After a week off, Ohio State football prepares for one final warm-up before diving into Big Ten competition. Head Coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are set to face the Marshall Thundering Herd in a Big Noon matchup, aiming to improve their record to 3-0 this season.
Ohio State has been impressive in their first two games, dominating Akron and Western Michigan with a combined score of 108-6. The No. 3 ranked team in the nation seeks to maintain this strong momentum ahead of next week’s contest against Michigan State in East Lansing.
On the other hand, Marshall started strong against Stony Brook but suffered a setback against Virginia Tech last week and is also coming off a bye. Quarterback Stone Earle struggled against the Hokies, completing just 13 of 36 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Ohio State’s formidable secondary, led by Caleb Downs, will aim to disrupt Marshall’s offense, beginning with their running game, which ranks second nationally in defending against the run, only behind Ole Miss.
The big game can be viewed on FOX’s Big Noon Saturday from Ohio Stadium, with Big Noon Kickoff airing prior. Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt will provide commentary, and Jenny Taft will report from the sideline. Viewers can also stream the game through Fubo and FOX Sports Go, which requires cable login.
The Ohio State vs. Marshall game is scheduled for today, Saturday, September 21, starting at noon ET in Columbus, Ohio.
Predictions for the match lean heavily in favor of Ohio State. Bill Rabinowitz from The Columbus Dispatch predicts a score of Ohio State 52, Marshall 7, citing concerns about Marshall’s quarterback performance against the Buckeyes’ defense. Joey Kaufman also believes Ohio State could secure a shutout, forecasting a 48-0 score, while Rob Oller anticipates a strong offensive showing from the Buckeyes, predicting a 56-7 outcome.
For betting enthusiasts, Ohio State is favored by 39.5 points, with an over/under set at 53.5.
Looking ahead, here is Ohio State’s upcoming schedule for the 2024 season:
– August 31: vs. Akron (W, 52-6)
– September 7: vs. Western Michigan (W, 56-0)
– September 14: BYE
– September 21: vs. Marshall | Noon | Fox (Fubo)
– September 28: at Michigan State | 7 p.m. | Peacock
– October 5: vs. Iowa
– October 12: at No. 6 Oregon
– October 19: BYE
– October 26: vs. No. 22 Nebraska
– November 2: at No. 8 Penn State
– November 9: vs. Purdue
– November 16: at Northwestern
– November 23: vs. Indiana
– November 29: vs. No. 17 Michigan | Noon | Fox (Fubo)
Current record: 2-0. Note that games marked with an asterisk denote Big Ten matchups.