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Boilermakers
Five years after suffering an infamous 49-20 loss in West Lafayette, Ohio State finally returns to Purdue this weekend for a shot at revenge in Ross-Ade Stadium.
Ross-Ade Stadium has become known as a house of horrors for the Buckeyes as they have lost five of their last eight games in West Lafayette dating back to 2000. None were more memorable for all the wrong reasons than the 29-point defeat in 2018, which kept that year’s Buckeyes out of the College Football Playoff even though they won the rest of their regular-season games and the Big Ten championship that season.
Ohio State hasn’t been back at Purdue for a football game since then, but they will be on Saturday, when the Buckeyes will close out the first half of their regular season by playing the Boilermakers on the Ross-Ade Stadium grass.
The Buckeyes’ less-than-stellar recent history in road games at Purdue is well-documented, but that should help keep them focused on taking care of business this week ahead of a top-10 matchup with Penn State at Ohio Stadium next week.
“It's been a difficult place to play, for sure. And this team is no different. They're very well-coached. They have good players. And I know they’ll have a great atmosphere there,” Ryan Day said. “So we're into October now, middle of the season, playing on the road in the Big Ten. All these games are critical and difficult. So we gotta have a great week of preparation, and that's just about what we expect this time of year.”
The Headlines
Run Game Looks to Gain Ground
After Ohio State was held under two yards per carry by Maryland last week, the eyes of Buckeye fans will be fixed firmly on whether OSU can get its ground game going this week against Purdue.
Ohio State’s last trip to Purdue served as a stark warning of how important an effective run game can be to an offense’s success, as the Buckeyes threw for 470 yards in that game but ran for only 76. Ohio State’s current rushing average for the season of only 4.4 yards per carry is the lowest season average for the Buckeyes since they gained only 4.2 yards per carry in 2018.
Going up against this year’s Purdue defense should serve as a get-right opportunity for the Buckeyes, as the Boilermakers currently rank 87th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (153.8). Ohio State’s rushing efforts should also be bolstered by the return of starting running back TreVeyon Henderson, who Day said is feeling “much better than he was last week, for sure” after missing the Maryland game with an undisclosed injury.
With a looming game against a Penn State defense that ranks in the top seven nationally in rushing yards allowed per carry and per game, Ohio State’s rushing offense needs to find some answers this week.
Defense Seeks Continued Dominance
Although Ohio State’s defense has allowed slightly more points with each game than it has in each previous game – three against Indiana, seven against Youngstown State, 10 against Western Kentucky, 14 against Notre Dame and 17 against Maryland – the Buckeyes’ defense still ranks as one of the nation’s best through their first five games of the year.
Ohio State currently ranks third in the FBS in points allowed per game (10.2), fourth in yards allowed per play (4.1) and eighth in yards allowed per game (264.8). The Buckeyes’ passing defense has been particularly strong, holding opponents to only 158.4 passing yards per game on 5.2 yards per passing attempts to rank sixth nationally in both categories.
The Buckeyes’ defense has led the way to their 5-0 start this season, and they’ll look to keep that going against a Purdue offense that ranks in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. Six games into their own season, the Boilermakers have averaged 25.7 points per game (seventh in the Big Ten) and 390.3 yards per game (sixth in the conference), led by a passing attack that’s averaging 248.5 yards per game through the air.
On paper, the Boilermakers should pose less of a threat to the Buckeye defense than Maryland and Notre Dame did, but defensive coordinator Jim Knowles says his unit still has to be prepared for a challenge.
“They’ve got a pretty high third-down conversion rate (45.5%), so I think that's something that they do very well, take a lot of shots down the field,” Knowles said. “They've had some turnovers (10), which have hurt them. But they have the concepts in their offense that's well-run that if you let them get going, you could end up behind the sticks.”
Emeka Egbuka’s Status Uncertain
Ohio State’s efforts to turn the tables at Purdue could come without one of its best players after Emeka Egbuka suffered a lower-body injury while being tackled on an 8-yard catch early in the fourth quarter of last week’s game against Maryland. While Day said Tuesday that Egbuka’s injury is “not going to be a long-term issue,” he said he did not know at that time whether Egbuka would be able to play this week, and Day did not hold his usual Thursday afternoon media availability due to the team practicing earlier with classes being on fall break.
Given the importance of being healthy for Penn State, it seems most likely that Egbuka won’t play against the Boilermakers. Given their depth at wide receiver, the Buckeyes should be able to beat Purdue without Egbuka.
