PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Dwayne Haskins, a redshirt sophomore, is well on his way to breaking passing records at Ohio State in his first season as the starter. He leads the nation with 25 touchdown passes and needs 10 more to tie J.T. Barrett’s school record in a season. Haskins was named Monday as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, one short of matching a record for most conference POW awards in a season set by former Ohio State QB Troy Smith in 2006. Haskins ranks third in the country in passing yards with 1,919, fifth in quarterback rating at 190.76 and seventh in completion percentage at 71.7. After torching Indiana for 455 yards and six touchdowns last week in a 49-26 victory, Haskins likely will significantly add to those numbers on Saturday against Minnesota, whose defense has given up 90 points to Maryland and Iowa the past two weeks.
–WR Terry McLaurin stepped up big against Indiana. The Indiana native finished with four catches for 59 and two touchdowns. His second score on a 17-yard pass from QB Dwayne Haskins in the fourth quarter gave Ohio State some breathing room with a 42-26 lead. Coach Urban Meyer compares McLaurin to former Ohio State receiver Evan Spencer, who earned the coach’s ultimate respect for his play on special teams and his blocking on offense. “He’s a hell of a player,” Meyer said. The redshirt senior boosted his season totals to 13 catches for 277 yards and six touchdowns.
–WR Binjimin Victor was quiet early in the season, he has emerged in the last two games. Two weeks ago against Penn State he scored on a 47-yard touchdown pass from QB Dwayne Haskins to start Ohio State’s comeback. This past Saturday against Indiana, Victor came down the ball at the back of the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown. “He’s growing up before our eyes,” Ohio State WR Terry McLaurin said. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Victor gives Haskins a big target and a capable runner after the catch who also has earned praise from coach Urban Meyer for his improved blocking. Three of his nine receptions in the first six games have resulted in touchdowns.
–WR Parris Campbell led Ohio State’s deep wide receiver group in the win over Indiana last week with nine catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns. The fifth-year senior continued to show improvement with his hands, overcoming the difficulty handling some throws in past years. “How would I rate it?” coach Urban Meyer said when asked to assess the Buckeyes’ performance against the Hoosiers. “If I’m Parris Campbell, it’s a hell of game. Nine catches, 142 yards.” Campbell leads the Buckeyes in catches with 35 for 501 yards and seven touchdowns, and he continues to receive rave reviews from coach Urban Meyer for his leadership and blocking on the edge.
SERIES HISTORY: Ohio State leads Minnesota 44-7, including a 23-3 record at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes have won nine straight against the Gophers dating to 2001.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Every game you want to light it up, but definitely it was a good statistical game.” — Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins on the win over Indiana.
