Ohio State looks to light up the Shoe in more ways than one on Saturday night.
Minnesota
golden Gophers
The Buckeyes’ only home game of October will be played under the lights as Ohio State hosts Minnesota in its second game of Big Ten play. In what will likely be its final home night game of the season, Ohio State will have incentive to put on a show for its home crowd and dominate the Golden Gophers, though they’re still an opponent the Buckeyes can’t overlook as they bring a 3-1 record to the Shoe.
After a methodical 24-6 win over Washington to open the conference schedule, will Ohio State’s offense generate more explosive plays vs. Minnesota? Which players will have big nights in the primetime spotlight, and how will the game to play out?
We break down our biggest questions, pick some players to watch and make some predictions for what we’ll see happen in the Buckeyes’ Saturday night showdown with the Gophers.
Questions
Will Ohio State be aggressive on offense?
Against Texas and Washington, Ohio State played methodical, ball-control offense with an emphasis on time of possession and avoiding mistakes. Against Grambling State and Ohio, the Buckeyes threw the ball downfield more. Minnesota falls squarely in between those two pairs of opponents in terms of the competitive threat it’s expected to present to the Buckeyes. I expect the Buckeyes to take more downfield shots against the Golden Gophers than they did against the Longhorns and Huskies.
– Dan Hope
Can the defense hold another opponent to single digits?
Not a single team has managed more than nine points against the Ohio State defense this year. The Buckeyes are No. 1 in the country for scoring defense at 5.5 points allowed per game. Minnesota's offense took strides last week in the Gophers' thrilling 31-28 win over Rutgers, but I think there's a good chance the Silver Bullets pitch their second shutout of the season in this one.
– Andy Anders
What will Ohio Stadium's crowd be like?
As FOX continues to shape Ohio State’s schedule, fans have clamored for more primetime matchups in the Horseshoe. They got one against Ohio — hooray! — and will have another when Minnesota visits Columbus. While those opponents aren’t Texas or Penn State, they’re solid enough to provide a worthy night-game atmosphere. The real intrigue lies in how Buckeye Nation responds under the lights for a second time this season.
– Chase Brown
Players to Watch
Caden Curry
I don’t expect Curry to replicate the 11 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks he recorded against Washington. However, I am curious to see how the senior defensive end performs against Minnesota, whose quarterback, Drake Lindsey, lacks the same dual-threat capabilities as Demond Williams Jr., and whose running game produced just 35 yards on the ground in a narrow win over Rutgers last week. Could we see Curry produce another stellar performance amid his breakout senior season for the Buckeyes?
– Chase Brown
Max Klare
Klare’s first four games as a Buckeye were much quieter than expected in terms of receiving production, but he has looked increasingly comfortable with each game in Ohio State’s offense. I expect him to have a breakout game sooner than later; a Saturday night game in the Shoe against a defense that’s been better against the run than the pass would be a great time for that.
– Dan Hope
Jeremiah Smith
The time to launch the Heisman Trophy campaign is now. Smith has had a few strong performances early in the season, including eight receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown last week, but needs to start posting more 150-yard outings like he had against Ohio to make a move. I expect Ohio State to open up the passing game more in this one than it did against Washington, which should help Smith's cause.
– Andy Anders
Predictions
Two 20-yard punt returns for Brandon Inniss, and no fumbles
Minnesota is going to be punting the ball a lot in this game. Brandon Inniss holds himself to a very high standard and will be eager to make up for his fumbled punt return against Washington last game. I think he shows Buckeye Nation why Day is sticking with him in this one.
– Andy Anders
Ohio State scores a defensive touchdown
Ohio State scored its lone defensive touchdown this season against Grambling State, when Riley Pettijohn scooped and scored a Kayden McDonald forced fumble on the opening play of the second half. I expect the Buckeyes to increase that total to two (or more!) against Minnesota, as Lindsey has thrown a couple of interceptions and the Gophers have fumbled three times (one lost) this season.
– Chase Brown
Julian Sayin throws three deep touchdown passes
There’s been some discourse this week about Sayin’s deep passing ability – even though he’s completed every pass he’s thrown more than 20 yards downfield this season – after he didn’t attempt a pass of 20-plus yards against Washington. That will give Sayin and the Buckeyes some extra motivation to remind everyone that they can throw the deep ball just fine, and I expect them to do just that against the Gophers.
– Dan Hope
