Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State Football Schedule Prep: Marshall

The Ohio State football team will take on Marshall on September 21st.

By Frank Teriaca

Dec 19, 2023; Frisco, TX, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd quarterback Cole Pennington (12) throws a
Dec 19, 2023; Frisco, TX, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd quarterback Cole Pennington (12) throws a / Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

The Marshall Thundering Herd invade Columbus on September 21st for a showdown with the Ohio State football team. Coming off a 6-7 season in the Sun Belt Conference, Marshall is bringing back a lot of experience from its 23' roster into the 2024 season. We look forward to another early opponent.

And they were led by Huber Heights, Ohio native Cam Fancher at quarterback, who took over the starting role last season. Fancher threw for over 2,100 yards and 11 scores in 2023 to go along with 273 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands and Ohio State will have to account for him.

Fancher's best game came against Arkansas State last season when he threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 100 yards and two scores. This kid can certainly play. It's too bad for them that he entered the transfer portal.

Marshall will have to replace its best offensive weapon, however, in 1,100-yard tailback Rasheen Ali as he takes a crack at the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens. Junior Ethan Payne is the expected starter as he ran for over 300 yards last season, but we will see how he does with getting more touches.

Leading receiver Jayden Harrison is also gone, and he certainly has big play potential as he lit up the Frisco Bowl and UTSA last December for six receptions and 132 yards. He's now at Notre Dame

Defensively, the Thundering Herd was led by senior defensive lineman Sam Burton who had 6.5 sacks on the season last year and 17 total for his career. He left for the NFL and was not drafted. Junior DB J.J. Roberts also returns to help lead the secondary of Marshall, totaling 73 tackles and two interceptions in 2023.

Overall, Ohio State should be fine in this game but of the three non-conference games to start the season, Marshall can give the Buckeyes the best test. Marshall played a great game last year against North Carolina State in which they wound up losing 48-41. They also beat Virginia Tech so Marshall can hang with some Power Five schools.

But as long as the Buckeyes don't take them lightly, and they play sound defense against a very solid QB in Cam Fancher, Ohio State should roll.

Early Prediction: Ohio State football 45, Marshall 21

Home/Ohio State Football