The Rundown: Rutgers at No. 13 Ohio State

THE RUNNING START
TV: Saturday, 3:30 ABC

Saturday Ohio State will play Rutgers for the first time in football. The Buckeyes are planning to welcome the Scarlet Knights in the same fashion they did with Maryland, a loss.

Rutgers is in the second game of a tough Big Ten stretch. Two weeks ago they defeated Michigan, this week they are at Ohio State, next week they will be at Nebraska and in two weeks they host Wisconsin. The only way to make this stretch any more difficult would be to add Michigan State to the mix.

Two weeks ago they added fuel to the fire raging in AA. Can Rutgers pull off the upset against Ohio State? If they do pull off the improbable somebody will be sporting new ink.

The Last Time...

The Buckeyes lost a Big Ten regular season game was 2011 against That Team (34-40).
Ohio State played Rutgers in football was...never
An Urban Meyer coached team lost in October was 2010.
Ohio State lost after a bye week was 2005 at Penn State (10-17).
Ohio State lost a home game after a bye week was 1990 against Illinois (20-31).

On the Horizon...

Devin Smith comes into the game with 99 catches. Smith is one touchdown away from tying Brian Robiskie (24 TDs) for 4th all-time.
Ohio State has won 17 consecutive regular season Big Ten games. The 2005-07 Buckeyes established the record of 20 consecutive regular season wins.
If this Buckeye team can gain 500+ yards on Saturday they will tie the 1998 team with four-straight games of 500+ yards of offense.
If Ohio State can score 50+ points against Rutgers it will be the first time in school history that the Buckeyes scored 50+ in four-straight games.

Rutgers Reconnaissance

With 24 sacks Rutgers leads the Big Ten in sacks and ranks 3rd in the nation.
2008 was the last time Rutgers defeated a ranked opponent on the road (Pitt 53-34).
The Scarlet Knights have been playing football for 145 years.
If Ohio Stadium seats more than 103,925 fans it will be the largest crowd that Rutgers has ever played in front of in its 145 year history.
The last time Rutgers played on ABC was 2011 against West Virginia.
The last time Rutgers won when playing on ABC was 2006.
35 rushing attempts could be the key. Rutgers is 21-3 since 2011 when they run the ball 35 times.

Freshman Arm:

J.T. Barrett has had an incredible three game stretch. He set an Ohio State record with 14 touchdowns in those three games. For the season Barrett has thrown for 1,354 yards, 17 touchdowns and is completing 66 percent of his passes.

Freshman Legs:

Samuel did not play in the 52-24 win against Maryland. Earlier this season the true freshman became the first Buckeye to rush for 100 yards in a game. Samuel ran for 100 yards (6.7 ypc) and two touchdowns against Kent State. For the season Samuel has 192 rushing yards and is averaging 6.0 ypc. He has rushed for two touchdowns.

Seasoned Sophomores:
Ezekiel Elliott and Dontre Wilson are making an impact on the 2014 season. Ezekiel Elliot has gained 321 yards over the past two games, 139 yards against Maryland. He now leads the team with 462 yards on the ground.

Dontre Wilson has gained 21 yards on his one rushing attempt in the past three games. For the season he only has 9 carries for 59 yards (6.6 ypc). Although his rushing attempts are down Wilson has 11 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown over the past three games. For the season Wilson is averaging 15.8 yards per reception.

Today's Trivia Question:
Can you name the last time the Buckeyes lost their first Big Ten home game of a season?

