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Following a convincing win over UCLA, top-ranked Ohio State plays at home again at noon Nov. 22.

Ohio State is 10-0 overall and 7-0 in the Big Ten. Rutgers is 5-5 overall and 2-5 in the conference.

Here are our predictions for Saturday’s Ohio State-Rutgers game:

Ohio State vs. Rutgers predictions

Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 45, Rutgers 14. The Scarlet Knights have been more competitive against Ohio State since Greg Schiano’s return in 2020, but they have not been within 19 points of the Buckeyes in any of their losses, and don’t expect the gap to be any closer this weekend. Despite the balance and efficiency of their offense, which could be the best Ohio State has seen since Washington, their defense is among the worst in the FBS, giving up at least 20 points in each Big Ten game. Ohio State will have little trouble moving the ball in another rout.

Rob Oller, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 49, Rutgers 3. Injuries to top receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate could limit the scoring output, but the Buckeyes have enough other weapons, including slot receiver Brandon Inniss, tight end Max Klare and tailback Bo Jackson, to give quarterback Julian Sayin all the ammunition needed to come close to hanging half a hundred on the Scarlet Knights. Anticipate another strong rushing performance from OSU, because Rutgers’ run defense is especially porous. As for the Buckeyes’ defense, the main goal is not a shutout but to keep everyone healthy for Michigan.

Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 38, Rutgers 14. The Buckeyes could be without their two top receivers, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, as they’re both dealing with injuries that Ryan Day is remaining tight-lipped about. If the status for the two players ends up being unavailable or limited on Saturday, the offense will be impacted, but the Buckeyes proved they can find other solutions during their 48-10 victory over UCLA. Factor in Rutgers having the worst rushing defense in the Big Ten, allowing nearly 200 yards on the ground per game, Ohio State should be able to have another productive day.

Dan Aulbach, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 42, Rutgers 17. As Ryan Day said in his press conference early in the week, not one player on the current roster has made it to the Big Ten Championship. The gas pedal will be pushed against the Scarlet Knights, but the bigger battle is keeping key players healthy for a likely playoff run. Expect another efficient day on the ground from Ohio State running backs as the wide receiver room gets healthy.

Ohio State vs. Rutgers scouting report: What we’re watching

Joey Kaufman: If the Buckeyes hold out or limit star receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, can their passing game remain explosive? Quarterback Julian Sayin’s average of 5.9 yards per pass attempt against UCLA was his lowest in any of his 10 starts, and it was only the second time this year that he did not complete a deep pass, as defined by Pro Football Focus as traveling at least 20 yards through the air. The Buckeyes might need more vertical threats for the stretch run.

Rob Oller: How does the OSU offense function if Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate sit out the entire game, or are limited to one or two quarters? The Buckeyes handled injury adversity against UCLA, winning 48-10, so the test is whether they can do it again. If Smith misses the entire game — he played 22 snaps against the Bruins — it will be interesting to see if Julian Sayin’s gaudy passing statistics continue or if they drop off without the nation’s best receiver at his disposal.

Brianna Mac Kay: The Buckeyes are going up against a Rutgers offense that prefers to put the ball in the air, averaging over 275 passing yards and 32 passing attempts per game. After the defense’s four-game streak of recording an interception was broken in the UCLA matchup, will the Buckeyes be able to capitalize on Rutgers’ pass-heavy style of play and record their seventh interception of the season?

Dan Aulbach: The passing offense’s second half against the Bruins looked vastly different when Jeremiah Smith left the game. Sayin completed 8 of 13 throws for 75 yards, and the misses looked uncharacteristic of the most accurate passer in the FBS. Assuming the worst, if neither star receiver plays, the rest of the skill position players will need to step up while Sayin figures out how to get in sync with Brandon Inniss, Max Klare, Bryson Rodgers, Mylan Graham and others.

Ohio State vs. Rutgers score predictions

Rob Oller: Ohio State 49, Rutgers 3

Joey Kaufman: Ohio State 45, Rutgers 14

Brianna Mac Kay: Ohio State 38, Rutgers 14

Dan Aulbach: Ohio State 42, Rutgers 17

Bold predictions

The Buckeyes post five sacks

Joey Kaufman: The Buckeyes have gone consecutive games without a sack for the first time since Larry Johnson was hired as the defensive line coach in 2014, but the pass rush will have a major bounce-back game against Rutgers, which has allowed an average of three sacks per game. Five sacks would be their most since they had six in their Big Ten opener at Washington.

OSU picks off three Rutgers passes, returns one for TD

Rob Oller: The Buckeyes have intercepted seven passes through 10 games, and that number jumps to 13 after OSU picks off the Scarlet Knights three times. The secondary will be looking to pick up where it left off before UCLA, when it went four consecutive games with at least one interception until the Bruins ended that streak. Bonus bold: one of OSU’s defensive backs will turn a Rutgers pass attempt into a pick-six.

Ohio State scores another special teams touchdown

Brianna Mac Kay: Against UCLA, Ohio State recorded its first kick return for a touchdown since 2010 when Lorenzo Styles took the ball 100 yards and into the end zone. The Buckeyes also lucked into another special teams play that turned into points when UCLA punter Will Karoll sent an attempt into the chest of defensive end Caden Curry and Ohio State recovered on the 14-yard line and converted into a field goal. With momentum fueling the Buckeyes, combined with Rutgers’ struggling defense, Ohio State has the chance to find more success via special teams.

Max Klare tops 70 receiving yards

Dan Aulbach: Ohio State needs production from the back end of the skill position room. Tight end Max Klare has snagged five receptions in each of his past two games and is a reliable target for Sayin, and he’s due to top his Ohio State career best in yardage. He passed the 70-yard mark five times in 2024 with Purdue; expect him to be worked into more plays against Rutgers.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State vs Rutgers football predictions: Will Buckeyes roll again?

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