The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to take on the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field.

After suffering a loss in Week 7 to the Oregon Ducks, head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have managed to win three straight conference games. During the stretch, Ohio State has outscored opponents 86-30, while also defeating the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions on the road, 20-13.

One of the biggest adjustments the Buckeyes have made since losing to Oregon has been on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has completely changed his unit over the past month, and it has clearly paid off. Ohio State has the lowest yards allowed per game in the country with 250.8, while also allowing an average of 10.7 points per game.

As for Northwestern, the program has faced multiple challenges throughout the 2024 season. The Wildcats currently sit at 4-5 on the year with key victories against Maryland and Purdue. Led by head coach David Braun, the fellow Big Ten Conference member has struggled to find an offensive identity.

The lack of offensive production from Northwestern has been supplemented by a stout defense. Throughout nine games this season, the Wildcats defense has allowed an average of 108.1 rushing yards per game, which ranks seventh in the Big Ten Conference. In the team’s huge win against Maryland, the defense allowed a staggering 1.8 rushing yards per attempt.

Saturday’s matchup will be the fourth time since 1938 that Wrigley Field will host a college football game. Northwestern has been well-acclimated to the baseball field, as they played the Iowa Hawkeyes in the venue last season.

Day told reporters on Tuesday that the team will travel to the stadium on Friday to get a feel of the place.

“I’d like for them to see the makeup of it, I want them to see the turf. I want them to feel where the infield is filled in with the sod. I’d like for them to see how we are going to handle halftime; we’re going to be in the bullpen and not going up into the locker room. There’s just some different things I’d like for them to see.”

– Ryan Day

The Week 12 contest will also be a homecoming game for sophomore wide receiver Carnell Tate. When discussing how important this game would be for Tate, Day gave a heartfelt response, claiming that he wants to win the game for his young receiver.

“I just cannot say enough about Carnell Tate. I’m not gonna get into it right now, but I just have so much respect for who he is as a person, what he’s been through, and the fact that he’s going back to Chicago. I want to win this game personally for him, and I know the team respects the fact that he’s going home — and it means a lot to him.”

– Ryan Day

Quarterback Will Howard has quietly become an underdog to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy, and he could easily boost his stock on Saturday.

Northwestern’s defense has struggled against the pass this year, allowing an average of 241.1 passing yards in 2024. Despite the multiple talented pass rushers that are on the Wildcats’ defensive line, Ohio State’s front line has proven to withstand some of the best front seven’s in the nation.

If Howard can continue the success he found against Purdue, the Buckeyes will walk out of Chicago with a victory.

Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork joined Skip Mosic on 97.1 The Fan during halftime of the Buckeyes football 45-0 win over Purdue, and while on the air, Bjork admitted “a lot of improvement” can be made when it comes to the atmosphere at OSU’s sporting events.

“Our players deserve it,” he said. “The fans want to be entertained; the fans want to have fun, and that’s really what we’re after. You want to walk away from there and, forget the game, you want to say, ‘Boy, I had fun. Boy, that was entertaining.’ That’s what we want to create.”

Mosic specifically brought up at “The Schott,” also known as Value City Arena.

In response, Bjork praised new Ohio State men’s basketball coach Jake Diebler and his energy. Bjork also said the Buckeye women’s team plays an electric style of basketball and features a freshman in Jaloni Cambridge who will be really exciting to watch.

Bjork then went on to explain that the athletic department has a “comprehensive review” of all its venues underway, and secret shoppers are a part of that project.

“We have somebody that comes in that nobody knows they’re there,” Bjork said.

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Those secret shoppers take notes on their experiences and share them with OSU.

For Bjork, the hope is that what is reported back helps Ohio State consistently recreate the atmosphere that the men’s basketball team saw during its NIT run last season.

“To me, that’s kind of the blueprint of how our fans can be engaged, how our students can be engaged,” he said. “We need that every game.”

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio (WOIO) – A local display in Northeast Ohio has closed down for the season after one of the owners recently went through surgery.

The North Ridgeville display has been in the area for years, and attracted thousands from all over Ohio.

But this year, owners Bob and Lettie Mangan decided to close down the shop.

“Going down is always a big, big treat. ‘Let’s go down to Bob’s house and see the lights!’ It’s an annual trip,” neighbor Jim Clark said.

Clark has been going to the Magan’s house to see the lights every year.

He says that his two sons would look forward to touring their front yard every December season.

But this year, they will not be able to take part.

Owner Lettie Magan shared the following statement with 19 News:

“It’s gonna be definitely different to not have the lights on. But I’m thinking he’ll still have some lights, just the sheer display that he usually has is not gonna be there. It’s gonna be strange,” Clark said.

“There’s some grinches in the neighborhood who’ve complained about it, but it’s just nice. It’s a beautiful display– he puts a lot of time and effort into it.”

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