Ohio State Football: Three bold predictions for Rutgers game

Prediction 1: C.J. Stroud’s day is over by halftime. 

Ryan Day doesn’t like to take his starters out of games. He feels that the players who earned playing time should be rewarded for doing such. And to be honest, if Ohio State wanted to, they could sit their starters most games after the third quarter. C.J. Stroud isn’t going to get Heisman votes for only playing first halves and not accumulating stats.

That’s why I expect Day and Stroud to open up the playbook early on Rutgers, throw often, and try to get Stroud as many yards and touchdowns as possible with the intent of sitting him at halftime to get backup quarterback Kyle McCord some meaningful reps in the second half.

Also, don’t forget that Ryan Day and Rutgers coach Greg Schiano are close from their days on staff together under Urban Meyer at Ohio State. Day has shown mercy on Rutgers in games in the past and I would expect the same thing this time around.

This game still could get ugly in the first half while Stroud is in though. He has raised his game every week that he’s played so far this year. His stats are good enough for him to be at the top of the Heisman conversation as I mentioned earlier.

The second bold prediction I have has to deal with the defense and forcing turnovers.