Ohio State Buckeyes Have A Lot of Work To Do Before Penn State & Michigan

The Ohio State Buckeyes got a win on Saturday, but will not survive the Big Ten East the way they are currently playing

As we’ve seen through the team’s first four games, Ohio State has struggled to score in the first quarter this season. The Buckeyes’ first-half woes continued Saturday vs. Maryland, going down 10-0 early and giving up their longest touchdown of the season on a 15-yard pass to Terps’ junior receiver Kaden Prather.

If the Buckeyes play like they have in the first half of the season, they will be awfully humbled by top teams in No. 2 Michigan or No. 6 Penn State.

Though Ohio State has the No. 2 scoring and No. 6 overall defense in the nation, and recorded two interceptions and two sacks today against Maryland, the offense has been the problem this season. 

Despite having the projected top two receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft, quarterback Kyle McCord has struggled in the red zone, holding Ohio State outside the top 50 in red zone offense.

Michigan has a top-five scoring defense, is No. 1 in red zone and total defense and is holding opponents to one score a game. Though the Wolverines have not played, and won’t play until Penn State Nov. 11, a ranked team, they have presented their dominance to the country.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh is on a two-game win streak against the Buckeyes, winning those by 18.5 points on average. Going back home this year, too, this top-ranked defense and top-50 scoring offense can easily take down Ohio State the way the two teams are playing right now.

The Buckeyes cannot afford to start slow against a team as good as Michigan, especially with an away crowd, who will likely keep McCord to a silent count.

The same thing goes with Penn State — head coach James Franklin has a former five-star quarterback in Drew Allar, who is leading the Nittany Lion offense to 40.6 points per game. 

That includes a shutout victory over former No. 24 Iowa, who has a top-35 defense in the country.

Like Michigan, however, Penn State doesn’t play another ranked team until they play Ohio State — but the Big Ten has not really tested the Lions yet.

If Ohio State is able to keep the defense intact and continue the way they have been playing the second half of games, they will be okay. The ability they have to turn it on in the third quarter, as they did with two passing touchdowns and a Chip Trayanum rushing touchdown against Maryland Saturday, is unlike any other Big Ten team.

But they have to play that way for a whole 60 minutes against the Wolverines and Nittany Lions if they want to stay in the conference and national title race.