nicely,” Day mentioned. “If our guys suppose that they are simply going to go on the market and play this Saturday, they’re unsuitable. (The Boilermakers) are a a lot better workforce than their document reveals.
“If anyone on this constructing right here is considering final week, that they are distracted, that may’t occur.”
–Area Stage Media
