Ohio State plays its final home game of the 2025 season in less than 24 hours.
Rutgers
Scarlet Knights
Unless the Buckeyes host a first-round College Football Playoff game – which would only happen if they fall out of the top four of the CFP rankings – Saturday will be the last time Ohio State plays in the Shoe until next year’s season opener vs. Ball State. As such, the Buckeyes will be motivated to put out on a show for their home crowd one last time in 2025 and send their seniors out the right way on Senior Day.
At the same time, the Buckeyes could look to get their starters out of the game early if they build a comfortable lead so that they can be as fresh and healthy as possible for next week’s rivalry game at Michigan. Whether or not Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate play will be one of the day’s biggest storylines, but Ohio State should be looking to get its backups on the field when and where it can anyway, as it‘s the final tune-up opportunity for the Buckeyes before The Game and the postseason.
With all of that mind, we highlight the biggest questions and top players to watch and make some predictions for what we’ll see in our final trip to the Shoe this year in our penultimate Last Call of the regular season.
Questions
Will Julian Sayin find more rhythm with Ohio State’s other receivers?
The biggest question surrounding Ohio State right now is when Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will return to action, but that doesn’t seem likely to be on Saturday given Ryan Day’s non-answers about their statuses this week. While it would allow Buckeye fans to breathe easier to see Tate and Smith return and look healthy, that question seems like one that's likely to linger into next week, as there’s no reason for Ohio State to take any chances with its superstar receivers against Rutgers if they’re anything less than 100%.
The silver lining of playing without Smith and Tate against Rutgers is that it would give Julian Sayin another opportunity to build chemistry with Brandon Inniss, Bryson Rodgers, Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter – particularly the latter three, as Inniss has been in the lineup all year. And considering Sayin wasn’t quite as sharp as usual last week, it’s important for him to get into a rhythm with those receivers now in case they’re needed to play pivotal snaps in the biggest games of the year.
Collectively, those four wideouts combined for 12 catches, 111 yards and one touchdown last week. Not terrible, but there was a clear drop-off between what the Buckeyes usually get out of Smith and Tate and what they got from those wideouts against UCLA. A bigger game for the passing attack with those receivers leading the way against Rutgers would go a long way toward building confidence in Ohio State’s receiver depth.
– Dan Hope
Does Ohio State's defense smother another attack?
Rutgers is leagues stronger on the offensive end than the defensive end. It's the fourth-best scoring offense Ohio State has seen behind Washington, Illinois and Penn State. The Scarlet Knights have a 1,000-yard rusher (Antwan Raymond), a 900-yard receiver (KJ Duff) and a capable quarterback (Athan Kaliakmanis).
The Buckeyes swallowed most of those other attacks alive. The Fighting Illini remain the only team to score more than 14 points against Ohio State. The Silver Bullets are No. 1 nationally in scoring defense (7.5 points allowed per game), No. 1 in total defense (212.6 yards allowed per game) and No. 2 in yards per play defense (3.87), trailing only Toledo and its MAC schedule. Dominance is the standard. It must continue to be with Michigan up next.
– Andy Anders
How much more depth can Ohio State build?
Ryan Day tells me Rutgers is a Big Ten team that Ohio State must respect in all three phases for all four quarters. My eyes tell me this game should be over at halftime. That said, the Buckeyes' starters should have the chance to get healthy before The Game while the Buckeyes' depth earns valuable reps that could prove crucial if any of them are called upon next week in Ann Arbor or in the postseason.
– Chase Brown
Players to Watch
Bo Jackson
Rutgers’ run defense has allowed 6.55 yards per attempt this season, the worst average in the country by nearly a full yard. Seems like a great opportunity for Ohio State’s standout freshman running back to have his second straight 100-yard rushing game and fifth 100-yard game for the season as a whole.
– Dan Hope
James Peoples
Like Dan, I'm looking for an Ohio State running back to exploit a porous run defense. While he went with Jackson, I’ll roll with Peoples, who’s coming off the best performance of his young career: six carries, 42 yards and two touchdowns in the win over UCLA. Once considered one of Ohio State’s top two ballcarriers entering the season, Peoples has bounced around the depth chart — even falling to RB4 at one point. Another solid outing could help reestablish him among the Buckeyes’ top three backs alongside Jackson and Isaiah West.
– Chase Brown
Tywone Malone Jr.
Ohio State's starting three-technique defensive tackle might be its most improved player throughout this year, overtaking Eddrick Houston for the job and getting better each week. Not only is it Senior Day for the fifth-year player, but he's playing his hometown team as a New Jersey native. Lots of family will be on hand. Look for Malone to play with an extra gust at his back.
– Andy Anders
Predictions
Inniss, Rodgers and Graham each reach 50 receiving yards
I think Julian Sayin could have a field day in this one, and a field day spreading it around the field to Inniss, Rodgers and Graham, finding more of that chemistry Dan discussed above. Two-tight end sets will cut into the snap counts of Rodgers and Graham, but Inniss builds of his six-catch outing last week, while the other two produce several catches and a splash play or two. None of them had 50 yards last week, but the Rutgers defense is 125th in yards allowed per pass attempt (8.5).
– Andy Anders
One of the Styles Bros makes a game-changing play
Lorenzo Styles Sr. played linebacker at Ohio State in the 90s, and now his sons, Sonny and Lorenzo Jr., will take part in Senior Day at the Horseshoe on Saturday. How cool would it be to see either of them deliver a game-changing moment in their final home appearance? A sack to force a punt, a forced fumble or interception, even a defensive or special teams touchdown — it’s all on the table.
– Chase Brown
Ohio State runs for 300 yards
I’ll repeat what I said above: Rutgers has the worst run defense in the country by nearly a full yard per carry than any other FBS defense. Add in Smith and Tate’s injuries, the need to continue building momentum for the rushing offense and Ohio State’s incentive to keep the clock running and get to Michigan week as quickly and as healthy as possible, and a run-heavy offensive game plan should be on tap for the Buckeyes on Saturday.
Ohio State hasn’t rushed for 300 yards in a game since it had 340 yards against Indiana in 2022, but this week is a golden opportunity to change that. With a deep stable of running backs in Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, CJ Donaldson and James Peoples, which allows Ohio State to run the ball throughout the game without putting too many carries on any one back, I expect the Buckeyes to join Oregon and Maryland as the third team to rush for 300-plus yards against Rutgers this season.
– Dan Hope
