Since giving up 32 points to Oregon a month ago, Ohio State’s defense has turned it up a notch, only allowing 30 combined points and 543 yards in the two games since. This week presents another opportunity for Jim Knowles and the defense to fine tune a few things against one-win Purdue.
The Boilermakers have lost seven straight games since winning their season open 49-0 against Indiana State. It’s important to note that while Purdue may be struggling to get wins they haven’t struggled to compete in several of those games. In fact, the Boilermakers have two overtime losses to Illinois and last week against Northwestern. Second year head coach Ryan Walter’s has a tough task at hand when he leads his team into Ohio Stadium on Saturday. This will be the 60th meeting between the two schools but only the fourth since 2013 due to the divisional settings in the Big Ten Conference. All-time, Ohio State leads Purdue 41-15-2. Only twice the Boilermakers have pulled off the upset in Columbus with the last one coming in a 31-26 win in 1988.
Purdue is lead by second year quarterback Hudson Card who has battled some injuries this season but looks to put his name in the history books with Drew Brees as one of few Boilermakers under center to have beaten Ohio State. Over the years Purdue has been known to occasionally pull the upset on the Buckeyes from time to time. The most recent win came back in 2018 when the “Spoilermakers” welcomed in second ranked Ohio State into West Layfette only to dismantle them 49-20. Purdue is also the last unranked team to defeat Ohio State. History has also shown that the winning team in this game have scored 40 points or more in their last four meetings which favors explosive offensive play. The most recent meeting between the two happened last season when Ohio State soundly defeated Purdue on the road 41-7.
Since the Oregon game it seems like Ohio State has worked hard on trying to find their identity. The Buckeyes took a major step forward last week in the 20-13 win over then undefeated third ranked Penn State. Will Howard showed signs of improvement last week after throwing a pick six on the opening drive and being able to reset and recover by throwing a pair of touchdowns and lead his team to a win in his home state.
This week Ohio State needs to continue to work on the run game and establish strength to an offensive line that has been shuffled around lately due to injuries. Losing blindside tackle Josh Simmons was a huge blow to the pass protection game for the Buckeyes but veteran guard Donovan Jackson looked like a natural being able to slide over to left tackle and hold the fort for the offensive line. Carson Hinzman used his second opportunity to start for the Buckeyes by shining while filling in at guard. The former center played a solid game against a tough, stout Nittany Lion defense. The goal is to continue to build on last week’s performance so that the offense can get mojo back that they had earlier in the season.
The first college football playoff polls were released this past week. Ohio State ranks 2nd now behind top ranked Oregon. The Big Ten looks strong as we head into the homestretch of games to end the regular season. The second ranked Buckeyes hosts unranked Purdue this Saturday in Ohio Stadium at noon on Fox.