Andy Anders, BSB: Another Buckeye Blowout
Regardless of what the weather forecast projects for Saturday, there’s not a route I see for this to become a close game.
This could be the worst team Ohio State plays all season, including its non-conference Group of Five opponents Arkansas State and Toledo. Northwestern is 1-7, and was beaten soundly by an Iowa team last week that OSU trounced 54-10.
The Buckeyes re-establish the ground game because they can, look dominant on defense and cruise to victory.
Ohio State 56, Northwestern 7
Jack Emerson, BSB: Buckeyes Cruise Past Wildcats
The Buckeyes have played against the likes of Arkansas State, Toledo and Rutgers thus far this season, however, Northwestern may just be the worst opponent on their schedule.
The 2022 Wildcats don’t have the even-year magic of their 2018 and 2020 editions — as both of those teams won the Big Ten West before meeting the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship. This season, Northwestern sports a 1-7 record entering Saturday’s contest while enduring a seven-game losing streak after a Week 0 win over Nebraska in Ireland.
There are concerns on both sides of the football for this Wildcat team. On offense, the quarterback situation has been in flux between incumbent starter Ryan Hilinski and backup Brendan Sullivan, which in turn has created inconsistencies on that side of the ball. Defensively, Northwestern employs the second-worst run defense in the conference, allowing 186.4 yards per game. This may give the Buckeyes the opportunity to get running back TreVeyon Henderson going after a pair of adverse outings against Iowa and Penn State.
With rainy and windy weather conditions expected, I think the Buckeyes will turn to the ground game and rekindle some of the early-season success in that phase of the game. In an even bolder prediction, I think Henderson will find the end zone at least three times as Ohio State blows past a lesser opponent in Northwestern.
Ohio State 56, Northwestern 6
Braden Moles, BSB: Northwestern No Match For OSU
After a nail biter last week against Penn State, it seems appropriate that Ohio State can take a step back this week against Northwestern.
The Wildcats have lost seven straight games after winning their season opener against Nebraska in Dublin, Ireland, with issues mounting on both sides of the ball. Northwestern is averaging just 17.9 points per game – 120th in the country and second-worst in the Big Ten behind Iowa – and allowing 28.8 points per game, which ranks 85th in the nation.
Northwestern has some impressive individual players in running back Evan Hull and linebackers Bryce Gallagher and Xander Mueller, but the individual pieces have not come together for the Wildcat, who have been close in several games this season but have seen victory elude them.
The question here, frankly, is how soon Ohio State calls off the dogs. There’s no reason to have any sort of uncertainty early on against the team, so the Buckeyes should be able to name the score. Indiana next week isn’t much better, but this is one of the last chances to get some reps to the younger players before the home stretch. Let the first teasers get some work in, though.
Ohio State 59, Northwestern 10
