Presented by First Bank of Central Ohio
Grambling State
Tigers
Some previews require a grandiose introduction to set the stage for a massive showdown of football majesty. This isn't one of those.
Now-No. 1 Ohio State posted what will stand as one of the best wins across college football this regular season in its season-opener, dominating then-No. 1 Texas with defense to scoop up a massive 14-7 win. By scheduling such a tough game to start the year, a week to sleepwalk feels earned. That's what the Buckeyes get in Week 2.
True, an opponent should never be taken for granted by a team, and Ryan Day is keeping the focus on internal improvement. But FCS Grambling State isn't striking fear into anyone's heart in Columbus. The Tigers' head coach, Mickey Joseph, even said the quiet part out loud earlier this week: Grambling State will cash a nice check for its athletic department while almost certainly getting blown off the field.
“We understand what we’re getting into," Joseph said. "We understand what’s gonna happen. We understand there’s not balance in the scholarship, there’s not balance in what they have resources-wise and what we have resources-wise. We all know why we’re playing the game."
That doesn't mean there aren't areas to improve on for Ohio State and things to look forward to for fans, though the bands might be every bit the attraction that the football is on Saturday. Let's break it down.
The Headlines
Pound the Rock, Explode it Out
Ohio State's top focus coming off Texas week is on the offensive side of the ball, and it's twofold: Establishing a better ground game and hitting more explosive plays.
The Buckeyes rushed for a mere 77 yards on 34 carries against the Longhorns, an average of 2.3 yards per carry. They kept a conservative game plan that trusted their defense, and it worked, but those numbers don't feel sustainable for the other marquee opponents later on Ohio State's schedule, namely Penn State and Michigan.
“I think it could have gone better,” left guard Luke Montgomery said after the Texas game. “I think the yardage at the end of the game, I'm not sure what we had, but it could have been a lot better. We definitely were moving the guys off the ball, but we've got to strain a little more.”
Ohio State only had one offensive play of 20 yards or more against Texas, a 40-yard touchdown strike from Julian Sayin to Carnell Tate in the fourth quarter that proved the difference in the game. Day intentionally took as much pressure off his young quarterback as possible with the above-mentioned conservative game plan, but Sayin's immaculate poise and accuracy showed his head coach he's ready for more. Especially with two tune-up games on the horizon before Big Ten play.
“We need to be more explosive. We need to get to the second level and make guys miss, or get to the second level and block them on the perimeter. We need to space out the passing game,” Day said on Tuesday. “I could give you a list a mile long of things we need to improve on. But we got it, and that's what the focus is going to be this week.”
Marching Band Bonanza
| Ohio State | Pos | Grambling State |
|---|---|---|
| OFFENSE | ||
| JULIAN SAYIN | QB | C'ZAVIAN TEASETT |
| JAMES PEOPLES | RB | BYRON EATON JR. |
| JEREMIAH SMITH | WR | NICHOLAS HOWARD |
| CARNELL TATE | WR | TYSON GEORGE |
| BRANDON INNISS | WR | TYLON WILLIAMS |
| MAX KLARE | TE | COVADIS KNIGHTEN |
| AUSTIN SIEREVELD | LT | EDDIE BENNETT |
| LUKE MONTGOMERY | LG | DARIUS MEEKS |
| CARSON HINZMAN | C | ALEXANDER VIGIL |
| TEGRA TSHABOLA | RG | FRANK MOSS |
| PHILLIP DANIELS | RT | ARMOND OWENS |
| DEFENSE | ||
| KENYATTA JACKSON JR. | DE | BRYCE CAGE |
| EDDRICK HOUSTON | DT | KILAS FRANCE |
| KAYDEN MCDONALD | DT | ISAAC WASHINGTON |
| CADEN CURRY | DE/OLB | WARREN ROBINSON |
| SONNY STYLES | WLB | JAMAL JORDAN |
| ARVELL REESE | MLB | MARCELLIUS JOHNSON |
| LORENZO STYLES JR. | NB | CHRISTEN WILLIAMS |
| DAVISON IGBINOSUN | CB | BLAKE DAVIS |
| JERMAINE MATHEWS JR. | CB | DEVIN WILLIAMS |
| CALEB DOWNS | FS | QUINTIN TALLEY |
| JAYLEN MCCLAIN | SS | TYRELL RABY |
The Best Damn Band in the Land is always an attraction at Ohio State games, but a second widely-renowned marching squadron joins TBDBITL in Week 2 in the "World Famed" Tiger Marching Band.
