Ohio State vs. Oklahoma: Game Preview, Prediction and Players to Watch
It's finally here.
After an offseason of hype and growing anticipation, Ohio State will make its trip down to Norman, Oklahoma, for a titanic showdown with Oklahoma.
The No. 3 Buckeyes (2-0) are fresh off a rain-soaked 48-3 drubbing of Tulsa. J.T. Barrett accounted for 204 yards and ran for two touchdowns as the Buckeyes piled up 417 total yards of offense in the dominant 45-point win.
After stumbling to a better-than-anticipated Houston team in the season opener, the No. 14 Sooners (1-1) got back on track with a 59-17 thrashing of Louisiana-Monroe last Saturday. Oklahoma gashed the Warhawks defense for 640 total yards and looked more like the College Football Playoff contender that most had expected coming into the season.
One team's playoff resume will get an enormous boost when these two face off in Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Here's a complete preview of the big showdown.
Viewing Information
Date: Saturday, Sept. 17
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Place: Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
TV: Fox
Spread: Ohio State (-2.5), per Odds Shark
Ohio State's Keys to Victory
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Establish a Balance
Ohio State relied too heavily on Ezekiel Elliott and a strong running game a season ago, and a lack of balance ultimately cost it a chance to repeat as national champion.
That's why the Buckeyes put so much emphasis on giving their passing and rushing attacks equal priority this offseason. Against Bowling Green in the season opener, Ohio State executed that balance to perfection, as it amassed 359 yards passing and 417 yards rushing.
But last week against Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane defense made a concerted effort to shorten Barrett's time in the pocket with an aggressive blitz package. That, along with inclement weather, forced an imbalance in the Ohio State offense, which threw the ball just 22 times compared to 48 rushes.
The Oklahoma defense is too good to be beaten by a one-dimensional offense. In fact, when Houston defeated the Sooners two weeks ago, it attacked the defense with a perfect balance of 40 passes and 40 rushes.
Keep Ball-Hawking
The Ohio State secondary came into the season needing to replace three players who departed early for the NFL—cornerback Eli Apple and safeties Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell.
Through two games of the season, that process appears to be ahead of schedule.
The Buckeyes have faced two teams in Bowling Green and Tulsa that ranked in the top 11 nationally in passing yards a season ago. But the Falcons and Golden Hurricane only managed an average of 151 yards and combined for no touchdowns and seven interceptions against the Buckeyes' rebuilt secondary.
Oklahoma will be the stiffest test to date for this young secondary, but through two games, the Buckeyes' back end looks up to the task.
Oklahoma's Keys to Victory
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Attack an Inexperienced Defensive Front
The Ohio State defensive line is replacing three starters, highlighted by two-time first-team All-American Joey Bosa. The Buckeyes front took a big hit in the season opener against Bowling Green when the team lost starting defensive tackle Tracy Sprinkle to a season-ending knee injury.
In the first half against Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane had a lot of success running against that young and depleted unit. Running backs D'Angelo Brewer and James Flanders found lanes and chunks of yardage early before the rain came and the Buckeyes stacked the box.
Oklahoma has one of the country's strongest one-two punches at running back with Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine, but they combined for just 12 rushes against Houston despite averaging nearly six yards per carry.
The Sooners need to give their running game more of a chance against the Buckeyes and challenge their young defensive front.
Fight for Momentum
Oklahoma essentially played Houston evenly in the first half and trailed just 19-17 at the break. The Sooners had a picture-perfect start to open the third quarter when the defense forced a three-and-out and Baker Mayfield drove the offense deep into Houston territory.
That's when the drive stalled and Oklahoma kicked the disastrous field goal that was returned 100 yards for a Houston score. And after that moment, it never felt like Oklahoma was in the game. The Cougars defense completely shut down the Sooners offense, and Houston quarterback Greg Ward bled the life out of the clock and the Oklahoma defense.
With a prime-time matchup at home against the No. 3 team in the country, the Sooners will need to ride any momentum they get against such a young team in their first road game of the season.
Ohio State Players to Watch
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Mike Weber
Mike Weber had the biggest shoes to fill with the departure of record-setting running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was the heart and soul of the Buckeyes offense over the last two years.
Through his first two games, Weber looks like the Buckeyes' next great running back, averaging 114 yards per outing while exhibiting great toughness and agility near the line of scrimmage.
But things are going to get dramatically more difficult for Weber against the Sooners, who held Houston's powerful rushing attack to an incredible 89 yards on 40 carries.
