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Ohio State football: 3 bold predictions vs. Western Kentucky

By Eric Boggs

COLUMBUS, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 9: Ohio State Buckeyes players pose for a group photo after the game against the Youngstown State Penguins at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes beat the Penguins 35-7. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 9: Ohio State Buckeyes players pose for a group photo after the game against the Youngstown State Penguins at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes beat the Penguins 35-7. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) /
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The Ohio State football team welcomes one of the better group of five programs in the country into the Horseshoe on Saturday when the Buckeyes host the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Both teams come into Saturday’s contest, which can be seen on FOX at 4 pm est., with perfect 2-0 records.

The Buckeyes opened the season with a 23-3 conference win on the road against Indiana before defeating in-state opponent Youngstown State 35-7 last week. Western Kentucky comes into this weekend’s game having defeated Conference USA opponent USF 41-24 and Houston Christian 52-22, both at home. This weekend’s trip to Columbus, Ohio will be their first road game of the season.

Western Kentucky’s air raid offense will offer the Buckeye defense a different challenge than they have faced thus far. Coming into Saturday’s game, the Hilltoppers are averaging 327 passing yards and three and a half passing touchdowns per game. This season, the Ohio State defense has only given up 108.5 passing yards per game while holding both opponents to no passing touchdowns. If the Hilltoppers stand any chance of making this a four-quarter game, they will need to have more success through the air against the Buckeyes than the first two opponents did.

The WKU offense against the OSU defense will definitely garner a lot of attention. But on the other side of the football, now that Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has officially named Kyle McCord as the starter, there is an expectation that the Buckeye offense will also improve.

Here are three bold predictions for this Saturday’s game for the Buckeyes.

1. Ohio State will rush for 300 yards

In Western Kentucky’s season-opening contest, the Hilltoppers gave up 374 rushing yards, 160 of which were from Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown. No one expects McCord to have a big game running the football on Saturday. However, Ohio State has a three-headed running back room that can and will make some noise on Saturday.

TreVeyon Henderson leads the team with 103 yards on 17 carries. Chip Trayanum is next with 77 yards on 14 carries while Miyan Williams has 50 yards on 13 carries. Trayanum has pulled double duty, lining up as fullback and being the lead blocker in short-yardage situations.

If any or all of these backs are going to have a big day on the ground this Saturday, they are going to need the offensive line to open up some holes. The run blocking, especially on the left side of the line so far this season has been spotty at best. Earlier this week, offensive line coach Justin Frye met with the media, and when asked about this topic, he offered the following statement.

"“You really want to be a tough guy? Then be a tough guy all the time. So, we’ve got to play more violent. We can’t be lines on a page. We’re not making a ton of mental mistakes, which is positive, but we’ve got too many point of attack mistakes. You can solve that through aggression and violence.”"

If this offensive line indeed becomes more violent on Saturday, then it will be a long day for the Hilltopper defense. Henderson, Trayanum, and Williams could have huge games. Look for the Buckeyes to rush for over 300 yards on Saturday.

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