No. 3 Ohio State had an unusually early bye last week during a schedule that has already seen the Buckeyes outscore their opponents 108-6.
The Buckeyes fell from No. 2 to No. 3 in the AP poll while other teams were playing tougher games. People won’t be too impressed if they manage to cover the 39 1/2-point spread against Marshall from the Sun Belt Conference this Saturday at the Horseshoe.
But Ohio State (2-0) should have worked out any issues after easily defeating Akron and Western Michigan before facing the Thundering Herd (1-1) and gearing up for a tough nine-game Big Ten schedule.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said these games allow him to give valuable game experience to many players who will be needed throughout the long season.
“We’re not where we need to be yet,” Day said.
Marshall, after a strong win over FCS school Stony Brook in Week 1, put up a solid effort against Virginia Tech, staying competitive until the second half of their 31-14 loss.
The Herd may struggle against Ohio State and its many skilled players, but fourth-year coach Charles Huff can at least gain a better understanding of how his team fits together for the future.
“Tremendous opportunity on the national stage,” Huff said. “Our guys fully understand the mission. They fully understand the size of the challenge.”
