5 – 0 (2:0)

Oct 12, 2024 – 7:30 p.m. et

Autzen STADIUM

Eugene, OR

The entire first half of Ohio State’s 2024 season has built up to today’s game in Eugene, Oregon, where the second-place Buckeyes face the third-place Oregon Ducks in one of the biggest games of the entire season. While Ohio State was considered a winner in all of its first five games, it faces a real test tonight against another national championship contender who is also considered the Buckeyes’ top competitor to win the Big Ten.

As such, today’s game has no shortage of questions to answer and will require a lot of Buckeyes to step up and play well if Ohio State wants to return to Columbus with a 6-0 record.

We look at what we think are the biggest questions ahead of the top three showdown, the players we think will have a big impact on today’s outcome, and our predictions for some of the specific things we think will happen tonight in Last Call: Oregon edition.

RELATED Ohio State vs. Oregon preview: Top-three showdown will show whether Ohio State’s early-season hype is real

Questions

Will Ohio State’s pass protection hold up?

For all the well-deserved praise Ohio State’s offensive line has received for its performance in the first five games, tonight will be the first time it faces a defensive line with the pass-rushing talent to truly test whether she has solved her problems from last season in pass protection.

I’m reasonably confident that Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson will hold their own on the left side and that Seth McLaughlin will provide a strong anchor in the middle, but the right side gives up given Tegra Tshabola’s inexperience in big games and Josh’s poor performance Fryar caused concern in last year’s big games – especially after admitting on Wednesday that he doesn’t love the spotlight of big games. Oregon will likely attack the right side in hopes of exploiting a weakness, and how well Fryar and Tshabola respond to that challenge could play a big role in whether Ohio State wins this game or not.

–Dan Hope

Are the Buckeyes linebackers prepared for the pass?

Michigan State and Marshall both had some success with quick passes over the middle against Ohio State, and even Iowa’s beleaguered passing attack hit tight end Luke Lachey five times for 39 yards last weekend. Lachey converted a 3rd-and-8 by catching a ball in isolation against Cody Simon just in front of the sticks, then fought his way through the linebacker for a first-down conversion.

The combined threat of Oregon slot receiver Tez Johnson and tight end Terrance Ferguson over the middle is far greater than any the Buckeyes have faced to date. Johnson has 43 receptions for 395 yards and Ferguson has 16 for 259 yards. Sonny Styles showed clear improvement against the Hawkeyes and both he and Cody Simon look strong against the Buckeyes’ run, but how they perform in coverage will be crucial compared to the Ducks’ rushing passing attack.

– Andy Anders

Will Jeremiah Smith’s rise to stardom continue?

People know how good Smith is. But I don’t think that people knowledge how good Smith is. That’s largely because Ohio State hasn’t faced a ranked opponent yet this season, so Smith hasn’t had the same platform as, say, fellow freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams at Alabama. How will Smith look against one of the top three away opponents? I expect him to continue his rise with a solid performance, even if that performance doesn’t come with some must-win one-handed touchdown catches like he did in Ohio State’s wins over Michigan State and Iowa over the last two weeks has made.

– Chase Brown

How healthy is Oregon DE Jordan Burch?

On Thursday, rumors began circulating online that Oregon defenseman Jordan Burch suffered an injury in practice. Oregon media confirmed that Burch had something injured in practice, but it sounded like it was just a minor change. The full extent of the injury remains to be seen, but if Burch is limited at all or misses the game on Saturday, it could be a big boost for the Buckeyes considering Burch is one of the Ducks’ most important defensive players.

– Garrick Hodge

Players to keep an eye on

Caleb Downs

Games like these are why Ohio State pulled out all the stops to sign Downs as soon as he entered the transfer portal. Against an Oregon offense that can attack the middle of the field through the air and run the ball effectively with Tez Johnson and Terrance Ferguson, Downs’ ability to both cover wide field in the backcourt and explode downhill as a tackler could be crucial his The Buckeyes’ defensive success.

Downs has seemingly gotten better with every game this season and has shown he’s comfortable in the spotlight since he was a freshman at Alabama last year. Ohio State needs downs to make a difference tonight and I expect him to rise to the challenge.

–Dan Hope

Josh Fryar and Josh Simmons

As Dan mentioned in the previous section, Fryar was criticized this week when he admitted he doesn’t like big games on national television. As a now-obvious target for Oregon’s defense, I’m curious to see how often Ohio State sends Fryar tight ends and running backs as backup. If Ohio State does that often, it will likely leave Simmons on an island, making him another player to keep an eye on for the Buckeyes as he plays multiple one-on-one snaps against a strong front seven Oregon could handle.

– Chase Brown

Carnell Tate

Good defenses know how to slow down a team’s one or two top weapons. Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith should still play on Saturday because they are so good, but since they are drawing so much attention, I expect a big game from Tate, who has been absolutely great as the Buckeyes’ No. 3 wideout.

– Andy Anders

Tyleik Williams

Oregon’s interior offensive line is its weak point, which could give Williams, one of the best defensive players in the country, a field day. If Ohio State wants to limit Oregon offensively, blocking in the middle can be a big part of the path to victory, and Williams can certainly be the difference in that regard.

– Garrick Hodge

Predictions

Will Howard surpasses Dillon Gabriel

The transfer quarterback story in this competition is fascinating considering most experts have more confidence in Gabriel than Howard. Both are experienced, talented signal-callers, although with some obvious limitations. However, on this night and in this game, I expect Howard to make fewer mistakes and more impactful plays, which will lead OSU to a narrow win.

– Garrick Hodge

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Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton combine to form three TFLs

It could be that Williams gets one and Hamilton gets two, or each gets 1.5, or one gets three, but I expect a big game from Ohio State’s defensive tackles against an Oregon interior offense that has had questions all season. The Ducks struggled to run the ball at times, averaging no more than three per carry in the first two games before picking up steam again in recent weeks, but the TNT combination could also provide TFLs in the form of quarterback -Get sacks as both have great inside runner skills.

– Andy Anders

Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson both exceed 100 scrimmage yards

In Oregon’s 37-34 win over Boise State, the Ducks allowed Heisman candidate Ashton Jeanty to record 200 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 27 touchdowns. Now Jeanty is a very good football player, but so are Judkins and Henderson. I think Ohio State relies on its one-two punch a lot in Eugene, with Judkins and Henderson both racking up 15 or more touches. What a lot of possibilities, I expect both ball carriers in the top three matchup to exceed 100 scrimmage yards – and maybe even add a few touchdowns to the box score.

– Chase Brown

There will be at least one leadership change in the fourth quarter

I expect there will be a lot of ups and downs in this clash between two elite teams, and I would be surprised if either team pulls away and takes a comfortable win. I expect both teams to hold the lead at least once in the fourth quarter, and I expect the game to come down to the final minutes with Ohio State either needing a late winning charge to secure a win or a defensive one attitude to maintain a narrow lead in the fourth quarter.

–Dan Hope