Ohio State's non-conference slate for the 2021 season concludes on Saturday night.
Akron doesn't hold the cachet of a typical primetime opponent for Ohio State, but nonetheless, the Buckeyes will play under the lights at Ohio Stadium on Saturday night as kickoff of their fourth game of the 2021 season – and their last of three consecutive non-conference games – is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Shoe with Big Ten Network televising.
While we await tonight's game, which will be headlined by either Kyle McCord or Jack Miller at quarterback as C.J. Stroud is expected to rest his shoulder, the Eleven Warriors staff shares some final thoughts, questions and predictions entering the Buckeyes' meeting with the Zips.
Final Thoughts
This may be the most interesting blowout in quite some time
Look, Akron is terrible, OK? They lost to Auburn by 50 points in their opener, showing they’re a long way away from the cream of the crop of college football. This isn’t to minimize Ohio State’s issues, of which there’s been many. It’s to say there seemingly can be no way Akron gives the Buckeyes a scare for three quarters similar to Tulsa — who mind you was a Top 25 team last year for the majority of the season — a week ago.
But the conversation is instantly going to be on quarterbacks for another week. Will Stroud get Wally Pipp’d by Kyle McCord or Jack Miller III? Will Ryan Day stand by his QB no matter if McCord throws for 500 yards? Will Stroud’s shoulder flare up again heading into Rutgers? For a game that shouldn’t be close from kickoff, there’s suddenly lots of intrigue here.
– Garrick Hodge
Ohio State needs to take care of business early
Tulsa might be a bit better of a team that we gave the Golden Hurricane credit for going into last week's game, but there will be no spinning this one if Akron manages to somehow make it competitive with Ohio State. The Zips have won just one game against a Football Bowl Subdivision team since 2019 and are arguably one of the worst teams in the FBS.
Anything less than dominance will be a disappointment tonight for the Buckeyes, who are favored by 48.5 points even without their starting quarterback. Ohio State has yet to fully control a game this season, but there's no excuse for that not to happen against Akron. And it would certainly be in the Buckeyes' best interest to build a big lead by halftime so that they can let their backups – many of whom haven't played much or at all yet this season, and might not have many opportunities to play in Big Ten games – get some game experience.
– Dan Hope
The result may be in hand, but the performance will say it all
This is Ohio State’s last chance to truly put forth an impressive, consistent showing for four quarters before it enters the Big Ten gauntlet, and Saturday should be (by far) its easiest opportunity to do so. Winning alone will not be good enough. A three-touchdown victory, as seen in last week’s uneven performance against Tulsa, will not be good enough. It’s going to take a thorough display of dominance on both sides of the ball to ease the angst of the Buckeye fan base following a sluggish start to the season, and even if this Ohio State team is not national championship material as of now, it should still be able to muster such an effort against Akron.
Unfair as the expectations may be, they are what they are at Ohio State, and if ever this Buckeyes team was to meet them, it would certainly be against a Zips program that has won just two of its past 21 games dating back to the start of 2019.
– Griffin Strom
Questions
What exactly constitutes an emergency QB?
Day said Stroud would only play in an “emergency capacity” this week. What exactly does that mean? The Buckeyes unfathomably pull a Tulsa and sleepwalk through three quarters? McCord and Miller both fall flat on their face? I don’t see this being an issue, but you can’t help but wonder what would require the “break in case of an emergency” scenario.
– Garrick Hodge
How many fans will show up?
Attendance at Ohio Stadium for last week's game against Tulsa came in at a shockingly low number of 76,540, the lowest attendance for a game with fans at the Shoe since 1971. There's reason to believe there will be plenty of empty seats in the stands tonight, too.
The excitement of a night game might bring some people to the Shoe that weren't inclined to attend last week, while the temperature will be cooler than the 90-degree heat that kept some fans away last Saturday. A matchup with Akron isn't going to excite the casual fan, though, and it's likely that a good number of people who bought tickets for this game expecting an earlier kickoff won't be as interested in getting home late from a game against the Zips.
I don't feel confident in saying whether attendance will be higher or lower this week than it was last week, but I do anticipate that many fans who do attend the game won't stick around for the second half unless this game becomes surprisingly competitive.
– Dan Hope
Is Akron good enough for a big performance from McCord/Miller to mean much?
All indications from Ryan Day are that C.J. Stroud is getting rest to help heal his shoulder, and not that any inconsistencies through his first three collegiate starts were egregious enough to lose his job. However, those clamoring to see what’s behind door No. 2 could realistically be treated to a monster statistical performance from Kyle McCord or Jack Miller due to Akron’s porous defense.
The Zips allowed 105 points in the first two games of the season alone, and the Buckeyes’ offense – when firing on all cylinders and potentially regardless of quarterback – should be more prolific than Auburn or Temple. Could a show-stopping first start, even against Akron, possibly be enough to make Day question Stroud’s starting status moving forward? That is my question, even if it takes until this time next week to get an answer.
– Griffin Strom
Predictions
McCord presents Day with a tough decision heading into next week
McCord is a five-star prospect for a reason, and I expect him to both earn the start and light up the Zips. I can’t imagine the game plan is going to be throwing it 35-plus times considering TreVeyon Henderson just broke a school freshman running record and Akron shouldn’t be able to slow him down, but if he holds his own on the throws he’s asked to make, Tuesday’s press conference with Day should be very interesting.
– Garrick Hodge
Ohio State will have multiple 100-yard rushers
Considering that Ohio State will be breaking in a new quarterback and Akron's run defense has allowed 5.4 yards per carry this season, expect the Buckeyes to pound the ball against the Zips. I anticipate we'll see two or three more big plays from Henderson tonight, but I don't think the Buckeyes will give him as many carries as they did against Tulsa as they look to keep him fresh for conference play.
So I think we'll see a healthy dose of Miyan Williams and/or Master Teague tonight, and probably a little bit of Evan Pryor too, and I'll say that both Henderson and either Williams or Teague – leaning toward Williams – runs for triple digits against the Akron defense.
– Dan Hope
The Buckeye pass rush will finally come alive
Larry Johnson said Tuesday that he doesn’t sleep well when the Buckeye defensive line can’t get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but after a closer look at Akron’s stats to start the year, I have a feeling he’ll be sleeping just fine this weekend.
The Zips gave up six sacks to Auburn Week 1, two more than Ohio State has tallied all season long, and Akron quarterbacks were sacked five more times since then in the past two games as well. Zach Harrison is back for the Buckeyes at defensive end this week, but even if he doesn’t make a huge impact on Akron’s pass attack himself, I believe some selection of Ohio State defensive linemen will. Johnson said J.T. Tuimoloau will only continue to see more snaps as the season goes on, and fellow true freshman Tyleik Williams came up with a game-changing sack just last week for the Buckeyes.
If there’s any matchup in which piling up sacks should be feasible, it’ll be this one, and there may be many sleepless nights ahead for Johnson if his unit doesn’t manage to do so on Saturday.
– Griffin Strom
