Ohio State football is set to take on Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium on Nov. 7.
The Buckeyes received the No. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoff committee’s rankings on Nov. 4. Ohio State is 8-0 and ranks a spot higher than Indiana, also undefeated and projected to play the Buckeyes in the Big Ten championship game.
Purdue kept it close against Michigan, but the Boilermakers lost 21-16, falling to 2-7 overall and 0-6 in the Big Ten.
Here’s what Dispatch writers think will happen in the Ohio State-Purdue football game:
Stream Ohio State vs. Purdue
Ohio State vs. Purdue odds, money line, over/under
Odds courtesy of BetMGM (As of Nov. 7)
- Spread: Ohio State by 29.5
- Over/under: 48.5
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Ohio State vs. Purdue predictions
Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 45, Purdue 3. While the Boilermakers are rebuilding under first-year coach Barry Odom and remain winless in the Big Ten, they have been more competitive this year. The average margin of their six conference losses is just 11 points, and three of the last four have been by one score or less. But a season-ending ankle injury to star running back Devin Mockobee only adds to the plate of Ryan Browne, who has thrown the second-most interceptions among Big Ten quarterbacks. It won’t be much different than last year’s game in Columbus, though Purdue can avoid being shut out.
Rob Oller, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 48, Purdue 7. The Boilermakers have not won a Big Ten game since beating Indiana in the finale of the 2023 regular season, going 1-15 over that stretch. Over the same span, the Buckeyes have gone 12-3. So you’re saying there’s a chance? Never say never, but, er, never. Purdue is better than a year ago, and actually has been competitive in three of its last four games, including a 21-16 loss at Michigan, but Ohio State has too many weapons on both sides of the ball for this to be anything other than an OSU “name your score.”
Dan Aulbach, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 42, Purdue 3. Though the final score predictions are starting to sound like a broken record, Ohio State should have no problem this weekend at Ross-Ade Stadium with a passing offense on a roll and two Heisman campaigns underway for Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith.
Ohio State vs. Purdue scouting report: What we’re watching
Joey Kaufman: The week that Ohio State began formally pushing quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith as candidates for the Heisman Trophy is well-timed with an afternoon that could allow them to pad their stats. Purdue allows 8.7 yards per pass attempt, ranking 128th out of 136 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and only Marshall has surrendered more completions of 40 or more yards. As long as the weather in West Lafayette cooperates, Sayin and Smith could put up some video game-type numbers.
Rob Oller: A better than 50% chance of rain is forecast for Saturday’s game in West Lafayette. If the heavens open on the Buckeyes, it’s possible Ohio State will lean into trying to improve its running game, which is about the only facet of the team that has come under question. Then again, I’m not sure even a slippery, wet football would be enough to squelch a passing attack that licks its chops knowing Purdue’s pass defense ranks 16th in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed.
Dan Aulbach: Ohio State has scored a touchdown on its opening drive the past two games. Not only have the Buckeyes started quickly on offense, but Julian Sayin continues to air the ball downfield with precision to get the offense to the red zone quickly. I’m interested to see how aggressively Ohio State wants to get a big lead on the road against Purdue, and if they grab an early lead, will the leading Heisman candidate continue to take deep shots for the entire contest?
Julian Sayin has a 400-yard game
Joey Kaufman: After he was just 7 yards shy of throwing for 400 yards at Wisconsin three weeks ago, Sayin will have the opportunity to reach that mark against another Big Ten cellar dweller as Purdue remains prone to giving up big plays through the air. Even if the Boilermakers are in prevent mode after Penn State was beaten over the top, Sayin has too many weapons not to carve them up. He’ll be the first Buckeyes quarterback since C.J. Stroud to have a 400-yard passing game.
Buckeyes’ rushing yards surpass passing yards
Rob Oller: Conventional wisdom says Ohio State will go pass-happy against the Boilermakers to pad the stats of Heisman candidates Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, but from a team preparation standpoint the Buckeyes need to get their ground game up and running, so the final stats will show more run yards than passing yards, which has not happened since Nov. 12, 2022 against Indiana (340 run, 322 pass), which also was the last time OSU topped 300 yards rushing.
Jeremiah Smith scores 3 touchdowns
Dan Aulbach: It’s Heisman candidacy season, and while Sayin leads the betting odds for the trophy, expect Jeremiah Smith to start running up the stat sheet. Look for the Buckeyes to get creative on offense to get No. 4 to the end zone multiple times. A three-touchdown game would certainly turn some heads in the Heisman race.ual improvement in his maturity as Ohio State’s quarterback. Though on the road against a weaker opponent, the redshirt freshman showed once more his accuracy is irreplicable and I fully expect his completion percentage to remain atop the FBS.
