GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Northwestern’s defense will be trying to do what almost no team has done this season, and that is to confound Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Maybe Northwestern can copy what Purdue did in its 49-20 upset of Ohio State in October and stymie the Buckeyes in the red zone. Haskins has rebounded from that night in a big way, putting up huge numbers in the past two wins over Maryland and Michigan.
Northwestern’s challenge will be to handle Haskins and his cadre of receivers, who have added another threat with freshman Chris Olave, who caught two touchdowns passes against Michigan. Northwestern’s pass defense appears to be more susceptible than its run defense. The Wildcats rank 11th in the Big Ten in passing yards allowed (238.0 per game) and have given up 14 touchdown passes. Ohio State leads the conference in passing yards and passing efficiency.
Ohio State’s speed could be difficult for Northwestern to handle after the Wildcats saw less talented teams in the Big Ten West Division throughout the year.
DRAFT SLANT
–WR Parris Campbell’s NFL draft stock is on the rise this season. He has answered some of the questions about his hands this year with fewer drops. There’s no question about his blazing speed, which he flashed last Saturday in Ohio State’s 62-39 win over Michigan with a 78-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. The senior has a team-best 72 catches for 903 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games this year.
ROSTER REPORT:
–G Demetrius Knox suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot near the end of last week’s win over Michigan that will sideline him for the Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern on Saturday night. “It’s a tough injury,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. “He’s done so much for this team and his career here. We have to regroup and put together that group.”
–G Wyatt Davis will move into the starting lineup in place of injured Demetrius Knox for Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern. The redshirt freshman will be making his first career start. “Wyatt Davis is going to get his first start as a Buckeye, and there’s a lot of confidence around here because I’ve been talking about it for five weeks now. He’s the next man in,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Monday.
