Nov 73 min read

No. 2 Ohio State Looking to Stay on Track Against Purdue

Ohio State|Quinshon Judkins — © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No. 2 Ohio State will take on the Purdue Boilermakers in Ohio Stadium on Nov. 9. The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten Conference) are riding high after a monumental win over No. 6 Penn State (7-1, 4-1 B1G) last week on Nov. 2 in Beaver Stadium. Purdue (1-7, -5 B1G) was on the other side in their matchup last week, as they lost in overtime to Northwestern. The Wildcats (4-5, 2-4 B1G) won 26-20 to keep the Boilermakers in last place in the Big Ten Standings.

What's at Stake?

Ohio State is still on track to reach the Big Ten championship game after their win last week. They debuted at number two in the first College Football Playoff rankings this week. The Buckeyes need to handle business against what is a lesser opponent on paper in Purdue. Staying sharp and keeping their momentum going is going to be the key for one of the best teams in the nation on Saturday.

Purdue knows an upset is highly unlikely. Head coach Ryan Walters will be looking to keep his players competing all afternoon. The Boilermakers will want to play clean and execute well for all 60 minutes of play. Being last place in the conference, they will attempt to use this outing as an opportunity to prove that they're better than what their record shows.

Key Players for Ohio State

Offense: Quinshon Judkins, Running Back

The Ohio State rushing offense looked outstanding last week against the Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes ran for 176 yards, including 11 straight runs to bleed out the last 5:13 on the clock to end the game. Judkins was crucial in that drive, picking up two huge first downs himself to get the drive started. Purdue has shown a tendency to give up big yardage on the ground. Earlier this season, No. 10 Notre Dame (7-1) ran for 362 yards against the Boilermakers. Judkins will look to help replicate that production on Saturday.

Defense: Kayden McDonald, Defensive Lineman

McDonald played a crucial role in the victory over Penn State. Starting defensive lineman Tyleik Williams left the game with an injury late in the fourth quarter. McDonald then came in as the Nittany Lions were driving. He was in for the last goal-line stand, including the third-down play where he helped blow up an important run play. McDonald pushed Penn State's center two yards into the backfield right off the snap to keep the Nittany Lions out of the end zone. Williams is reportedly trending towards playing this weekend, but McDonald will see much more playing time here after his performance.

Key Players for Purdue

Offense: Hudson Card, Quarterback

Card is now back as the starting quarterback after being temporarily benched earlier this season. Card played somewhat well in the loss to Northwestern, finishing 21-of-37 with 267 yards and 1 touchdown through the air. In order for the Boilermakers to have any success moving the ball, Card will have to play well and take care of the ball. They cannot afford to give a hot Ohio State defense any extra momentum.

Defense: Kydran Jenkins, Linebacker

Jenkins leads Purdue in sacks with 5.5 on the season. He is also second in total tackles, further proving him to be the player to watch on defense. He will be tasked with helping contain the Ohio State rushing attack while also having to assist in the pass rush. Donovan Jackson will make his second career start at left tackle for Ohio State this week. He performed admirably last week against Penn State. However, he did still give up two sacks, both coming on third-and-longs. Jenkins could find himself lined up over Jackson in similar situations.

Trends to Watch

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has stressed this week that Purdue is better than their record. Walters is likely very aware of the talent disparity between his Boilermakers and the Buckeyes. It's very possible that it could get out of hand quickly. Walters could look to manufacture explosive gains with trick play calls to get his offense going. The Ohio State defense is looking much different since their loss to No. 1 Oregon (9-0, 6-0 B1G). Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is seemingly structuring his unit more like he had during his time at Oklahoma State. Fans can continue to look for new wrinkles in their system this week.

The Ohio State offensive line is also something to keep an eye on as they continue building chemistry with their new lineup due to various injuries. They will certainly look to establish the run early against the lackluster Purdue rushing defense.