Ohio State is getting ready to unleash its new-look offense on Saturday. This is the first year under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and the team is going to look a bit different scheme-wise than it did under Brian Hartline, who was calling plays for the first time in his career.
Smith showed very little about the new offense during the spring game, especially when the starters were out there. Injuries on the offensive line prevented that from happening. Now, the Buckeyes might have some trouble coming from Mother Nature as they try to move the ball down the field.
Weather report for Ohio State vs. Ball State could cause issues
According to the Weather Channel, things could get dicey in Columbus. There is a 65 percent chance of rain on Saturday when the Cardinals come to town. While most of the rain threat is before kickoff time, there is still a chance that showers could linger throughout the game.
The good news is that it doesn't look like there will be too many thunderstorms. That would potentially delay the game and make the experience much worse for fans. Still, if it does rain, that could potentially slow down the passing attack of the Buckeyes in this first game.
The temperature will be another storyline in this game. It will be about 80 degrees during kickoff, so the Ohio State Buckeyes need to make sure that they are well-hydrated for this game. The wind won't be too much of a factor, as it will only be blowing around 5 mph.
If it does end up raining, this is the right game for it to happen. The Cardinals have no chance of beating the mighty Buckeyes, no matter what the weather is able to give them. Having a little adversity early in the season might do Ohio State some good, too.
Ohio State should unleash a lethal offense on Ball State
Regardless of the weather circumstances, the Buckeyes should have one of the best offenses in the league. Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin are two of the best players in the country, and they are each much better than a year ago. Sayin has added 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason.
Ball State will have a lot of trouble stopping the Scarlet and Gray, but that's not what Ohio State is after. They are using this game as a warm-up for the monster matchup in Week 2 against the Longhorns. It's too far out to project the weather for that game, but it will be warm.
Getting Smith's new system down in a game setting is important for Ohio State, no matter how poor the opponent is. Figuring out a more consistent running game in the red zone is something Smith wants to see in this first game, as that was a struggle for Ohio State last year.
If you're heading to the Shoe, bringing a poncho might not be the worst thing in the world. I'll probably pack one, just to be safe.
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