COLUMBUS – While trying to extend college football’s longest current winning streak to 17 games Saturday, the top-ranked Buckeyes will also be looking for the magic formula that will turbo-charge an offense that fans and pundits expected to be explosive and dominating, but has misfired often during the season’s first three games.
No. 1 Ohio State (3-0) hosts Western Michigan (1-2) at 3:30 p.m. on ABC
With a core of returning starters from a national championship team, including quarterbacks Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett, running back Ezekiel Ellliot and quarterback-turned-receiver Braxton Miller, Ohio State’s offense was expected to score early, often and at will.
Although they have scored 42 and 38 points in wins over Virginia Tech and Hawaii, the Buckeyes have struggled with three-man defensive fronts and are now ranked only 75th in the nation in total offense, 99th in passing efficiency and 104th in passing offense.
The OSU defense has turned the 2015 season into a tale of two teams. While the offense struggles to find its groove, the Silver Bullets are ranked in the top five in the nation in total defense and sacks and 11th in scoring defense. The Buckeyes have yet to give up a run of 20 yards or longer.
Jones will start his sixth straight game, during which Ohio State has been undefeated, though his status was in doubt earlier in the week after he threw two interceptions in a 20-13 win over Northern Illinois, an opponent the Buckeyes were expected to steamroll.
Jones and Barrett, who have shared time at quarterback, combined for 136 yards, three interceptions and one touchdown in the win over Northern Illinois, the first time 32 games in which the OSU offense failed to score at least three touchdowns.