COLUMBUS — The Buckeyes hope to get back on track Saturday when they host Tulsa, a winless team from the American Athletic Conference and 24 1/2-point underdogs.
Tulsa (0-2) at (9/11) OHIO STATE (1-1, 1-0); Ohio Stadium; Saturday, Sept. 18 (3:30 p.m./FS1)
Serious defensive lapses led to a surprising 35-28 upset loss to Oregon in Ohio State’s first homer game of the season on Sept. 11.
That, in turn, led to a lot of introspection about the program by coach Ryan Day.
“Now, it’s not just a single game, it’s a little bit of a pattern,” he said to reporters.
While refusing to discuss the future of the defensive coaching staff in detail and standing by coordinator Kerry Coombs, Day said everything from personnel and schemes to coaching would be evaluated.
“We look at the results over the last couple of games and coming off of last year, it’s not what we expect here, it’s not our expectation, and so that’s all part of looking at how we need to move forward with this thing,” Day said.
The schedule is working in favor of the Buckeyes.
After the Golden Hurricane blows town, lower-level Mid-American Conference team Akron visits the Horseshoe and Ohio State resumes Big Ten play on the road against Rutgers on Oct. 2.
Tulsa started the season with two close losses.
The Buckeyes tumbled from No. 3 to No. 9 in the AP Top 25 and No. 11 in the coaches’ poll following the loss to Oregon.
The setback will probably not deal a fatal blow to their goals, but makes it that much harder for them to get back to the College Football Playoff.
Scarlet and gray…and lavender
Saturday’s game is the annual Scarlet and Gray game, celebrating student-athletes and the 36 varsity athletic programs in the athletics department.
But, it will take on an added color this week: lavender, the designated color for awareness of all cancers.
The Department of Athletics is teaming up with Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute to promote cancer awareness with lavender being prominently displayed. Ohio Stadium will be lit in lavender Friday night.
In addition to signs and public-service announcements, cancer survivors, those currently battling the disease and those who have lost family members to cancer will be encouraged to submit photos at the game to be highlighted on the video board by using #BuckeyeSurvivor and using the hashtag #CancerFreeWorld on social media posts.