Before Ohio State takes the field, Eleven Warriors checks in with someone who knows the opponent best. This week, that meant Kamran Nia of The Daily Northwestern, who walked through what Chip Kelly has changed, what Nicco Marchiol brings at quarterback, and why David Braun’s work in Evanston has mattered so much.
Kelly’s fingerprints are all over Northwestern’s offense now, and Nia didn’t soften that point. He said Kelly has “completely transformed” the unit, pointing to the way the Wildcats have mixed in pre-snap motion, Wing-T looks and even formations “straight out of Canadian football.” The result, in his view, has been a much more dangerous attack - especially when Aidan Chiles was healthy and playing at a high level.
“Aidan Chiles was looking like one of the top quarterbacks in the country before his injury,” Nia said. “He was one of the few Big Ten quarterbacks who were healthy and able to play at a high level.
He wasn’t turning the ball over a lot. I mean, Kelly and Jerry Neuheisel completely revitalized Aidan Chiles, who struggled when he went to Michigan State, following Jonathan Smith over there.”
That change, Nia said, gave Northwestern a real offensive ceiling. Chiles’ ability to extend plays and create explosive moments fit the scheme perfectly, and the Wildcats looked far more dynamic because of it.
Without him, the picture changes. Against Iowa, Marchiol kept the ball safe and moved the offense some, but the drives kept bogging down once they crossed midfield.
“He has one game under his belt now,” Nia said. “He said he’s always tried to prepare as if he was the starter.
But definitely against Iowa, one of the best defenses in the country, they weren’t able to move the ball as well with some of the offensive line injuries. The running game wasn’t going as well, and obviously the offense didn’t do as well as it has in the past.
But Iowa is Iowa, so we’ll see what happens moving forward with him at quarterback.”
Northwestern will also lean on Caleb Komolafe and Griffin Wilde, two players Nia said have become important pieces for the Wildcats. Komolafe, he said, has taken a clear step forward this season by adding more burst and getting outside the tackles more often. Wilde, meanwhile, has been the dependable target in the passing game.
“Griffin Wilde, he’s a guy who is just super reliable,” Nia said. “He came in as a transfer last year, proved himself, and this year he’s just been super reliable as a receiver.
The last couple of games have featured some interesting drops, which is surprising. But up to then, his drop totals were very low.
He’s able to high-point the ball really well. He’ll be physical, catch the ball, and just be such a reliable target.”
Nia also had plenty to say about Braun, who he believes has steadied the program after Pat Fitzgerald. He described Braun as a coach who was pushed into the job earlier than expected and handled it well, especially in a setting where Northwestern does not have the same resources as some of its Big Ten peers.
“Braun has come to a Northwestern program that maybe doesn’t have as many resources as some other programs in the conference, and he’s made them a frequent bowl team,” Nia said. “If the Wildcats don’t make a bowl game going forward, that’ll be a big disappointment.”
As for Saturday, Nia went with Ohio State 28-13, though he didn’t rule out a tighter game if Northwestern starts faster than it has on the road in recent weeks. He also pointed to Jeremiah Smith as a major concern for the Wildcats, especially with a banged-up secondary.
“Jeremiah Smith, Braun said, is the best player in college football,” Nia said. “He’s certainly one of the best, and I think Northwestern, with a banged-up secondary, might have a little bit of trouble containing him.”
Still, he left a sliver of room for an upset if Marchiol finds another gear and Northwestern’s offense can get rolling. But with Chiles out and the Wildcats’ last two games trending the wrong way, Nia said that’s a tough ask in Columbus.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “I definitely think Northwestern could be competitive if the Wildcats start better than they have in some of these games on the road, excluding Oregon.
And if Marchiol is able to find another gear, I think that there’s some possibility for an upset with the way Ohio State has been trending. But with the way the past two games have gone for Northwestern and no Chiles, I think it might be a little bit difficult for the offense to get rolling here.”
In Other News...
Ohio State Finally Made A Change Fans Saw Coming
Ohio State made the kind of midseason move fans had been expecting after a string of special teams breakdowns kept showing up at the worst possible moments. Robby Discher was fired after nine games, with the Buckeyes issues on that phase of the game becoming harder to ignore as penalties and momentum-swinging mistakes piled up in recent losses.
Ryan Day said there had simply been too many detrimental plays to keep things as they were, and the staff is now reshuffling responsibilities to finish the season. Senior analyst Rob Keys will oversee special teams the rest of the way, with other coaches taking on specific units, a sign that Ohio State is trying to steady one of the most frustrating parts of its operation before it costs them again. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Backup Quarterback Problem Just Got More Complicated
Justyn Martins role at Ohio State has become one of those quiet depth-chart stories that can suddenly matter a lot more than anyone expected. The fifth-year senior has not played this season, but with Julian Sayin sidelined, Martin is now listed as the third-string quarterback, and Ryan Day has already made it clear he likes what he has seen from him in practice. For a team that always has to be ready at quarterback, that kind of behind-the-scenes trust can carry real weight.
Martin has kept working alongside Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair, staying in the mix while the Buckeyes sort through their options. He has spoken confidently about the group and noted that Sayin remains supportive during his recovery, which only adds another layer to a situation that is still unfolding. For now, Martin is waiting for a chance that has not come yet, but the fact that Day is even floating game usage suggests Ohio States backup picture is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Chip Kelly Is Suddenly Back In Ohio State's Offensive Picture
Chip Kellys name is back in the mix around Ohio State, and not just as a nostalgic footnote. The former Buckeyes assistant, now at Northwestern, has surfaced in conversations about offensive play-caller openings, with his past tie to the program giving the idea immediate credibility. For a staff that is always under the microscope, any movement on the offensive side tends to draw attention quickly, especially when it involves a coach with Kellys rsum and familiarity with the Ohio State environment.
The broader picture is still fluid, though, because Nebraska is also being linked to Kelly and may try to sell him on the stature of the job rather than a simple financial pitch. For Ohio State, the possibility seems tied to whether current staff changes open a path, which is why the chatter feels more like a developing subplot than a settled pursuit. Even so, the fact that Kelly is being discussed in that context says plenty about how quickly the Buckeyes offensive landscape can shift. [Read more 🡒]