Smite the Knights: Ohio State – Rutgers Preview

In college football you cannot overlook any opponent, no matter how lopsided the affair looks on paper. Ohio State’s game with Rutgers University on Saturday figures to be another conference contest before the bye week. Odds makers favor the Buckeyes by three touchdowns. Still, any time the number one ranked team in the country goes on the road, they will descend into a hostile environment. When the Scarlet Knights host the Bucks in a night game with nothing to lose on national television seeking a “We Belong in the Big Ten” moment, you can start to see why Ohio State should not take their hosts lightly.

Rutgers’ claim to fame is their status as one college football’s first two teams. In 1869, Rutgers hosted Princeton and won 6-4. A week later the two teams reconvened at Princeton where the Tigers claimed an 8-0 victory. Both teams retroactively were named National Champions for 1869 which I think we can agree is the least prestigious title in the game’s history. Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014, and has yet to truly make an impression on the conference. Previously, Rutgers played in the Big East/AAC from 1991-2013. In 2012 the Knights split the Big East Conference Championship with Louisville, Cincinnati, and Syracuse.

On the season, Rutgers is 3-3, 1-2 in the Big Ten. Their lone conference victory came last week in Bloomington. Rutgers overcame a 25-point second half deficit to stun Indiana 55-52 with a last second field goal. Previously Rutgers spooked Michigan State before finally falling to the Spartans 31-24 and the Knights also dropped their first conference game to Penn State 28-3. The Scarlet Knights are 4-7 since joining the Big Ten, but the conference TV network does play in New York City now so that’s something I guess. Rutgers has not upset a ranked opponent since knocking off no 23/24 USF in 2009. Off the field, Rutgers has equally struggled. The offseason and 2015 campaign included multiple player suspensions, seven players arrested surrounding two separate incidents, and head coach Kyle Flood serving a three game suspension that recently concluded. In other words, they filed last week’s victory under “therapeutic.”

This week’s program whisks us back to October, 29 1927 when Ohio State hosted the University of Chicago at Ohio Stadium. Modern fans may be surprised to see Chicago on the schedule, but the Maroons actually occupied a prominent place in the football landscape back in the day, even winning National Championships in 1905 and 1913. The University of Chicago helped found the Big Ten Conference in 1896 and remained a full member until 1946. Our program today features a French film noire aesthetic. Many of the markers within, common at the time, would never appear at a modern stadium. We can two shadowy gentlemen wearing fedoras and one smokes a pipe. A third shadow dons a “C” armband to express the team he favors. Our heroine fits her time perfectly: Short bob haircut, lavish fur coat, heels, and a tasteful amount of school pride. One could easily imagine a down-on-his-luck private investigator somewhere in the crowd hoping he doesn’t fall for the dame that hired him to find the man who kidnapped her husband. Will he? Only time will tell. Also two bits is pretty cheap for a program; OSU won the game 13-7.

Sophomore quarterback Chris Laviano paces the Scarlet Knight aerial attack. He has completed 115-of-166 passes for 1,388 yards, twelve touchdowns and six picks. On the ground Rutgers distributes carries among sophomore Robert Martin (446 yards, 4 TD), sophomore Josh Hicks (439 yd, 4 TD), and fifth year senior Paul James (285 yd, 1 TD). The multi-headed running attack allows the Knights to use a number of alignments and create holes for their horses to run. Defensively senior linebacker Steve Longa leads the Knights with 66 tackles including three for loss and one sack. Junior defensive back Anthony Cioffi intercepted three passes on the year, and will not hesitate to add on that number.

Quarterback news again stole headlines in Columbus, this time with little controversy. During the week Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer announced that redshirt sophomore J.T. Barrett will start Saturday’s game in New Jersey. Both Barrett and incumbent signal caller Cardale Jones played in last week’s 38-10 victory over Penn State, but Meyer felt the offense worked better with Barrett under center. The coach believes Barrett gives the Buckeyes the best chance to win, so No, 16 will start the next game.¹

Last season Ohio State manhandled Rutgers in Columbus 56-17. Barrett offers a steady hand at the wheel and should ignite the Buckeye offensive attack. While Rutgers’ students no doubt dream of dashing OSU’s perfect season, the visitors possess their ranking for a reason. Talent wise, Rutgers cannot compare to Ohio State and will not make enough plays to spring a Big Apple upset. Look for Ohio State to coast into the bye week after securing their twenty-first straight victory.

1. The developing quarterback situation in Columbus amazes me. Consider the controversy and hand wringing surrounds an undefeated team. Urban Meyer just benched a young man who is 10-0 as a starter including three postseason wins. More importantly, how often does the defending national champion sit down a healthy starting quarterback who lifted a trophy nine months earlier? Buckeye Nation may take for granted the vaults of talent in Ohio Stadium, but it remains peerless. [↩]