Bennett Christian out, Buckeyes otherwise healthy for Ohio game

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has the deepest stable of tight ends in college football. That depth will take a hit Saturday, though, when the Buckeyes take on the Ohio Bobcats.

Tight end Bennett Christian, a leader in the room and a regular contributor, is out for the primetime date with the Bobcats.

Three other tight ends, Will Kacmarek, Jelani Thurman and Max Klare will need to take on even larger roles, while this could mean an expanded plate for freshman tight end Nate Roberts, as well.

Ohio State is a heavy favorite to beat Ohio, but coach Ryan Day knows it won’t be as easy as typical games against MAC schools are.

“They’re well coached. I think their guys play really hard,” Day said of the Bobcats. “They understand how to layer in all three phases. They all work together. They’re not just playing offense, defense, and special teams. They have a plan on how they’re going to win. I thought the first week they took Rutgers all the way to the fourth quarter, played well. And then to get a win like that last week at home was a big deal. They played really well. It’s a good group and a really good challenge for our team.”

To be clear: Ohio State is still a four-plus touchdown favorite, and the Buckeyes expect to win like they’ve won every game against an in-state opponent since the Warren G. Harding administration, when Oberlin beat the Buckeyes in 1921.

But this isn’t just a pushover game. And the program knows it.

Now the Buckeyes will be playing without one of their four primary tight ends. The good news, though, is that tight end might be the deepest room on the roster.

The full availability report from the program is now confirmed, making note that Ohio State doesn’t detail injury or disciplinary matters.

Questionable for Ohio State

No players are out for the Buckeyes.

Out

TE Bennett Christian
SAF Brenton ‘Inky’ Jones
TE Max Leblanc
DT Jason Moore
RB Anthony ‘Turbo’ Rogers
QB/RB Mason Maggs
DT Maxwell Roy
SAF DeShawn Stewart
DT Ahmen Tounkara
WR Preston Wolfe

Game notes

+ This will be the eighth all-time meeting between Ohio State and Ohio. The Buckeyes are 6-0 in those games — with the 2010 win vacated due to NCAA violations.

+ Ohio State has not lost to a school currently in the MAC since 1894 and has not lost to an in-state school since 1921 when it fell to Oberlin.

+ According to Eric Olson at the AP, Ohio State has played 89 games as a No. 1 team and is 76-12-1 in those games as the top-ranked team. That’s second most to Alabama, which has played 123 games as a No. 1. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 1 for the 108th week, second all-time behind Alabama, which has been ranked at No. 1 for 141 weeks.