The Ohio State Buckeyes have arguably the toughest game of the 2024 season on their schedule occurring this weekend.
The Buckeyes will take on the #3 Oregon Ducks in a battle of two top-five schools, and possible Big Ten Conference champions. Both the Buckeyes and the Ducks enter play with 5-0 records as one team will walk away with a stinging loss in the end.
Ohio State has displayed one of the best defenses in college football throughout the 2024 season so far. The Buckeyes have allowed 34 points through five games, with Marshall scoring 14 points and finding the most success against Ohio State. The Buckeyes kicked off conference play continuing their exceptional defensive run, shutting down Michigan State and allowing just one touchdown.
The Ohio State Buckeyes had a similar performance against the Iowa Hawkeyes, who admittedly have a struggling offense this season. With the menacing defense playing their best football, the Buckeyes seem primed to put together another strong performance.
For the Oregon Ducks, on the other hand, defense has not been a strong suit, but finding offensive success has been no problem. The Ducks and quarterback Dillon Gabriel have scored 65 points in the first two Big Ten Conference games in the history of the program. Gabriel in particular has been impressive this season, again clawing his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation.
𝙊 boy! How will the Ducks fare against the Buckeyes in their first conference matchup? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/h5EUP0hjDZ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 9, 2024
Despite the strength of the Ducks, the Ohio State Buckeyes and their fanbase have been supremely confident ahead of the matchup.
It’s not even close in every category
— Spirit (@CampusSpirit4) October 9, 2024
Buckeyes will win by 10
— GlockAndRoll (@RedWhiteTrue12) October 9, 2024
Here Oregon fans told us they were a Blue Blood program 🤣🤣🤣
— TheZach6080 (@BuckeyeGuy6080) October 9, 2024
The DB tasked with covering Jeremiah Smith. pic.twitter.com/F9jo8GMeao
— Sideline Fantasy Football (@sidelineffpod) October 9, 2024
Ohio State Buckeyes Primed For Narrow Win Over New B1G Rival Oregon
With the Ohio State Buckeyes traveling to Oregon to take on the Ducks, a new level of pressure will be added to the team.
It will be the first time the Buckeyes will be introduced to the Big Ten Conference crowds out on the West Coast. Oregon hosted the Michigan State Spartans last weekend, and defeated the visiting team 31-10 in rather dominant fashion. Oregon made mistakes on offense in the form of turnovers against the Spartans but showed an improved defense that helped prevent mistakes from becoming damaging.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are entering the clash against the Ducks playing the best football they have played all season. Last game, the Hawkeyes recorded just 226 yards of total offense and turned the ball over three times as well. The Ohio State Buckeyes, on the other hand, recorded over 200 yards of offense on the ground and proved they can run through practically any defense at the moment.
While the over/under for the game is currently set at 55 points, this should be a close scoring affair between two talented times on each side of the football.
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