COLUMBUS – For the second time in as many weeks, Ohio State welcomes an opponent to Ohio Stadium for the first time in series history, as UNLV makes the 2,000-mile trip to Columbus.
No 10/9 Ohio St. (2-1, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. UNLV (1-1), Ohio Stadium, Sat., Sept. 23 (Noon/BTN)
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Nick Bosa doesn’t mince words, and so it was Wednesday when asked how he thinks he and the Ohio State defense will play Saturday against a more conventional offense in Nevada-Las Vegas.
“Really good; really good,” Bosa said. “I think we’ll shut ’em out, so we’ll see.”
The defense did not play “really good” two weeks ago in a 31-16 loss to Oklahoma but gave up only a couple of drives of note to Army and its triple-option offense last week in a 38-7 victory. But that was an offense in which the defensive linemen were dealing with cut blocks and defending against the run first all game.
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The Rebels rank fourth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 350.5 yards per game.
Joe Burrow has been in uniform the past two games and participated in warm-ups, but only now does it appear that the quarterback is healthy enough to play.
“Joe has been cleared and is practicing,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday on the Big Ten football coaches teleconference. “He started practicing last week, but we weren’t comfortable with him (playing against Army).”
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UNLV comes in off a bye week with a 1-1 record following its 44-16 win at Idaho on Sept. 9. The Rebels were upset by Howard, 43-40, in their season opener.