Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) celebrates a first down run next to Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Kobe King (41) during an NCAA football game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. . We won 20-13. Purdue’s five impressive wins over Ohio State this century, including its biggest comeback ever in 2018, have one thing in common. It happened in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The struggling Boilermakers (1-7, 0-5 Big Ten) won’t have that luxury Saturday in Columbus against the Buckeyes, who are ranked second in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season released Tuesday.
In the first CFP poll in 2014, Ohio State ranked 16th following a housing loss to Virginia Tech. Two months later, the Buckeyes beat Oregon in the national title game.
The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1) have the same destination in mind this season after Saturday’s 20-13 win at No. 6 Penn State. That gives them a clear path to the Big Ten title game and no. . 1 Oregon outshot the visiting Buckeyes 32-31 on Oct. 12.
Ohio State needs to win its final four games of the regular season and can’t make a mistake against the Boilermakers before playing Northwestern (Wrigley Field), No. 8 Indiana and rival Michigan in Columbus.
“We’re just focused on Purdue,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday. “No matter what happens in the previous game, that game is over. No matter what the rankings are, we’ve always said, it’s the end of the year that counts.”
Purdue coach Ryan Walters knows his team is a heavy underdog in Ohio Stadium, where the Boilermakers haven’t won since 1988. But he will try to take inspiration from six years ago, when the unranked Boilermakers defeated the second-ranked Buckeyes 49-20. , even though it is a home game.
“This is going to be a big challenge,” Walters said Monday. “I’m looking forward to playing in a place as historic as Ohio State and competing against the best. That’s why you play in this conference. That’s why you come to a school like Purdue so you can compete against the best teams in the country. Let’s fight together as best we can.”
But in their two most recent matchups in 2023 and 2021, they have been outscored 100-38, and there is reason to believe another loss is just around the corner.
The Boilermakers have been outscored 295-113 by FBS opponents after a 49-0 win over Indiana State of the FCS in their season opener.
Add in the fact that Ohio State has future NFL picks throughout its lineup, and it could be a long day.
“If you look at their team as a whole, you see a very talented roster,” Walters said. “When you combine the talented roster with the quality of coaching at Ohio State, I have a lot of respect for a lot of the staff there. That’s what makes you have a team like Ohio State.”
Will Howard is the Buckeyes’ leading quarterback with 1,977 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, Emeka Egbuka has caught 46 passes for 577 yards and seven touchdowns and Jeremiah Smith has rushed for 678 yards and eight scores. Caught 39 passes.
The Buckeyes will look to build on their performance at Penn State. There, the Nittany Lions were denied a potential game-tying touchdown in the second half despite three first downs.
The Buckeyes followed that up with 11 straight carries, including a kneecap, for 58 yards and four first downs, starting with 5:13 remaining.
But Day talked about it.
“I think Purdue’s offense is doing well,” Day said. “If you think our guys are going to just go out and play this Saturday, you’re mistaken. (The Boilermakers) are a much better team than their record-setting showing.
“If anyone here in this building is thinking they were distracted last week, that can’t happen.”
–Field level media