Three Super Bowl appearances, four United States presidential inauguration parades and a Coca-Cola commercial are among a brief summary of the accomplishments of the Tiger Marching Band. They've even provided Cartoon Network with theme music for some of their shows and appeared in adverts on the network. The two bands were the first thing Joseph mentioned when asked for his initial thoughts on Ohio State.
“Well, first of all, they got a great band. We have a great band. And we’re gonna compete as a band,” Joseph said. “I’m joking right now.”
There will also be a third band in attendance on Saturday, the Ohio State Alumni Band. It's Alumni Band Day in Ohio Stadium, with hundreds of former TBDBITL members set to march with the band once more in a yearly tradition.
That tradition will feature the quad-Script Ohio that has become a yearly staple. But in the main band dotting the 'i' for the Buckeyes, history is being made.
Sydney Reeves is the senior sousaphone player completing the greatest marching band tradition in the World. But both of her parents, Whitney and Chad Reeves, dotted the 'i' before her together during a dual-Script Ohio at a Cleveland Browns game in 1993, becoming the first married band couple ever to dot the 'i' at the same time. On Saturday, they'll become the first father, mother and child trio to have all dotted the 'i.'
Watch Out for These Guys
Grambling State QB C'zavian Teasett
Grambling State's brightest star lines up under center. Teasett opened his season by going 20-of-25 for 210 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions vs. Langston, though he'll face a much stiffer challenge in Ohio State's secondary and pass rush this weekend.
Ohio State RB James Peoples
Getting the run game going means getting Peoples a more productive day after he managed just 20 yards on 10 carries against Texas. Some of the lackluster runs were on him failing to see holes, others were on his offensive line, but in either case, look for Ohio State to get its sophomore tandem partner with CJ Donaldson a bit of confidence against the Tigers.
Ohio State DT Eddrick Houston
The Buckeyes had a long list of electric defensive performances against the Longhorns; Arvell Reese, Kayden McDonald, Jaylen McClain, Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Lorenzo Styles Jr., to name just a few. Houston got off to a slower start with three tackles to McDonald's eight and had a few hiccups defending the run, but keep in mind he's had to battle back from an injury suffered early in preseason camp and is still a fantastically gifted young player. He'll be another man to watch in terms of gaining momentum.
Game Week Talk
“We have to do a great job. We have to be disciplined. We have to go play at an elite level. I mean, he can throw the ball. He can scramble around. He can throw the ball well.”– Ohio State cornerbacks coach Tim Walton on Grambling State quarterback C'zavian Teasett
Despite the candor of this preview and public talk, no one in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center is relaxing from their preparation for gameday. Ohio State's secondary is on alert for what Teasett can do throwing the football.
“They’re a well-coached football team. You don’t win games like that, win a national championship on that level and not be good. We won at (Langston), we was running through people. That’s what this team is gonna do this year with the talent they have on the field.”– Grambling State coach Mickey Joseph on Ohio State
Joseph didn't mince words when talking about the caliber of team Ohio State is. He expects the Buckeyes to dominate in most of the games they play, and didn't exclude his squad from that discussion. The Tigers will hope to put forth an effort they can be proud of, but there's not an expectation to win on their side.
Get Smart
- Ohio State and Grambling State have never previously played each other in football.
- The game will be Ohio State’s fifth game against an FCS opponent since Division I was split into two tiers. The Buckeyes previously played Youngstown State in 2007, 2008 and 2023, and Florida A&M in 2013.
- Ohio State is 11-3-2 all-time vs. schools currently playing FCS football. Its last loss to a current FCS team was a 21-7 road loss at Cornell in 1940.
- Grambling State’s roster includes no players from Ohio.
- Ohio State’s five-game winning streak dating back to last season is tied for the longest in the country.
How It Plays Out
More Ohio State vs. Grambling Coverage
No one is giving Grambling State much of a shot in this one. The Tigers beat up on an NAIA foe in Langston last week, winning 55-7, but their recent history suggests they are mediocre relative to the rest of the FCS. Even if they were among the best of the FCS, a blowout would be expected here.
The closest Ohio State margin of victory projected by an Eleven Warriors staff member is 49 points. Ten of 12 of us have a Buckeye shutout and 11 of 12 have at least 53 points for the Scarlet and Gray. Expect the offense to gain more confidence and the defense to keep rolling.
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59 | 0 |
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