BUCKEYES HEAD EAST SATURDAY TO FACE RUTGERS
11/12/2019 10:04:10 AM | Football
Ohio State, 9-0 on the season and 6-0 in the Big Ten, makes a visit to New Jersey Saturday to face Rutgers. Kick-off is slated for 3:40 p.m. from SHI Stadium in Piscataway with BTN to broadcast.
The Buckeyes are coming off a 73-14 win over Maryland last Saturday at Ohio Stadium in a game that was highlighted by a strong effort on the ground (383 rushing yards) and another all-around solid performance on defense (11.0 tackles for loss and seven sacks).
Ohio State possesses the nation’s No. 5 ranked total offense (535.9 yards/game) the No. 1 ranked total defense (214.8 yards/game). The Buckeyes have scored the most touchdowns in the country (62) and given up the fewest (eight).
THE BASICS
Rutgers vs. No. 1 Ohio State • Saturday, Nov. 16 • When: 3:40 p.m. • Where: SHI Stadium • TV: BTN • Play by Play: Brandon Gaudin • Analyst: James Laurinaitis • Sidelines: Elise Menaker
- Through nine games, Ohio State has allowed just eight touchdowns, the fewest in the country. The Buckeyes have given up 10 or fewer points seven times this year.
- The Buckeyes are No. 1 nationally in scoring offense (51.0 points/game) and have scored 50 or more points four times this season. Ohio State is also No. 1 in scoring defense (8.6 points/game).
- Ohio State has converted 50 percent or better on third down in eight of nine games.
- The Buckeyes have won 27 of their last 29 games played in the month of November.
- Ohio State has won 29 of its last 32 Big Ten road games, including a 3-0 mark this season. The Buckeyes were unbeaten in Big Ten road games from 2012-15.
DOBBINS ON THE LOOSE
- J.K. Dobbins’ 98.8-yards-per-game career average is the third best in program history, behind only Archie Griffin (121.5 yards/game, 1972-75) and Ezekiel Elliott 101.6 yards/game, 2013-15).
- Dobbins is 113 yards away from passing Eddie George for third place on Ohio State’s all-time rushing list.
- Dobbins ranks second nationally with 13 rushes of 20 or more yards this season.
- Four of those Dobbins rushes have gone for 50+ yards, including two touchdowns.
FIELD EFFICIENCY
- Justin Fields leads the country with a 27:1 touchdown/interception ratio. Only two other quarterbacks who have thrown 150 or more passes this year have just one INT. Fields’ 183.5 QB rating ranks No. 5 nationally.
- Fields’ 37 touchdowns accounted for through nine games is four ahead of the pace last year by Heisman Trophy finalist Dwayne Haskins.
- He is second nationally in touchdowns, trailing only Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts (39).
- Fields is No. 5 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing efficiency rating (183.5).
YOUNG BUCKS GET IT DONE
- Freshman Zach Harrison made his first career start last week vs. Maryland and had a third-quarter sack.
- On the other side of Harrison was sophomore Tyreke Smith, who had three tackles and two sacks.
- Both Harrison and Smith graded out as champions as part of a defense that generated a season-high seven sacks.
SPEAKING OF SACKS
- The Buckeyes rank No. 1 in the nation in average sacks per game (4.56) and are No. 2 in total sacks (41.0), just one behind SMU.
- Ohio State’s 41 sacks this year have come from 15 different players.
- The Ohio State single-season team record for sacks is 51.0, set in 2017.
THIS IS RARE
- Ohio State had four players rush for over 70 yards in last week’s win over Maryland: Master Teague (111 yds.), Dobbins (90 yds.), Marcus Crowley (82 yds.) and DeMario McCall (78 yds.).
- The last time that happened was nearly 57 yards ago – in 1962 – when John Mummey (114 yds.), Robert Klein (95 yds.), David Francis (81 yds.) and Robert Butts (78 yds.) led the Buckeyes to a 51-15 win over Illinois.
EIGHT STRAIGHT YEARS OF 10+ WINS
- Ohio State is seeking to extend its school-record streak of consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins to eight years.
- Alabama has the longest active streak of 10-win season at 11 consecutive years, followed by Clemson with nine.
- A win on Saturday would give Ohio State its 15th 10-win season in the last 18 years.
3
The Buckeyes’ offense has scored touchdowns on at least three consecutive possessions in eight of nine games this season
70
Ohio State has scored 70 points or more twice this season for the first time since 1996. It’s never scored 70+ three times in a season.
42.4
The Buckeyes scoring margin of 42.4 points/game is the best in the FBS. The only other team with a margin or 40 or more points since 2003 was Florida State in 2013 (41.8).
88%
The Buckeyes “stop rate” of 87.8 percent on defense is the best in the country. Only 14 of 115 opponent drives have resulted in points.
3.3
Ohio State has given up a nation’s-best 3.3 yards per play. The single-season school record is 3.5 yards/play in 1973, 1964 and 1950.
- Quarterback Johnny Langan has started each of the last five games and was the Big Ten Freshman of the Week following his performance vs. Liberty (192 yards passing, 118 yards rushing).
- Isaih Pacheco leads the team in rushing with 541 yards and six touchdowns and has also added nine receptions for 46 yards.
- On the defensive side of the ball, Tyshon Fogg is tops with 81 tackles.
- Punter Adam Korsak is No. 20 nationally with an average of 44.6 yards per kick.
