College Football Game of the Week: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Oregon

Both teams came up a game short of the playoff last year, but they came into this season as the two favorites in the Big Ten with two of the most talented rosters in the country. No. 3 Oregon will host No. 2 Ohio State this Saturday in the first top-3 matchup of the year.

Ohio State garnered a lot of attention in the offseason for big-time acquisitions such as true freshman Jeremiah Smith and transfers Quinshon Judkins and Caleb Downs. Even more importantly though, they return many key players such as J.T. Tuimoloau and Emeka Egbuka.

Out on the Pacific coast, Dan Lanning is recruiting at the highest level Oregon ever has. This past cycle, he brought in the third-best high school class and the second-best transfer portal class. He has particularly loaded up in the trenches and has a very experienced roster this year.

Ryan Day’s Ohio State teams have been known for offense, but they showed last year they could win with their defense as well. Although they haven’t faced tough competition yet, they lead the country in points allowed per game and should continue to be one of the best defenses in the country.

Oregon started the year slow, but they have looked more like the team they expected to be recently, blowing out their last three opponents. Their biggest concern coming into the year was the secondary. They’ve only allowed 162 passing yards per game so far this year, but that also hasn’t been against great passing games.

With two rosters as talented and as deep as these two, where does the advantage come from, and where does one team breakthrough?

The biggest determining factor will likely be how balanced the offenses can be. Both teams went to the transfer portal to get their quarterback for this year: Dillon Gabriel at Oregon and Will Howard at Ohio State. Both came from Big 12 schools, and Gabriel was the First-Team All-Big 12 Quarterback last year.

Not only is the Ducks’ passing attack led by Gabriel, but they have an abundance of very talented receivers including but not limited to Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden. The running game is the bigger question. Jordan James has had a great start to the year, but will Oregon be able to run the ball consistently against a defense as good as Ohio State’s?

Ohio State also has an ultra-talented group of receivers, but Will Howard hasn’t played at an elite level. They have arguably the best backfield in college football with Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. They will need to run the ball, and Howard might use his legs a good amount as well. Can Howard make enough big plays in the passing game to win, however?

The balance on offense will likely be the determining factor. Both offenses have been effective in the running and passing game this year, but they haven’t really been tested yet. Oregon also has the advantage at quarterback. Is that enough in what is the biggest game in the Big Ten so far this year?

Jacob Rudy is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jar7371@psu.edu.