Rutgers Ohio State Matchups – LimaOhio.com

QUARTENTS

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has 1,222 passing yards, 16 touchdown passes and one interception. He ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency. His 16 touchdown passes are tied for No. 1 in the nation. He is 12th in passing yards.

Evan Simon and Gavin Wimsatt have split quarterback duties through the first three games for Rutgers (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten), but Simon got all the snaps in last week’s 27-10 loss to Iowa when Wimsatt dropped out with a leg injury. Last season’s starter Noah Vedral has yet to play this year due to an upper body injury.

Advantage: Ohio State

RANGBACKS

Treveyon Henderson and Mian Williams have played as the No. 1 running backs so far. They both rushed for more than 100 yards in last week’s 52-21 win over Wisconsin, OSU’s first since 2020.

Rutgers averaged 227 yards in its first three games against Boston College, Wagner and Temple before being held to 61 yards by Iowa. Kyle Manangay (157 yards, 2 TDs) and Al-Shadi Salam (145 yards, 2 TDs) are the Scarlet Knights’ leading rushers.

Advantage: Ohio State

Receivers

Emeka Egbuka (26 catches, 442 yards, 5 touchdowns) had his third game of 100 or more receiving yards in the win over Wisconsin. Tight end Cade Stover is emerging as another threat in OSU’s high-powered offense. Jackson Smith-Njigba appeared to have a setback and didn’t play against Wisconsin after returning to action perhaps too soon against Toledo. It would be a surprise if he played this week.

Aaron Cruickshank, in his third season at Rutgers after two seasons at Wisconsin, leads the Knights with 18 catches. Shameen Jones and Jonny Langan have eight catches each.

Advantage: Ohio State

LINE OF ADVANCEMENT

Ohio State’s offensive line continues to play at a high level. The Buckeyes averaged 6.0 yards per carry and did not allow a sack against Wisconsin.

Rutgers has tried to add depth to its offensive line this season, making four transfers, including starting left tackle Willie Taylor. Right tackle Hollin Pierce started 12 games last season.

Advantage: Ohio State

LINE OF DEFENSE

Sophomore defensive end Jack Sawyer has been sacked in Ohio State’s last two games and has totaled three tackles for loss in those games.

Defensively, Wesley Bailey (5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks) and Aaron Lewis (17 tackles, 3 tackles for loss) are the leaders at the position for Rutgers.

Advantage: Ohio State

THE LYBAKERS

Tommy Eichenberg’s 14 total tackles against Wisconsin were just three shy of his career-best 17 in the Rose Bowl.

Deion Jennings (29 tackles, 4 tackles for loss) leads the Rutgers linebackers.

Advantage: Ohio State

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Cornerbacks Jakailyn Johnson and Jayer Brown earned some late-season confidence because of the way they played when filling in for injured Cam Brown and Denzel Burke against Wisconsin.

Safety Christian Isier leads Rutgers with 34 tackles and cornerback Max Melton is a three-year starter.

Advantage: Ohio State

SPECIAL BEARDS

Ohio State has had one field goal and three turnovers in its last two games.

Rutgers kicker Jude McAtemney is 6-for-8 on field goals. He is from Northern Ireland and played Gaelic football. Adam Korsaki averages 42.1 yards per punt.

Advantage: Ohio State