PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Dwayne Haskins led an offense that dismantled Michigan’s defense in Ohio State’s 62-39 rout last Saturday and won a record-breaking sixth Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award on Monday. The sophomore burned the Wolverines with 396 passing yards and six touchdowns. Haskins is the Big Ten record-holder for touchdown passes in a season (42) and single-season passing yards (4,081). He ranks first nationally in touchdown passes, second in passing yards and fifth in passing efficiency. His 171.7 passer rating is on pace to set a school record.
–RB J.K. Dobbins is just 39 rushing yards from reaching 1,000 for the second consecutive season. He’s averaging 4.7 yards on 206 carries and has eight touchdowns while adding 19 receptions for 198 yards and another touchdown. Fellow RB Mike Weber had more carries (13-12) and yards (96-46) last Saturday in the win over Michigan, but the two backs seem to rotate having good games. Two weeks ago, Dobbins ran for 203 yards and a touchdown on 37 carries when Weber was out with an injury.
–WR Chris Olave was the seventh receiver on the depth chart before WR Austin Mack went down with a broken foot. The freshman stepped in and has excelled. His latest impressive performance was catching two touchdown passes (4 and 24 yards) and blocking a punt that teammate Sevyn Banks returned 33 yards for a touchdown in Saturday’s 62-39 rout of Michigan. The California native has seven receptions for 118 yards while playing in 12 games, mostly on special teams until a few weeks ago. “Chris Olave, you just have seen a gradual (improvement); you just see it in practice,” coach Urban Meyer said. “And by sheer numbers now, with Austin Mack out, he’s in the rotation. He’s knee-deep in the rotation now.”
–LB Malik Harrison is continuing to emerge as one of Ohio State’s top linebackers. In 11 games, he leads the Buckeyes in tackles with 64, with 2.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, one interception and one fumble recovery. Harrison wasn’t Ohio State’s leading tackler against Michigan last week, but he finished with seven tackles (five unassisted), two tackles for loss and one sack. He combined with fellow LBs Tuf Borland and Pete Werner for 23 tackles in what might have been the best performance from the linebacker group this season. Coach Urban Meyer said it was “arguably his best game as a Buckeye. (He) was all over the field.”
SERIES HISTORY: Ohio State leads 61-14-1. Northwestern and Ohio State last met in 2016, a 24-20 Buckeyes victory in Ohio Stadium.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Filling your toolbox is a term we use around here. He was filling his toolbox.” — Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, on Dwayne Haskins gaining experience in the 2017 game against Michigan in Ann Arbor