“I feel like if there's any position room that could have a next guy up and really not skip a beat, it would be that receiver room,” Kyle McCord said. “So regardless of if Mek is gonna play or not, I'm not sure, but just having confidence in the guys in that room, we're extremely deep in that room. So I think regardless of who goes out there, if he doesn't play, I don't think we'll miss a beat.”
Ohio State offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline wouldn’t say who would start in place of Egbuka if Egbuka can’t play, but the most likely candidate to do so is Xavier Johnson, who has only four catches for 58 yards in limited playing time this season but has a history of stepping up when called upon to play a bigger role. Highly touted freshman wide receiver Carnell Tate is another candidate to see an increase in playing time, while the Buckeyes could also lean more heavily on two-tight end formations with Cade Stover and Gee Scott Jr. as they did last week against Maryland.
Keep An Eye on These Guys
QB Hudson Card
Card began the 2022 season as Texas’ starting quarterback but lost the starting job to Quinn Ewers, prompting his transfer to Purdue this offseason.
The highest-rated recruit on Purdue’s roster, Card – who was recruited by the Buckeyes as a high school teammate of former Ohio State star Garrett Wilson – has played every snap at quarterback for the Boilermakers through six games and has completed 136 of 214 passing attempts for 1,491 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s also rushed for three touchdowns, so the Buckeyes will need to be prepared for his ability to make plays as both a passer and a runner.
“He's got a strong arm. He can run around, make plays,” Day said. “They’ve been very explosive at times on offense. And so, they'll challenge us in certain areas.”
Hudson Card just made a play. @BoilerFootball is on the board in Iowa City.
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 7, 2023
: Peacock pic.twitter.com/87Nuaypv5Y
OLBs Kydran Jenkins and Nic Scourton
Jenkins and Scourton have been the Big Ten’s most productive pass-rushing tandem so far this season. Jenkins leads the conference with four sacks this season while Scourton is tied for second with 3.5 sacks. Jenkins also leads the Big Ten with 30 total quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, while Scourton is tied for third in that category with 20 pressures.
| Ohio State | Pos | Purdue |
|---|---|---|
| OFFENSE | ||
| KYLE MCCORD | QB | HUDSON CARD |
| TREVEYON HENDERSON | RB | TYRONE TRACY JR. |
| MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WR | ABDUR-RAHMAAN YASEEN |
| JULIAN FLEMING | WR | DEION BURKS |
| XAVIER JOHNSON | WR | TJ SHEFFIELD |
| CADE STOVER | TE | GARRETT MILLER |
| JOSH SIMMONS | LT | MAHAMANE MOUSSA |
| DONOVAN JACKSON | LG | PRESTON NICHOLS |
| CARSON HINZMAN | C | GUS HARTWIG |
| MATT JONES | RG | JALEN GRANT |
| JOSH FRYAR | RT | BEN FARRELL |
| DEFENSE | ||
| JT TUIMOLOAU | DE | MALIK LANGHAM |
| MIKE HALL | NT | COLE BREVARD |
| TYLEIK WILLIAMS | DT/DE | ISAIAH NICHOLS |
| JACK SAWYER | DE/OLB | KYDRAN JENKINS |
| STEELE CHAMBERS | WLB | YANNI KARLAFTIS |
| TOMMY EICHENBERG | MLB | CLYDE WASHINGTON |
| SONNY STYLES | NB/OLB | NIC SCOURTON |
| DENZEL BURKE | CB | MARKEVIOUS BROWN |
| DAVISON IGBINOSUN | CB | DERRICK ROGERS JR. |
| JOSH PROCTOR | FS | DILLON THIENEMAN |
| LATHAN RANSOM | SS | SANOUSSI KANE |
The Boilermakers’ two edge-rushing linebackers have made their share of plays against the run, too, as they’re tied for the third in the Big Ten with six tackles for loss each. Together, they’ve led the way for a Purdue defense that ranks second in the Big Ten with 18 sacks this year, presenting another test for Ohio State’s offensive tackle tandem of Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar.
S Dillon Thieneman
Thieneman has been an immediate star for Purdue as a true freshman. The Boilermakers’ starting free safety is tied for the Big Ten with 53 tackles this season and tied for the second in the conference with three interceptions.
