By the Numbers: Comparing Ohio State and Rutgers

COLUMBUS — No. 1 Ohio State (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) will face another stingy defense Saturday at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights (6-2, 3-2) are 13th nationally with only 15.8 points per game allowed this season. Head coach Greg Schiano has them playing sound football and, notably, eligible for a traditional bowl for the first time since 2014.

Buckeyes starting quarterback Kyle McCord referred to Rutgers as an “underrated” team this week. The Scarlet Knights certainly feel that way, and their 29th-ranked strength of schedule supports that suspicion.

As good as Rutgers has been defensively — it even has the No. 2 pass defense in the nation — Schiano’s team is just OK on the other side of the ball. A dynamic rushing attack fuels the Scarlet Knights’ offense. Ohio State, though, has allowed its last two opponents, Wisconsin and Penn State, to record a combined 143 rushing yards.

Keep in mind, only two teams haven’t given up a play of 40 or more yards from scrimmage this year: Ohio State and Rutgers.

Lettermen Row tracked how the Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights compare after eight games, by the numbers.

Scoring Offense

Buckeyes: 32.5 points per game (38th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 28.1 points per game (T-66th nationally in FBS, 5th in Big Ten)

Total Offense

Buckeyes: 428.8 yards per game (40th nationally in FBS, 1st in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 327.1 yards per game (108th nationally in FBS, 8th in Big Ten)

Passing Offense

Buckeyes: 295.0 yards per game (T-15th nationally in FBS, 1st in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 148.4 yards per game (127th nationally in FBS, 11th in Big Ten)

Rushing Offense

Buckeyes: 133.8 yards per game (T-93rd nationally in FBS, T-9th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 178.8 yards per game (40th nationally in FBS, 2nd in Big Ten)

Scoring Defense

Buckeyes: 10.0 points per game allowed (2nd nationally in FBS, 2nd in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 15.8 points per game allowed (13th nationally in FBS, 5th in Big Ten)

Total Defense

Buckeyes: 259.9 yards per game allowed (4th nationally in FBS, 3rd in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 276.8 yards per game allowed (9th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)

Passing Defense

Buckeyes: 160.1 yards per game allowed (5th nationally in FBS, 3rd in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 156.3 yards per game allowed (2nd nationally in FBS, 2nd in Big Ten)

Rushing Defense

Buckeyes: 99.8 yards per game allowed (17th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 120.5 yards per game allowed (37th nationally in FBS, 7th in Big Ten)

3rd Down Conversion

Buckeyes: 43.27% (T-38th nationally in FBS, 3rd in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 38.61% (79th nationally in FBS, 8th in Big Ten)

Opponent 3rd Down Conversion

Buckeyes: 31.15% (17th nationally in FBS, 2nd in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 36.11% (45th nationally in FBS, 7th in Big Ten)

Red Zone TD Percentage

Buckeyes: 56.25% (85th nationally in FBS, 10th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 72.41% (20th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)

Opponent Red Zone TD Percentage

Buckeyes: 56.25% (T-53rd nationally in FBS, 8th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 54.55% (T-45th nationally in FBS, T-6th in Big Ten)

Sacks Per Game

Buckeyes: 2.00 (T-77th nationally in FBS, T-9th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 2.13 (T-68th nationally in FBS, 8th in Big Ten)

Sacks Allowed Per Game

Buckeyes: 2.00 (T-66th nationally in FBS, 9th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 0.88 (T-8th nationally in FBS, 1st in Big Ten)

Turnover Margin Per Game

Buckeyes: -0.13 (T-75th nationally in FBS, 9th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 0.63 (T-25th nationally in FBS, T-3rd in Big Ten)

Time of Possession

Buckeyes: 30:21.75 (59th nationally in FBS, 6th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 31:53.75 (T-24th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)

Penalties Per Game

Buckeyes: 6.5 (T-88th nationally in FBS, T-11th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 4.5 (T-16th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)

Punt Average

Buckeyes: 43.55 (43rd nationally in FBS, 5th in Big Ten)
Rutgers: 41.75 (80th nationally in FBS, 12th in Big Ten)