Linebackers Obo Okoronkwo and Jordan Evans have been consistently disruptive for the Sooners, and they'll try to make life hard for Weber and the Buckeyes rushing attack on Saturday.
Malik Hooker
Malik Hooker made the first start of his collegiate career just two weeks ago, but he's already established himself as one of the most dominant defensive backs in the country.
Through two games, Hooker is tied for first nationally with three interceptions, and the safety had the defensive play for each of the Buckeyes' first two games when he made a diving, one-handed pick against Bowling Green and then a 26-yard pick-six against Tulsa that triggered the rout.
Despite Gareon Conley being the lone returning starter and the clear-cut leader of the secondary, Hooker is emerging as the unit's top playmaker, and he'll be pivotal to Ohio State's game plan and stopping Baker Mayfield and Co.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Oklahoma Players to Watch
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Mark Andrews
The Sooners lost their best receiver and playmaker with the departure of Sterling Shepard, but Mark Andrews has been an excellent deep threat to start the season.
The redshirt sophomore is averaging more than 30 yards a catch and has touchdowns of 25, 39 and 64 yards. He's an excellent complement to Dede Westbrook, who's more of a possession receiver, and together they make a formidable receiving duo.
Getting Andrews involved was Oklahoma's plan from the outset.
"It's going to be a bigger role for me," Andrews said before the season opener against Houston, according to the Associated Press (via the Muskogee Phoenix). "It's not just red-zone type of things or special plays. Just being that every-down type of guy to stay in there and be versatile and try to make plays on just regular downs."
The Buckeyes defense hasn't surrendered a single touchdown this season, but it hasn't seen a playmaker as dangerous as Andrews.
Jordan Thomas
While the Oklahoma front seven has dominated so far, the secondary has struggled despite boasting a pair of all-conference defensive backs in Steven Parker and Jordan Thomas.
Louisiana-Monroe had success throwing against the Sooners, as two signal-callers combined to complete 62.6 percent of their passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. And the week before, Houston quarterback Greg Ward carved up the Oklahoma secondary, completing 23 of 40 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns.
Those two performances have Oklahoma checking in at No. 112 nationally in pass defense. The Buckeyes passing attack is incredibly dynamic and already features five different receivers who have caught touchdown passes.
The secondary will need to be at its best against Ohio State, and that starts with Thomas.
What They're Saying
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Sixteen new starters for Ohio State will be making their first road start in a nationally televised, prime-time showdown against a playoff contender. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer talked about the challenge his young team faces this Saturday.
"There's no way to simulate going on the road in the offseason, or I would have done it," Meyer said, via Ohio State's official website. "That's the only thing with a young team: the newness of what happens on the road as opposed to focusing on their assignments."
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops talked about the talent level his team will go against when the Sooners face the Buckeyes this Saturday.
"You see excellent players," Stoops said of evaluating Ohio State, via Oklahoma's official website. "They've got good players at every spot. They're coached well, which is obvious, and you see the athleticism and the speed everywhere."
Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore was asked about Oklahoma's lethal passing attack and the challenge Baker Mayfield brings as a dual-threat quarterback.
"We're ready," Lattimore responded flatly, according to Tony Gerdeman of The Ozone. "That's all I can say."
Prediction
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Oklahoma will have Ohio State on the ropes with an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Barrett will get his Heisman Trophy moment in leading the Buckeyes to a come-from-behind victory on the road.
The Sooners will start hot as Mayfield throws first-half touchdowns to Andrews and Westbrook to give the Sooners a 14-3 lead. The Buckeyes will draw close with their last possession of the half when Curtis Samuel breaks free for a 35-yard touchdown, but the Sooners will answer right back as Mayfield leads an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to end the half.
Ohio State will get back into the game by scoring the first 10 points of the third quarter, cutting Oklahoma's lead to one. The Sooners will respond in a big way when Mixon breaks free for a 65-yard touchdown run, and after a Weber fumble, the Sooners will add a field goal to open a 31-20 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
That's when Barrett will win the game. He'll hit a slanting Samuel for a 50-yard touchdown to pull within one score, but the two-point conversion will get stuffed as the Buckeyes try to sneak it in.
The Ohio State defense will hold on the ensuing possession, giving Barrett the ball back with less than three minutes to play. The Buckeyes signal-caller will orchestrate a clutch six-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that he'll cap with a 20-yard touchdown run.
The Buckeyes will convert their two-point attempt with a shovel pass to Dontre Wilson, giving Meyer's team the three-point win.
Ohio State 34, Oklahoma 31
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
