Ohio State vs. Toledo: 5 Things to Watch in Saturday's Game

The Ohio State Buckeyes will play the Toledo Rockets on Saturday at the Horseshoe in Columbus. Here are five things to watch during the game as the Buckeyes get ready for their big prime-time matchup against the Miami Hurricanes in Week 3.

Kickoff on Saturday is at 12:00PM with coverage on the Big Ten Network.

Staying Aggressive

During last week's season opener against Akron, the Ohio State Buckeyes played very aggressively on both sides of the ball. Constant pressure on the quarterback and smash-mouth running were both constants of the game for the Buckeyes.

Look for the Buckeyes to continue that trend against Toledo on Saturday. If OSU can play a defensive game similar to the opener against the Rockets, then they have a chance to put up another shutout. Toledo is a more talented team than the Akron Zips but should not be much of a challenge for the Buckeyes.

Focus

In order to have the same kind of game they did a week ago, the Ohio State Buckeyes must focus on the game against Toledo. They have a big matchup against the Miami Hurricanes in Florida next week but must do their best to not look ahead to that game.

Toledo has more talent than Akron, and no opponent should ever be taken lightly. That is not to say that without focus the Buckeyes have a chance of losing this game. However, staying dominant all season long is very important for a team looking to have a successful year.

As soon as the final second ticks off the clock on Saturday, focus can shift from the opponent at hand to the upcoming game against Miami. However, until then, the Buckeyes should not look ahead to future games.

Quarterback Play

Although many Buckeyes fans expected Braxton Miller to be the starting quarterback for Ohio State sooner rather than later, Joe Bauserman showed he is capable of leading the team to victory.

Last week, against Akron, Bauserman completed 12 of 16 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns. On the other hand, Miller struggled in his first series but bounced back to complete eight of 12 passes for 130 yards and a score. Those numbers are fairly comparable, but Bauserman showed more of the leadership the Buckeyes are looking for.

The Toledo game will be an important one for both quarterbacks because it is their last chance to prepare for the Miami game next week. If Miller wants to prove himself capable of being the starter, then he must play well against a weaker team like Toledo. However, Buckeyes' fans should feel comfortable knowing Bauserman is there to continue starting if need be.

Jake Stoneburner

All of last season, Jake Stoneburner caught a total of two touchdown passes. He surpassed that number in one game against Akron last week when he hauled in three scores.

On a team with a weakness at the receiving position, Stoneburner should prove to be valuable throughout the entire season. His size and speed create a mismatch for opposing defenses. Stoneburner has the ability to get open quickly and break tackles. He is also a superb blocker, which only increases his value to the team.

Fans should watch and see if the Buckeyes use Stoneburner just as much in Saturday's game against Toledo. After his performance against Akron, there is no reason he shouldn't get in the end zone once again.

The Running Backs

Last week, the rushing duo of Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith looked good for Ohio State. They combined for 167 yards on 37 carries. However, the running game will look different against Toledo.

Running backs Jaamal Berry and Jordan Hall are both returning for Saturday's game. Berry is fully recovered from a pulled hamstring, and Hall is back from a one-game suspension. It is expected that they will both see some carries against Toledo, and Hall is also likely to be used in the passing game.

Smith will probably drop on the depth chart as he is the most inexperienced back. As for Hyde, his bullish running style should keep him in the rotation.

The game against Toledo will give the Buckeyes a much better idea of who they can rely upon to carry the ball throughout the season.