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Opponent View/Scouting Ohio State

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(Adam Cairns/Columbus/USA Today)

Ohio State is rollin’.

Since that gut-punch season-ending loss to Michigan last season, the Buckeyes have been crushing life. Ohio State marched to the 2024 national title and is ranked No. 1 in the nation with an 8-0 record this season.

Meanwhile, Purdue is living in a bizzaro world, losers of seven in a row while also dropping its last 15 Big Ten games. That’s why the Boilermakers are a four-TD underdog, as the nation’s No. 1 team visits Ross-Ade Stadium for the first time Notre Dame brought that ranking to town in 1989 under Lou Holtz.

GoldandBlack.com spoke to the voice of Ohio State, Paul Keels, to get the low down on the mighty Buckeyes.

GoldandBlack.com: What can we expect from the Ohio State offense?

Keels: What we’ve seen them do lately is really excel at passing the football. Julian Sayin has been on quite a tear, and he’s got great targets to throw to Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and others. So, while Ohio State certainly is interested in trying to achieve balance and look to get more explosive plays running the football, their passing game has been more than on point, and it would stand to reason, and a lot of that has to do with how well the offensive line is played, but it was standard reason that Ohio State most likely is going to continue to emphasize throwing the football as well as Julian Sayin is throwing it.

GoldandBlack.com: What can we expect from the Buckeye defense?

Keels: What they’ve been able to do, and with the influence of their new coordinator, Matt Patricia, as well as the other returning defensive coaches, is put pressure on from all points. The defensive line has played very well and has been very disruptive. But you’ve seen outstanding play from their two linebackers, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, both of whom have played different positions in the past. Sonny started at safety. Arvell Reese, at one point, was playing defensive end. So, they’re guys that are accustomed to kind of coming at you from all over the field. And the other kind of X-factor that has developed out of all of this is Caleb Downs, the All-American safety. You could see him line up at times at the line of scrimmage. You could see him play out wide, and you can see him in a traditional safety position. So, what they’ve been able to do is create a lot of different combinations that have created confusion for opposing offenses.

GoldandBlack.com: How do you see this game unfolding?

Keels: It’s easy to think that Ohio State would probably come in and and have an easy time of it, but all you have to do is think back to 2018, when Ohio State was ranked number 2 in the country and got upset at Ross-Ade Stadium. So, it’s been a place that, really, since 2000, Ohio State has come in there, and at times, has had trouble. But this seems to be a very determined team, not only bent on trying to win a Big Ten championship game, but also get back to playing like they did last year for a national championship. So, it’s kind of easy to guess–and that’s what it would be, a guess–that this would be an easy game. You would think that Ohio State would come in and have a rather easy time of it. But, again, you think back to some of the problems they’ve had going to Ross-Ade Stadium in the past, and that’s one of the things that makes you kind of want to pump the brakes just a tiny little bit.

MORE: Mike Scherer: Purdue defense needs to play more “confident” | The 3-2-1: Good-bye, Devin Mockobee. Hello, Max Klare | First look: Ohio State | First and 10: Ohio State-Purdue | Purdue, Barry Odom brace for first visit from No. 1 team since 1989 | Devin Mockobee to miss rest of season

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