In their first game, it was all offense which we expected.
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The Associated Press, using a scoring system they developed to measure the quality and consistency of college football programs, named Ohio State their number one team since 1936. With so many playmakers all over the field, it’s tough for an opposing defense to stop the Buckeyes, let alone inside the red zone.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma offense has more weapons than Ohio State’s defense has faced so far. They gained five yards on their fourth drive and punted. He’s a chess piece, the type of elite athlete who can line up all around the formation, making a defense need to be constantly aware of where he is and how he might get him the ball. Last week against Tulsa, you might have noticed Ohio State’s willingness to walk the linebackers out of the box to cover slot wide receivers. The score was 6-3 with a little over three minutes in the first half. 6-3!
Wilson has flashed big-time ability, with eight carries for 66 yards and a TD, six catches for 75 yards and two TDs and an impact on both kick and punt returns. He started in Ohio Stadium for an injured Connor Cook a year ago and beat the Buckeyes. Senior Dakota Austin, who started against Houston didn’t play until the second half.
While his heart was with Texas – he probably would have signed with the Longhorns if they’d offered – Barrett did watch some Oklahoma games while growing up and had a few recruiting conversations with their coaching staff. They also lead the FBS when it comes to defensive touchdowns with three.
Jaiden Woodbey (Upland, CA /St. John Bosco) is not a new name to Ohio State recruiting fans, as he has tried to plan several visits to Columbus to see what the Buckeyes have to offer. He ran for 405 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
The first two weeks have been a different story for the Buckeyes. If they can remain consistent in their overall play, and in their pass-pilfering ways, maybe this defense can grab some attention from their mates on the other side of the ball.
Austin Kendall might be public enemy No. 1 for Ohio State fans this weekend. As mentioned before, against Bowling Green, Ohio State gave up 69 yards. In Week 2, Tulsa as a team averaged under two yards a carry. Would Oklahoma have liked Kendall to not say what he said?
The running game, which disappeared in the second half of the season-opening loss to Houston, was a factor from the opening snap.
This is one of, if not the single biggest non-conference game this season. Baker Mayfield threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in 14-for-20 passes. As previously stated, it is hard for two-loss teams to be considered for the playoff, so Oklahoma needs to defeat Ohio State to move up in the rankings and to keep their potential playoff hopes alive.
“They play him everywhere, exceptional speed and quickness, definitely a guy you have to know where he is all the time”, Coach Stoops said.
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There’s a lot of hype surrounding this year’s matchup, and the OU players echoed their excitement for the game when talking with the media on Monday.
