COLUMBUS, Ohio — No. 2 Ohio State is favored by a little over five touchdowns against another MAC team, Western Michigan, on Saturday. But based on the Broncos' performance against Wisconsin in Week 1, they could give the Buckeyes a tussle when the teams meet for the second time ever on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes started slow last week but eventually buried Akron 52-6.
Western Michigan lost to the Badgers 28-14 in a game that was closer than the score indicated. The Broncos were never out of it.
Saturday's game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will air on the Big Ten Network.
Here's this week's 10 Things To Know:
- Ohio State is coming off a seventh straight season-opening win under Ryan Day.
- The Buckeyes and Western Michigan have met on the gridiron just once. The Buckeyes beat the Broncos 38-12 in 2015.
- That 2015 game came one week after a game against MAC foe Northern Illinois. Until this year, that was the last time Ohio State played back-to-back games against MAC schools.
- Ohio State is off next week before hosting Marshall. The off week after the second game of the season is the earliest off week for Ohio State since 1999.
- TreVeyon Henderson averaged 8.1 yards a carry off his eight carries vs. Akron. It's the eighth time he's averaged over 8 yards a carry in a game where he's had at least five carries.
- Ohio State's defense had its first 10-or-more tackle for loss game in the last 17 games with 10 TFLs against Akron.
- Jeremiah Smith is the first freshman Ohio State receiver to catch two touchdowns in a game since Michael Wiley did so in 1996.
- Ryan Day has coached 65 games as Ohio State's head coach and in 54 of those games, his teams have had at least 400 yards of total offense.
- The game against Akron was the first two-TD game by Ohio State’s defense since doing so against Western Kentucky in 2023.
- The Buckeyes are 37-1 all-time against MAC schools. Their last loss was back in 1894 vs. Akron.
Following the game, you can watch Ryan Day and Ohio State players' postgame interviews on 10TV+ or via the 10TV News mobile app.
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