Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes enter critical off week as season hits midway point
Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.
Buckeyes enter critical off week as season hits midway point
Ohio State has emphatically taken care of business through six weeks of the season.
Now it’s time for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes to have an idle week before ramping things up again for a championship stretch — chasing both a Big Ten crown and a national title.
Ohio State will have two weeks between games, plenty of time to get healthy following the drubbing of Michigan State before a home matchup against Iowa, one that could see the Buckeyes back at full strength for the first time since the Notre Dame game.
The program won’t shut down this week; coaches will go on the road later this week after some practice time, and players will have some rest and recovery days. But it will still be a time to get better ahead of a six-game stretch to close out the regular season.
For now, they’re in a critical off week, one that could define the year for this Ohio State team.
Ohio State slides up in latest polls
Ohio State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) once again out-dominated its opponent for the sixth consecutive week. A quick glance at the stat line will showcase that too. The Buckeyes outgained the Spartans 614-202 and quarterback C.J. Stroud yet again put together another clip for his Heisman portfolio.
Stroud had more touchdowns (six) than he did incompletions (five) against Michigan State. Yes, one of his incompletions was an interception returned for a touchdown, but the California native wasn’t phased.
Marvin Harrison Jr. continues to be the target of choice for Stroud. The second-year wide receiver finished his Saturday with seven catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns.
With its complete and utter dominance against the Spartans, Ohio State moved into the No. 2 spot of the AP Top 25. The Buckeyes only trail Georgia while ahead of Alabama, Clemson and Michigan.
The Buckeyes received 20 first-place votes.
Week 7 AP Top Five (Oct. 9)
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- Clemson
- Michigan
READ: Buckeyes slide up in AP Poll after impressive road win
ICYMI: New Lettermen Lounge Recruiting Podcast
The Buckeyes are still a bit over two months away from the early signing period for their 2023 class. That means anything — good or bad — can still happen with the 20 verbal pledges sent Ohio State’s way.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day and his staff continue to close out their recruitment efforts for some marquee prospects in the 2023 cycle, and in the same breath, they have to continue looking forward.
That’s where the conversation in the latest episode of the Lettermen Lounge picks up with Lettermen Row staffers Spencer Holbrook and Matt Parker.
Much like success on the field, the duo starts the conversation with a way-too-early look at the 2024 Ohio State offensive line board and where the Buckeyes are creating initial success.
Four-star offensive line prospects Donovan Harbour, Ian Moore and Liam Andrews are the early front-runners for Buckeyes offensive line coach Justin Frye in the 2024 cycle. That cycle will be Frye’s first full cycle during his tenure at Ohio State and he’s off to a strong start.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Iowa: 12 days away
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 47 days away
Are you subscribed yet?
Are you ready to get all your latest Ohio State news in one place? Become a member of Lettermen Row today. With your Lettermen Row/On3+ membership, you’ll not only have access to the everything that’s happening with the Buckeyes, but you’ll also be able to peruse other fan sites within the network to hear just how rivals are feeling about Ohio State, as well. Make sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and on Youtube for all the latest Buckeyes news you need to know.
Already signed up? Don’t forget to join us in the Lettermen Lounge to talk about the latest Ohio State sports news.
