5 reasons Ohio State football will come out victorious against Purdue Saturday

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The Ohio State football team is back on the road this week, heading to Indiana for a Saturday afternoon matchup with the Purdue Boilermakers. With just three games left before their showdown with Michigan on November 29, the stakes are only getting higher. The last time Ohio State went undefeated in the regular season was back in 2012 — a year when they were barred from competing for the Big Ten title, postseason play, or even appearing in the Coaches Poll. Now, the Buckeyes have their sights set on revenge against Michigan and a flawless season, even if they haven’t said it outright.

Before that rivalry clash, though, Ohio State has to get through Purdue. The Boilermakers’ 2-7 record might make this seem like a mismatch, but they’ve played several teams tight this season and have suffered a few heartbreaking one-score losses. Ohio State enters the game as a 29.5-point favorite, and Vegas expects them to handle business against a scrappy Purdue squad.

As always, we’re breaking down this week’s matchup from every angle, highlighting why the Buckeyes are positioned to take care of business and keep their unbeaten run alive. This one is intriguing, packed with compelling storylines and plenty of opportunities to make a statement.

Here are five reasons we believe Ohio State will come out on top Saturday afternoon in West Lafayette.

Ohio State tight end Max Klare Revenge Game?

Outside of Ohio State’s two elite wideouts, Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, who are in a different stratosphere, tight end Max Klare has emerged as the team’s third-leading receiver. He has quietly become Julian Sayin’s safety blanket, and while his numbers don’t jump off the page, he’s been a steady and reliable option for the Buckeyes. Klare’s consistency has made him an important piece of the offense, and he figures to play an even larger role as the season progresses and the College Football Playoff picture sharpens.

Through eight games, Klare has recorded 21 catches for 210 yards and a touchdown. The former Boilermaker transferred to Columbus this offseason, and as he returns to West Lafayette on Saturday, this matchup carries a little extra meaning. Don’t be surprised if Sayin looks his way more often, giving Klare a chance to make an impact against his old team.

Purdue’s Run Defense against Ohio State

Purdue ranks 91st nationally in rushing defense, just one spot behind Penn State. Last week against the Nittany Lions, Ohio State found success on the ground with Bo Jackson leading the way. Jackson carried the ball 13 times for 105 yards, including a 51-yard burst that showcased his explosiveness. The Buckeyes should look to feature Jackson again this week against a Purdue defense that has struggled even more to stop the run.

We already know Julian Sayin can pick apart opposing secondaries, but this feels like the perfect opportunity for Ohio State to test its rushing attack. Against Wisconsin, Ryan Day essentially handed Sayin a pop quiz, letting him throw 42 times and putting the game squarely in his hands. This week, facing a 2-7 Purdue team, it makes sense to flip the script a bit and make the running game the focal point.

The ground attack has been one of the few areas open to critique for this Ohio State team. It might be a minor concern, but when the Buckeyes face Michigan and the top programs in the College Football Playoff, defenses will do everything they can to take away the passing game. That makes these final few weeks the perfect time to iron out any issues in the run game and head into the postseason firing on all cylinders.

The Ohio State Pass Rush

Purdue ranks tied for 66th in the nation in sacks allowed with 16, and quarterback Ryan Browne has been on the receiving end of 14 of them. Browne is set to start for the Boilermakers on Saturday, and he’s had a tough time when facing defenses that can generate consistent pressure. Against USC, he was sacked five times and threw three interceptions under duress. The following week against Notre Dame, he went down three more times and added another interception. Last week against Michigan, he was sacked three times yet again.

Unfortunately for Browne, things won’t get any easier this weekend. He’ll be up against one of the most disciplined and aggressive defenses in the country. Ohio State enters the game with 25 team sacks, led by Caden Curry with seven and Arvell Reese with six and a half. Expect defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to dial up the pressure and force Browne into uncomfortable situations. If the Buckeyes can collapse the pocket early and often, it could lead to turnovers and a long afternoon for the Purdue offense.

The best wide receiver duo in America lies with Ohio State

I know, I know — I just said I want to see Ohio State make the run game a point of emphasis this week. But it’s hard to ignore the two elephants in the room. Quarterback Julian Sayin has been nothing short of elite, the current Heisman betting favorite, and he continues to connect with his two NFL-caliber wideouts, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Smith ranks No. 12 in the nation with 725 receiving yards, while Tate sits right behind him at 15th with 711. They’ve also combined for 16 receiving touchdowns, with Smith hauling in nine and Tate adding seven.

Purdue’s pass defense ranks 91st nationally, allowing an average of 234.4 yards per game through the air. The Boilermakers have shown flashes of success against top receivers, holding USC’s Makai Lemon to just five catches for 63 yards. But the following week, Notre Dame’s Jordan Faison lit them up with five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Lemon and Faison are talented players, but they aren’t on the same level as Smith and Tate. As this game wears on, I expect both Buckeye wideouts to find plenty of success against Purdue’s secondary and remind everyone why they’re the best receiving duo in college football.

Ohio State history against Purdue

Everyone remembers the 2018 collapse when Purdue stunned Ohio State 49-20, a loss that effectively ended the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff hopes. That game still lingers in the minds of fans and players alike. Since then, though, Ohio State has made sure not to overlook the Boilermakers, winning the last three meetings between the two programs. Historically, the Buckeyes have dominated this series, holding a 42-15-2 all-time record. Interestingly, a lot of those losses have come on the road in West Lafayette.

This year’s Ohio State team is built differently. With the nation’s top-ranked defense and a laser focus on the bigger picture, the Buckeyes will be on high alert to avoid any hint of an upset. They appear to be on a collision course with No. 2 Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game come December, and taking care of business at Purdue is another important step toward that goal.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football vs Purdue: 5 reasons the Buckeyes will win

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