The reunion between Ryan Day and Chip Kelly at Ohio State has had a promising beginning. Day successfully persuaded his former college coach from UCLA to join the Buckeyes as their offensive coordinator, which has led to an impressive scoring total of 108 points in their first two games. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes defense has notably allowed just six points during the same period.
Ohio State appears to be in excellent form, although the teams they have faced thus far have not been particularly strong. This week, they will take on Marshall, who comes into the game with a 1-1 record. The Thundering Herd recorded an impressive 45-3 victory against Stony Brook but encountered difficulties in a subsequent 31-14 defeat to Virginia Tech.
This matchup will be the third encounter between Ohio State and Marshall, with the last game occurring in 2010, where Ohio State emerged victorious with a score of 45-7. Their previous meeting in 2004 was much tighter, with Ohio State winning 27-24.
Details for watching Ohio State vs. Marshall live are as follows:
Date: Saturday, September 21 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Fox | Live stream: fubo (Try for free)
Fubo is currently offering a $30 discount on the first month, allowing subscribers to access over 200 channels, including live sports, for just $49.99 for newcomers.
Here are some key points about the game:
Ohio State has a remarkable streak of 41 consecutive wins against unranked opponents. While victories over weaker teams may not sway pollsters, a strong team consistently performs well against lesser competition. Ohio State has maintained their top-level play, with their last loss to an unranked team occurring in 2018 against Purdue.
Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has made a significant impact, now being watched by NFL teams. He has already wowed audiences with 11 receptions for 211 yards and three touchdowns, making him the first true freshman wide receiver to exceed 200 receiving yards in his first two games. Smith is tied for fifth place with Chris Olave and Marvin Harrison Jr. for most receiving touchdowns by a freshman.
Interestingly, Marshall comes into this matchup having won their last game against a ranked opponent. Although Ohio State typically dominates unranked teams, the Herd should not be underestimated. They caused an upset in their last road trip to face a ranked team, defeating No. 8 Notre Dame 26-21 in 2022.
As for predictions, while anything can happen, it’s likely that Ohio State will continue their trend of dominating performances. The Buckeyes have not allowed a touchdown this season, and even if they pull starters early, they have demonstrated an ability to score extensively. The expected outcome is another rout, with a prediction favoring Ohio State by 40.5 points.