Rutgers' Individual Statistics

PASSING

QB Gary Nova (Sr)

Last Game: 22/39 (.564), 404 yards, 3 TDs

2014 Stats: 93/150 (.620), 1,601 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs

Career: 595/1,068 (.557), 8,008 yards, 64 TDs, 46 INTs

RUSHING

RB Paul James (Jr)

Last Game: Did Not Play

2014 Stats: 363 yards, 5.8 ypc, 5 TDs

Career: 1,266 yards, 5.7 ypc, 14 TDs

RB Desmon Peoples (So)

Last Game: 38 yards, 2.5 ypc

2014 Stats: 326 yards, 4.0 ypc

Career Stats: 342 yards 3.9 ypc, 0 TDs

RECEIVING

WR Leonte Carroo (Jr)

Last Game: 73 yards, 18.3 ypr,

2014 Stats: 548 yards, 18.9 ypr, 5 TDs

Career: 1,026 yards, 18.0 ypr, 14 TDs

Ohio State's Individual Statistics

PASSING

QB J.T. Barrett (Fr)

Last Game: 18/23 (.783), 267 yards, 4 TDs

2014 Stats: 88/133 (.662), 1,354 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs

Career: 88/133 (.662), 1,354 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs

RUSHING

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Last Game: 139 yards, 5.8 ypc

2014 Stats: 462 yards, 5.8 ypc, 3 TDs

Career: 724 yards, 6.6 ypc, 5 Tds

RB Curtis Samuel (Fr)

Last Game: Did Not Play

2014 Stats: 192 yards, 6.0 ypc, 2 TDs

Career: 192 yards, 6.0 ypc, 2 TDs

RECEIVING

WR Michael Thomas (So)

Last Game: 75 yards, 18.8 ypr, 1 TD

2014 Stats: 322 yards, 18.9 ypr, 5 TDs

Career: 344 yards, 17.2 ypr, 5 Tds

WR Devin Smith (Sr)

Last Game: 67 yards, 16.8 ypr, 2 TDs

2014 Stats: 278 yards, 30.9 ypr, 4 TDs

Career: 1,850 yards, 19.1 ypr, 22 TDs

THE RUNOFF

Coaches

Urban Meyer has not lost a regular season Big Ten game.

Urban Meyer

28-3 at Ohio State (3rd year)

132-26 overall (13th year)

This is Meyer's first game against Rutgers.

2010 was the last time Meyer lost a game in October.

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Kyle Flood

20-12 at Rutgers (3rd year)

20-12 overall (3rd year)

Flood was the first coach in the long history of Rutgers football to play in a bowl game in his first two seasons as head coach.

Cliff Claven's Little Known Facts Corner:

Urban Meyer is 37-3 when he has more than a week to get ready for a game.
The Buckeyes are 86-9 in Ohio Stadium since 2001 (includes 8 vacated wins from 2010).
Meyer is 78-15 when facing a coach for the first time.
Time for a return? The Buckeyes did not return a kickoff or punt for a touchdown in 2013. That broke a ten-year streak of having at least one return in a season.
The Buckeyes have had 88 consecutive home games of 100,000 plus in attendance.
Rutgers' all-time record in the Big Ten is 1-1. Ohio State is 482-171-24 (includes 7 vacated wins from 2010).
8 different Ohio State players have intercepted a pass this season.

2014 Statistical Comparison

2014 STATS	CATEGORY	2014 STATS
44.6 (5th)	Points For	29.5 (68th)
20.8 (31st)	Points Against	21.7 (42nd)
	OFFENSE
247.0 (18th)	Rushing Offense	159.2 (74th)
276.6 (35th)	Passing Offense	267.5 (36th)
523.6 (12th)	Total Offense	426.7 (55th)
	DEFENSE
135.6 (45th)	Rush Defense	135.0 (44th)
178.8 (13th)	Pass Defense	261.7 (96th)
314.4 (14th)	Total Defense	396.7 (70th)
	OFF. MISC.
.484 (15th)	3rd Down Conv.	.423 (59th)
.821 (70th)	Red Zone	.905 (24th)
13.8 (22nd)	Punt Return	9.0 (54th)
21.8 (50th)	Kickoff Return	21.4 (55th)
	DEF. MISC.
.358 (43rd)	3rd Down Conv.	.423 (59th)
.917 (106th)	Red Zone	.750 (27th)
112.4 (28th)	Pass Eff. Def.	131.5 (78th)
39.1 (34th)	Net Punting	21.4 (55th)
Total: 13	The Edge	Total: 3