It's always interesting to see how a team's stats change after playing Ohio State.
Below you will be able to compare Northern Illinois' stats before playing, and after playing, Ohio State.
THE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
After last week's substandard game many believed Ohio State's offense would right the ship against Northern Illinois. That did not happen. The Buckeyes' offense actually took a step backwards and at times looked dead in the water. Good teams are supposed to own 3rd down. Ohio State was 2/13 (.154) on that important down. Not good, not good at all. It's a good thing Ohio State has a defense that can bail them out.
Like Ohio State, Northern Illinois had a tough time on offense. The Huskies were held to under 100 yards rushing and only had 190 of total offense. Drew Hare is good, but Ohio State's defense is better. The one positive for NIU was that they scored every time they reached the red zone.
THE DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Like last week Ohio State's defense performed much better than the offense. The Buckeyes shutdown Northern Illinois' offense in every statistical category. The most impressive was keeping NIU to 13 points. That was 34.5 points below their average. Not only did Ohio State keep the Huskies' offensive yards and scoring locked up they were able to get a pick-six as well.
Northern Illinois' defense can hold their head high after playing Ohio State. The Huskies' D held Ohio State to 298 total yards of offense. Another telling stat is that NIU held Ohio State to 162 yards of rushing offense, 34 yards below the Buckeyes' average. Keep Ohio State from running the ball and you will have a chance to win. Win the turnover margin (they did) and hold Ohio State to 13 offensive points and you should win. Unfortunately for Northern Illinois Ohio State's defense came up with the winning play.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio State did not have a kickoff go out of bounds, finally. The kickoff coverage team put the clamp down on NIU's returners holding them to 17.5 yards a return. Cameron Johnston had the big boot as he averaged 52.2 yards per punt. Unfortunately three of his punts went into the endzone. The touchbacks put his net punt average at 42.2 yards per punt. Jack Willoughby was perfect on field goals and extra points. I have a feeling Ohio State's special teams performance had one person in the stands smiling.
Northern Illinois' punter averaged a net punt of 42.3 yards against the Buckeyes. That was 5.6 yards per punt better than his 2015 average. He was the bright spot for NIU's special teams. Two kickoffs out of bounds and allowing Jalin Marshall to return a punt 26 yards did not help their cause.
THE MOST IMPORTANT STAT
Ohio State 20, Northern Illinois 13
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2015 STATS | CATEGORY | Against Ohio State | Stat Difference |
47.5 | Points For | 13 | - 34.5 |
28.0 | Points Against | 20 | + 8.0 |
OFFENSE | |||
219.5 | Rushing Offense | 110 | - 109.5 |
274.5 | Passing Offense | 80 | - 194.5 |
494.0 | Total Offense | 190 | - 304.0 |
DEFENSE | |||
128.0 | Rushing Defense | 162 | - 34.0 |
305.0 | Pass Defense | 136 | + 169.0 |
433.0 | Total Defense | 298 | + 135.0 |
OFF. MISC. | |||
.423 | 3rd Down Conv. | .300 | - .123 |
1.00 | Red Zone | 1.00 | No Change |
13.3 | Punt Return | ----- | ----- |
22.3 | Kickoff Return | 17.5 | - 4.8 |
DEF. MISC. | |||
.421 | 3rd Down Conv. | .154 | + .267 |
.857 | Red Zone | 1.00 | - .143 |
123.0 | Pass Eff. Def. | 95.1 | + 27.9 |
36.7 | Net Punting | 42.3 | + 5.6 |
MISC. | |||
+1.0 | Turnover Margin | +3 | + 2.0 |
6.0 | Penalties Per Game | 4 | + 2.0 |
Total: 8 | THE EDGE | Total: 9 |
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2015 STATS BEFORE OHIO STATE | NATIONAL RANKING | CATEGORY | 2015 STATS AFTER OHIO STATE | NATIONAL RANKING | DIFFERENCE |
47.5 | 14th | Points For | 36.0 | 41st | - 11.5 |
28.0 | 85th | Points Against | 25.3 | 75th | + 2.7 |
OFFENSE | |||||
219.5 | 44th | Rushing Offense | 183.0 | 66th | - 36.5 |
374.5 | 9th | Passing Offense | 276.3 | 39th | - 98.2 |
594.0 | 7th | Total Offense | 459.3 | 43rd | - 134.7 |
DEFENSE | |||||
128.0 | 52nd | Rushing Defense | 139.3 | 49th | - 11.3 |
305.0 | 104th | Pass Defense | 248.7 | 89th | + 56.3 |
433.0 | 96th | Total Defense | 388.0 | 75th | + 45.0 |
OFF. MISC. | |||||
.423 | 51st | 3rd Down Conv. | .370 | 87th | - .053 |
1.00 | 1st | Red Zone | 1.00 | 1st | No Change |
13.3 | 33rd | Punt Return | 13.3 | 35th | No Change |
22.3 | 56th | Kickoff Return | 21.5 | 68th | - 0.8 |
DEF. MISC. | |||||
.421 | 95th | 3rd Down Conv. | .353 | 66th | + .068 |
.857 | 73rd | Red Zone | .800 | 50th | - .057 |
123.0 | 70th | Pass Eff. Def. | 113.7 | 45th | + 9.3 |
36.7 | 75th | Net Punting | 37.5 | 61st | + 0.9 |
MISC. | |||||
+ 1.0 | 26th | Turnover Margin | + 1.7 | 8th | + 0.7 |
6.0 | 53rd | Penalties Per Game | 5.7 | 42nd | + 0.3 |
Total: 7 | THE EDGE | Total: 9 |
If Northern Illinois is the best in the MAC Ohio State should be able to beat Western Michigan by 10 points. Right?
Source- stats.ncaa.org