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Ohio State Football Schedule Prep: Western Kentucky

By Frank Teriaca

Dec 21, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Austin Reed (16) passes against the South Alabama Jaguars during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Austin Reed (16) passes against the South Alabama Jaguars during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Ohio State football team takes on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during Week 3 of the regular season. Here is what you need to know.

The third installment of our Ohio State football schedule prep takes us to September 16th in Columbus for a showdown with Western Kentucky. Following games against Indiana and Youngstown State, the Hilltoppers might actually be the Buckeyes’ biggest test heading into the Notre Dame game in Week 4.

Western Kentucky, coming off a 9-5 season in Conference USA, boosts a high-flying offense led by quarterback Austin Reed who had 4,744 yards passing and 40 touchdown passes in 2022. That includes a monster game in the New Orleans Bowl where he had 497 yards passing and four touchdowns against South Alabama.

Reed will most certainly be the best passer that Ohio State will have seen in the young season, and this game will be the first real test that this newly re-vamped Buckeye secondary will see.

Western Kentucky also has legitimately one of the best receivers that college football has to offer in sophomore Malachi Corley who had 101 catches for 1,293 yards, and 11 touchdowns as a freshman. Remarkable numbers as there were hopes from power five schools that he would enter the transfer portal, but he decided to stay with Reed for at least one more season.

Make no doubts about it, this team can sling the ball around and score. They are led by one of the better young coaches in the college ranks, Tyson Helton, who has a 32-21 record in four seasons at the helm. He also has a knack for winning big games, going 3-1 in bowl games for the Hilltoppers.

Ohio State needs to be ready for this game. They should be able to beat up on a depleted Indiana program and trounce the undermanned Youngstown State team. But Western Kentucky is a threat offensively and will test Jim Knowles and this defense.

Ryan Day ad Brian Hartline will be able to score on Western Kentucky, and they should win the game easily in the second half. But I can see Western Kentucky being able to hang for a half or so due to their offense. I would imagine this being a 45-28 type of game at its end.

Next. The time is right to honor Jim Tressel. dark

Get ready next week as we prepare for maybe the most anticipated game of the 2023 season, at Notre Dame in Week 4.

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