With a Nov. 23 showdown against No. 5 Indiana looming, No. 2 Ohio State is determined not to look past Northwestern on Saturday.
The unique setting for the game should keep the Buckeyes (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) fully engaged despite being more than a four-touchdown favorite against the Wildcats (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten) for the game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
“It’s a different feel, but it’s a great opportunity for our team,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “And ultimately, there’ll be 100 yards of football field, and there’ll be stands on both sides and we’ll compete, so we’re excited about that.”
Ohio State remained one spot behind Oregon in the College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday. The Buckeyes lost a road game to the Ducks, 32-31, on Oct. 12. If both teams win out, they would play in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis.
“Every week for us is like the playoffs right now,” Day said. “We’re fighting for a chance to get to Indianapolis. It’s always a topic of conversation, and it’s going to come down to our seniors and leaders and how they echo that message.”
The Saturday game will be the Buckeyes’ first contest at the venerable home of the Chicago Cubs. Northwestern has played there three times since 2010, including a 10-7 loss to Iowa last season.
“We benefit from the fact not only has the program been to Wrigley prior, but we were there just last year so logistically there are some things our guys are comfortable with in terms of what game day’s going to look like,” Northwestern coach David Braun said.
A major complaint about the set-up for previous games has been addressed for Saturday and Northwestern’s game on Nov. 30 against Illinois at Wrigley Field. An adjustment was made to the layout of the football field enabling sidelines to be across from each other rather than having the teams share a sideline.
“We feel really confident that this is a great setup, and having two opposite sidelines in a traditional manner is important,” Braun said.
Capacity at Wrigley Field is around 41,000, far bigger than the 12,023-seat temporary stadium that is being used this season and next while Ryan Field is being rebuilt.
Braun hopes the crowd will give the Wildcats a home-field advantage against an Ohio State team coming off its best all-around game in a 45-0 win against Purdue. The Buckeyes received solid performances from the offense and defense in addition to blocking a punt to set up the game’s first touchdown.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard threw for 260 yards and three TDs while running for a score in the victory. He has 22 touchdown passes (against five interceptions) and six scoring runs this year.
“What we’ve done leading up to this point really has nothing to do with what’s going on moving forward,” Day said. “It’s November. We want to be undefeated in November.”
Northwestern last played on Nov. 2 when the Wildcats defeated Purdue 26-20 in overtime. Joseph Himon II caught a 22-yard pass from Jack Lausch for the win after Northwestern stopped the Boilermakers on fourth down to open OT.
The Wildcats have beaten the Buckeyes once in the past 34 meetings since 1972 and have lost 10 straight in the series after a 33-27 overtime win in 2004.
“We know we’re the underdog,” Braun said. “We know not just an underdog, there’s no one out there that expects Northwestern to go in and beat Ohio State or, for that matter, compete.
“But this group believes that with a great two weeks of preparation and us showing up at our best we can make this a four-quarter battle, make it close in the fourth quarter, look up with zeros on the clock and the expectation is to expect victory.”
