It’s rare to see Ohio State winless going into the third week of conference play. After a sluggish performance against Michigan State, the Buckeyes had one half of greatness and one half of mediocrity last week in Lincoln. In order to avoid a 0-3 start, they must win a tough game on the road against an undefeated Illinois.
The focus this week will be on whether the defense can stop an athletic Illinois offense. Nathan Scheelhaase is a dual threat quarterback that can make plays with his arms and legs. The Fighting Illini will try to use their wheelhouse (the run game) to establish tempo and open up passing lanes.
Can the Silver Bullets stop them?
Based on what we’ve seen this season, Ohio State struggles with opponents that possess running quarterbacks and versatile athletes. Illinois will be a solid test for a unit that’s looking to rebound following an epic collapse Saturday night. The only way for the Buckeyes to shut down Illinois’ run game is for the linebackers to play extremely well. If they want a chance at winning, they must force Nathan to make mistakes and play assignment football.
On the other side of the ball, Braxton Miller will lead the offense in what many hope is a repeat of last week’s first half performance.
Miller received the green light to play Saturday. This means the Buckeyes can return to establishing an identity under him. As long as Braxton is confident in the pocket, he’ll make plays and keep the Buckeyes in the game. If the injury is lingering in the back of his mind and he hesitates, the offense will never take off.
When push comes to shove, who wins?
Illinois showed they could win ugly as they won close games against Arizona State and Northwestern. This group is mentally tough and possesses some excellent athletes capable of making just enough plays to get them over the top. That said the Buckeyes came out on fire last week and took the crowd out of it early. If they can repeat that mentality this week and play consistently well for four quarters, they will remain competitive. Ultimately, Ohio State will surprise many with their performance and walk out of Champaign with the victory.
Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images
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