Northwestern doesn’t get many chances to put Ohio State in a bad spot, but Saturday in Week 11 gives the Wildcats one. And if the Buckeyes don’t handle it, this matchup has the feel of a game that can turn sideways fast.
On paper, Ohio State should have the upper hand. But Northwestern brings one clear path to making this ugly, and it starts on the ground.
The Wildcats are averaging 190.2 rushing yards per game, good for a spot inside the top 35 nationally, and they’ve piled up 1,712 rushing yards on 351 carries. That’s 4.9 yards per attempt and 18 rushing touchdowns through nine games.
Caleb Komolafe has been the engine of it all, with 643 yards and five scores on 111 carries. Joseph Himon II has added 411 more yards, giving Northwestern a backfield that can chew clock and force defenses to work for every stop.
That matters because Ohio State has shown some vulnerability against the run in its two most recent losses. The Buckeyes have allowed more than 105 rushing yards in all three of their defeats, and that lines up with a telling trend for Northwestern: the Wildcats are 4-0 when they rush for at least 175 yards, and 6-1 when they clear 105 on the ground.
The red zone could be where this really gets dangerous for Ohio State. The Buckeyes rank 101st nationally in red-zone defense, giving up scores on 88 percent of opponent trips. Northwestern, by contrast, sits sixth nationally in red-zone offense and has scored on 94.6 percent of its chances.
So the formula is pretty clear. If Northwestern can run the ball, stay on schedule, and keep Nicco Marchiol away from obvious passing downs, it can make every possession matter. Komolafe and Himon have to carry the load, and the Wildcats have to cash in once they get inside scoring range.
Ohio State may still have the better roster, but if Northwestern controls the clock and finishes drives, the Buckeyes could be staring at a much tighter fourth quarter than anyone expected.
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 🡒]