10 Observations Ohio State

Here is what has us talking after No. 1 Ohio State’s 34-10 win at Purdue on Saturday in Ross-Ade Stadium.

PDF: Purdue-Ohio State statistics

1 – This one went according to script. Yes, Purdue took a 3-0 lead after one quarter. After that, it was all Ohio State, which scored 24 points in the second quarter and never looked back in romping to victory. The Buckeyes entered the day with the No. 1 scoring defense in the nation (6.9 ppg) and improved on that number vs. a Purdue offense that is averaging 16.2 points in Big Ten action. The Boilers have scored over 20 points just once in the last four games.

“I thought there were some bright spots on the way that defensively we played today,” said Barry Odom. “You’re on the field for 41 minutes, that’s hard to sustain. But I thought there was some fight. The second quarter got away from us. A couple plays, a takeaway, they gave ’em a short field, and those things are hard to overcome against anybody, but certainly a team like that.”

2 – It’s now eight losses in a row–16 Big Ten defeats in succession–for Purdue … with no end in sight. Next week, the Boilermakers play at No. 24 Washington before finishing at home vs. No. 2 Indiana. Purdue looks headed to another 0-9 Big Ten season. But Odom remains undaunted.

“In the fourth quarter, the song that comes on in the video of old school Purdue, and the highlights about believing, I’m going to keep believing, and we will get back to winning ways for this program and all the great people that support it. I believe very, very strongly in that.”

3 – The Buckeyes looked the part of a No. 1 team on a day when the Ross-Ade Stadium stands were painted with larges swaths of red. It often felt like an Ohio State home game on this perfect fall afternoon. Not an ideal setting.

“From recruiting, from development, from calling the game to all those things right now, they are setting the standard,” said Odom. “So, it’s our job to chase that, catch up. And I give them a lot of credit on how they’re built and then how their kids go play.”

4 – You can say this: As the losses have mounted, Purdue has continued to battle–save for the loss at Northwestern. Odom had a long pause before answering if he thought his team was still fighting.

“I think we are showing progress in that category (of competing/fighting),” said Odom. “We’re still chasing what it looks like every single day.”

5 – Every time Ohio State dropped to pass, the stadium held its breath. Was this gonna be a long TD heave? Purdue’s fears were realized, as the Buckeyes had eight pass plays over 15 yards and seven run plays over 10.

6 – Let’s hear if for DE CJ Nunnally! The Akron/Jackson State transfer picked off a pass in the Ohio State end zone–one of the few highlights for Purdue–adding to an already impressive resume that includes a team-high five sacks along with 7.5 TFLs. Purdue needs more players like him.

“There’s so much value in college football today in guys that are just hungry,” said Odom. “Guys that, number one, they’re grateful for the opportunity, and then they make the most of it, because he’s on a stage now that has prepared him and helped him for the next step of what his life will look like, and he’s made the most of it. I mean, you watch how he studies in preparation, how he practices, his motor continues to run … “

7 – Domination. No other way to put it. Just look at the stats. The second half was played in mostly in a silent stadium–just get this over with!–in a game that had an air of inevitability hanging over it from the opening kick off with OSU a four-TD favorite. Fans have had their fill of days like this, as Purdue now has lost its last 19 games to Power Four foes. Did Odom think this job would be that difficult?

“I didn’t look and measure how difficult I thought it was going to be,” said Odom. “Nothing worth having is easy in life. You’ve got to work for everything, and then sometimes things don’t go your way. You know, the breaks don’t fall that way. But I would rather look at opportunities that are upcoming on how we’re building at what we’re going to do. And I think the future is really, really bright, with our biggest recruiting day that we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

8 – To have a chance to score, Purdue would need some “chunk” plays. And it didn’t get enough of them. The Boilers had just one pass over 15 yards and three runs over 10. The Boilers had 186 yards to Ohio State’s 473. Time of possession: 40:56 to 19:04. On and on it in another dreary day for Purdue, which had a season-low 186 yards. The Boilers had 85 yards in the first quarter and just 101 the rest of the game.

9 – Receivers go wild vs. Purdue. USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane had 115 yards receiving, Illinois’ Hank Beatty had 186, Notre Dame’s Jordan Faison had 105, Rutgers KJ Duff had 241 … and Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State was the latest wideout to scorch Purdue, making 10 catches for 137 yards and a TD.

10 – TE Max Klare enjoyed his return trip to Purdue, making five catches for 59 yards. That is that.

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