Although he was ranked as only the 85th-best safety in the 2023 recruiting class, Thieneman – whose older brothers Jacob and Brennan were also safeties for the Boilermakers – has quickly established himself as one of the top safeties in the conference, already earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors twice.
Thieneman has Day’s attention as someone Ohio State will need to be mindful of when trying to make plays over the middle against Purdue.
“He's very active,” Day said. “They got him in the middle of the field, and he moves around back there a lot. He plays it high to low, and he's (lined up) real deep at times, which gives him a different angle to attack some of the passes.”
DILLON THIENEMAN INTERCEPTS IT pic.twitter.com/gDC5uumaLo
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 2, 2023
Game Week Talk
“It means a lot. I haven't been back since, so I'm definitely looking forward to that one.”– Josh Proctor on returning to Purdue
Proctor, who played one defensive snap and played on special teams at Purdue in 2018, is the only player still on the roster who saw action for Ohio State in that game. So Saturday’s game will mean as much to Proctor as it will to any player on the team.
“Ohio State is a national brand for a reason. I have a lot of respect for Ryan Day and what he has done in his career. But you go play to win the game. That is the purpose of competition.”– Ryan Walters on his team’s approach to playing Ohio State
Purdue’s head coach channeled Herm Edwards when describing his team’s mentality ahead of hosting the Buckeyes. While Walters knows his 2-4 squad is in for a big challenge, he says the Boilermakers “are excited to go play and compete.”
“Obviously a lot of skill guys, receivers, a good running back. I would say a very basic offense, though. Some things that we have seen before. But they’ve got some nice guys out there.”– Nic Scourton on Ohio State’s offense
One of Purdue’s top defenders seemed unimpressed with Ohio State’s offensive scheme during his interview session with Purdue reporters on Wednesday, though he acknowledged the talent of the Buckeyes’ offensive playmakers.
Get Smart
- Ohio State has a 40-15-2 all-time record against Purdue. Ohio State won the most recent matchup between the two teams, 59-31, at Ohio Stadium in 2021.
- The Buckeyes’ 2018 loss to Purdue is the only game they’ve played at Ross-Ade Stadium in the last nine years. Ohio State’s most recent win in West Lafayette came in 2013, when the Buckeyes won 56-0.
- Saturday’s game will be the first Ohio State ever streamed exclusively on Peacock. Andrew Siciliano, Kyle Rudolph and Lewis Johnson will be the broadcast team for the game.
- Ohio State will be playing in the state of Indiana for the third time in six games to begin the season as it opened the season at Indiana and played at Notre Dame in Week 4. While Purdue will be Ohio State’s last regular-season opponent from Indiana, the Buckeyes could play another game in the state if it qualifies for the Big Ten Championship Game, which will be played in Indianapolis on Dec. 2.
- Purdue’s roster includes four players from Ohio: wide receivers Mershawn Rice (Reynoldsburg), Ryne Shackleford (Elyria) and Ben Van Noord (Springfield) and linebacker Owen Davis (Richwood).
- Seth Morales, who caught a 64-yard game-winning touchdown pass against Ohio State in 2000, will serve as Purdue’s honorary captain for Saturday’s game. It will also be Purdue’s annual Hammer Down Cancer game, and Purdue is encouraging fans to wear black to create a blackout environment.
How It Plays Out
Line: Ohio State -19, O/U 50.5
More Ohio State vs. Purdue Coverage
Based on the talent of the two teams, Ohio State should win big in West Lafayette on Saturday. The Boilermakers don’t have many offensive playmakers who should pose major threats to Ohio State’s defense, while Ohio State’s assortment of weapons should be able to create mismatches against Purdue’s defensive backs and linebackers.
Of course, no one – not even the biggest Purdue fans – expected the Boilermakers to win by 29 points the last time Ohio State played in Ross-Ade Stadium. Most of Ohio State’s recent trips to West Lafayette haven’t played out the way they should have gone on paper, which undoubtedly plays a factor in Ohio State being favored to beat Purdue by fewer points than Wisconsin (who defeated Purdue 38-17 in West Lafayette in September).
Despite Ohio State’s history of struggles in West Lafayette, the collective Eleven Warriors staff expects a decisive win for the Buckeyes on Saturday. The majority of our staffers expect the Buckeyes to not only bring home their first road win from Purdue in 10 years but cover the spread in the process to improve to 6-0 entering next week’s clash with the Nittany Lions.
| Eleven Warriors Staff Prediction | ||||
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38 | 13 |
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