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No. 2 Ohio State Set to Battle Northwestern at Wrigley Field

Ohio State|Carnell Tate — © Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes are set for a unique conference matchup on Nov. 16 at noon Eastern against the Northwestern Wildcats (2-4, 4-5 Big Ten Conference). The game is set to take place at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, in Chicago.

What's at Stake?

The Buckeyes (8-1, 5-1 B1G) are just looking to handle business and stay on track in this one. Ohio State is a heavy favorite and will simply want to get a win and get out of this game injury-free.

The Wildcats will be doing their best to pull off an upset. Northwestern is 15th in the B1G standings. Despite a lack of wins, head coach David Braun has his team competing hard each week. Braun was named head coach on Nov. 15, 2023, making this game nearly the exact one-year anniversary of his hire. He has the program in a good place. Making the Buckeyes' life difficult this week would be huge for his team's outlook moving forward.

Key Players for Ohio State

Offense: Carnell Tate, Wide Receiver

Tate has really stood out as a perimeter blocker this year. He has made countless huge blocks for his teammates to help produce big gains. Tate is just as reliable as a receiving target. Quarterback Will Howard has recently spoken of his desire to be more consistent with his deep passing accuracy. Tate could strongly benefit from more downfield attempts as he has already capitalized on his opportunities.

he game is also a homecoming for Tate, who is a Chicago native. Even with his incredible on-field play, Tate has been a bigger inspiration off the field. He lost his mother in July 2023 when she was killed in a drive-by shooting. Tate has been very open about his struggles and has persevered. The trip back home will absolutely be emotional for one of the Buckeyes' best leaders.

Defense: Sonny Styles, Linebacker

Styles started slow this season, but has really come into his own in his first year at linebacker. He was even named a Butkus Award semifinalist on Nov. 4. This week, he will have to help contain the dangerous Northwestern running backs.

Key Players for Northwestern

Offense: Cam Porter, Running Back

Porter has 387 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns this season. He has an additional 127 receiving yards. Porter can move the chains in multiple ways, helping the Wildcats keep the explosive Ohio State offense off the field.

Defense: Theran Johnson, Defensive Back

Johnson has been the best player on a solid Northwestern defense. He has 2 interceptions and 10 pass deflections on the season. He will take on his toughest test by far on Nov. 16 when he finds himself matched up against any of the various star wide receivers from Ohio State.

Trends to Watch

Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles finally experimented with the three-down defensive linemen front last week in the Buckeyes' 45-0 win over Purdue (1-8, 0-6 B1G). They struggled some in the formation, but there is an expectation that they will use it again this week. Purdue was able to run the ball effectively against the new look. The Wildcats could attack it in a similar way.

Northwestern also heavily utilizes their running backs in the passing attack. Both Cam Porter and Joseph Himon II were effective through the air against Purdue. Porter had 8 receptions for 85 yards, while Himon II had 3 catches for 34 yards and a score. The Buckeyes have shown a tendency to give up air yards to running backs this year. Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton had 54 receiving yards on only 6 receptions against Ohio State earlier this season. The Wildcats could very well exploit that minor weak point of the defense.

The Wrigley Field Experience

Playing in a baseball stadium has numerous hurdles to overcome when playing a football game. The last one to take place at Wrigley Field was in 2023, when the Wildcats played Iowa. During that game, the turf had significant holes in it that needed to be fully repaired mid-game. The field conditions throughout this one are absolutely something to watch.

The setup around the field also presents challenges. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke about the plan to arrive early this week on Friday afternoon to help his team get a feel for everything. In his weekly press conference, he also stated that instead of going into the locker room for halftime, the Buckeyes will be huddling in the bullpen. The unique setup of this stadium is going to provide a lot to keep an eye on on Nov. 16.