Ohio State football vs. Northwestern: Game Time Decisions for the Buckeyes’ game against the Wildcats

EVANSTON, Sick. — Ohio State soccer’s ultimate BigTen crossover recreation of the season may not be a lot of a problem by way of successful and dropping, however there are nonetheless issues it must work on.

Whether or not it’s the working recreation on offense or the cornerback play on protection, there’s a ton that’ll must see regular enchancment over the following few weeks in opposition to groups the place the specter of dropping has been drastically decrease based mostly on the standard of opponent.

Listed here are some questions that have to be answered in Week 8:

Does Jordan Hancock begin to make a transfer?

Jordan Hancock had a number of hype within the offseason as a man who might take a leap at cornerback for the Buckeyes. Then a hamstring harm worn out the primary half of the 12 months for him. Now he’s wholesome and able to go for a unit that didn’t have the perfect begin, even when it’s now trending again in the best route.

There was a thought that the previous high 100 recruit might ultimately declare a beginning position this season earlier than any video games have been performed. Now that he’s again, these questions nonetheless stay. He spent two weeks progressively being labored again into the fold, and the following three weeks offered an opportunity for him to start out flashing in a manner that would end in him being among the many first to take the sector on Nov. 26.

That’ll begin on Saturday in opposition to Northwestern.

Will the working backs get entangled within the passing recreation?

TreVeyon Henderson performed a big position in OSU’s passing recreation final season with 27 catches for 312 yards and 4 touchdowns. In reality, a move play is how faculty soccer was launched to the previous five-star on a display screen move that he took 75 yards for a rating in opposition to Minnesota. Miyan Williams might not now have the influence Henderson had, however he was nonetheless helpful with 9 catches for 74 yards.

To date this season, the working again hasn’t performed a lot of a task there, with the 2 combining for 7 catches for 23 yards. For a workforce that’s struggled working all of the previous two weeks, possibly a option to repair that’s by discovering different methods to get its tailbacks the ball, and that’s no matter which of the 2 is on the market.

Essentially the most memorable catch a working again has had this season was in opposition to Notre Dame on a throw that was extra a few quarterback’s newfound playmaking potential than it was a few working again’s receiver expertise. Might that modifications in opposition to Northwestern.

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Can QB1 stand the rain?

The legendary band of the Nineteen Eighties ‘New Version’ as soon as sang the phrases, “Sunny days, all people loves them, inform me, however are you able to stand the rain?”

That track was speaking a few important different. However on Saturday will apply these phrases to C.J. Stroud. There’s an opportunity the climate inside Ryan Subject received’t be favorable to an offense with an elite passing assault, due to a forecast that predicts loads of rain and powerful winds. Stroud proved final season that throwing within the rain isn’t a problem for him in a 54-7 win over Indiana. He accomplished 21 of 28 passes for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns in opposition to an overmatched Hoosier workforce.

As soon as once more, he’s headed right into a street recreation atmosphere in opposition to a Huge Ten opponent that doesn’t have the expertise to match up with the weapons he has at his disposal. This weekend isn’t essentially a Heisman assertion one for him like final week was. It’s simply an opportunity to do extra of what we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from Stroud whereas asking him to do it in an unfavorable atmosphere.

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Get the newest Ohio State Buckeyes merchandise: Right here’s the place you’ll be able to order Ohio State soccer gear on-line, together with jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, hats and far more.

When you or a beloved one has questions and desires to speak to knowledgeable about playing, name the Ohio Drawback Playing Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the Nationwide Council on Program Playing Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700.