Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State football: Why the Buckeyes shouldn’t sleep on Rutgers

By Ryan Stano

Sep 24, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) tries to calm the crowd before taking a snap during the first half of the NCAA Division I football game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Wisconsin Badgers At Ohio State Buckeyes
Sep 24, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) tries to calm the crowd before taking a snap during the first half of the NCAA Division I football game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Wisconsin Badgers At Ohio State Buckeyes /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Ohio State football team takes on Rutgers this week for Homecoming. It is the fifth-straight home game to start the season and will be the last one before heading on to the road for the first time next week when Ohio State takes on Michigan State.

Rutgers comes first though, and they are a tougher opponent than you may think despite the large spread. Rutgers comes into this game 3-1 with just a loss against Iowa last week. Most of that was because of Iowa’s defense though. Rutgers has a decent defense.

Rutgers is only four spots lower than Ohio State in terms of points given up in the country. They give up only 17.3 points per game. The problem for the Scarlet Knights is that the Ohio State football team has the best offense in the country and can’t be stopped by anyone.

The only way Rutgers is able to win this game is if Ohio State overlooks them. Greg Schiano is a former Ohio State assistant, so he knows what Ryan Day likes to do offensively. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Buckeyes struggle to move the ball in the first quarter.

I don’t think that will be a sustained problem though. I fully expect the Buckeyes to keep their feet on the gas and blow Rutgers out. They need this game to prepare some stuff for a Michigan State team that has a knack for screwing up good Ohio State seasons.

Next. Ohio State football: Top 3 surprise players. dark

Rutgers is well-coached and will play hard. If Ohio State doesn’t come ready to play, they could be in for a rough start. Rutgers is still a few years away from competing at a consistent level in the Big Ten East though. That’s why they’ll still get blown out in this contest.

Home/Ohio State Football