Dallan Hayden scores a touchdown for Ohio State. (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
Game 6 Ohio State at Purdue View from the Couch (10/14/23)
Favorite Stat of the Game: Ohio State on third downs.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were sharp on third down on both sides of the ball. On offense, they were 8 of 13 and on defense, they held Purdue to 3 of 17. This is fantastic complimentary football. The offense is extending possessions wearing down the opposing defense and the Buckeye defense is getting off the field, giving the offense more chances and keeping themselves fresh. It’s a championship quality of any football team.
The Brooklyn Dagger Award: The goal-line stand at the end of the half by Jim Knowles’ defense.
The defense was up against the wall with Purdue having first and goal at the six-inch line. Jim Knowles’ defense dug in and got mean. This was their 2002 Moment of the game, where a defense plays at a championship level. Tommy Eichenberg made the stop behind the line on first down, a holding call backed them up next. On second down Denzel Burke defended the pass in the end zone. And on third down J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer combined for the Bosa Brothers Sack of the Game that set up a field goal try that hit the upright and was no good.
It was still a 20-0 game at this point and Purdue was moving the ball on offense the most they had all game and the Buckeye defense stiffened and stopped the Boilermakers. Credit Jim Knowles with the transformation of this Buckeye defense, he has them playing better than the unit has played since 2019.
Dwayne Haskins Players of the Game: Cade Stover
Stover stepped up with all-American Emeka Egbuka out with an injury and the rain causing a few drops from the wide receivers. Stover had four catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Stover’s toughness and blocking contributed to the improvement in the running game for the Buckeyes today as well. His overall effort as a team captain gets him the Horned Rimmed Glasses Award as well. Coach Hayes may not have been a huge fan of the pass but he was of tough, team players and leaders like Stover.
Chase Young Defensive Player of the Game: Tyleik Williams
He is arguably the best and most important defender for the Buckeyes this season. He is such a force on the inside of the defensive line that he impacts everyone else around him.
His presence there allows the linebackers and safeties to swarm to the football, as Williams eats up blockers. He does the same when it’s time to rush the passer, if you block him extra Tuimoloau and others have more favorable matchups. The cornerbacks don’t have to hold their coverage as long that way and Williams further helps them by getting in passing lanes.
Williams could be a first-round draft pick next April. Against Purdue he had three tackles, two of them for a loss, swatted down two passes, and helped the defensive line have a good game as a unit.
Ryan Shazier–Devin Smith Award: Devin Brown, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Iniss.
Tate and Iniss will be stars next season when Harrison and Egbuka are likely in the NFL and Brown will be when Kyle McCord moves on in a year or two and these three proved against Purdue. Tate was the second leading receiver with Egbuka out and had three catches for 79 yards. Brown and Iniss connected for a great pass play Iniss then made a move and took it to the endzone.
Brown also showed up in a wrinkle that Coach Ryan Day put in when Ohio State got near the goal line. Brown had one and almost two rushing touchdowns in this formation. I like the engineering and good coaching moment by Coach Day, but to truly sell it the Buckeyes will have to let Brown pass a little more when in this package. The future is bright for Ohio State both this season and next for these three young men.
Dane Sanzenbacher-K.J. Hill Award: Marvin Harrison Jr.
How does the best player on the team and one of the best in the country quietly do their job with six catches, 105 yards, and a touchdown and in spite of a couple of drops? It’s what the stats don’t show that gets Harrison talked about here.
This offense is going to have to be run through him and it was today. When you go to Marvin early, and as often as you can only good things will happen. It goes beyond his individual production too. When he has success it opens up everything else. He draws more defenders to him which gives his fellow stud wide receivers more favorable matchups. It opens things up for Cade Stover, it allows the offensive line to have better matchups in the rushing attack and gives McCord confidence.
Making life harder for the defense is how Marvin Harrison Jr. affects the game, even when he’s not making amazing catches and scoring touchdowns. His stretching the field and opening up the offense gives him the 2014 Moments of the Game.
Taylor Decker Award: The running game.
They were basically taken out of the game against Maryland, and when Chip Trayanum went out with an injury it looked like it may happen again against Purdue with Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson already hurt. Dallan Hayden and Xavier Johnson came in and gave the rushing attack such a spark and a bounce back that I hope we see more of them carrying the ball as the season goes on.
They earned it against Purdue. And screw redshirting Dallan Hayden. He’s a true sophomore so you get him for at least 18 more games plus the postseason. He’s earned more chances, especially with injuries to the upperclassmen. Old Sweater Vest himself, Jim Tressel had a few amazing young running backs he played early like Maurice Clarett, Beanie Wells, and Antonio Pittman.
Hayden had 11 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Xavier Johnson, the guy who holds the line wherever he’s asked to had five carries for 39 yards, averaging 7.8 per carry. His versatility makes him the Chris Gamble–Evan Spencer All-Purpose Player of the Game. On the day the offense had 39 carries for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Not the best, but night and day better than against Maryland.
Fedora Award: Kyle McCord
Kyle “McCool” McCord is continuing to improve with every game for Ohio State. He’s trusting his teammates more all the time. McCord is great on third down. He doesn’t throw interceptions. He’s turning in a team leader and is handing himself with class like Archie. Kyle McCord is filling the shoes of C.J. Stroud better than I expected he would. He’s getting the Fedora Award every week by doing so as Stroud continues his quest to be rookie of the year in the NFL. Against Purdue McCord was 16 of 28 for 276 yards and three touchdowns.
The Looking Glass.
The glass is half empty as the Buckeyes had some drops, a couple of fumbles, and lots of penalties. They also had some big injuries we’ll have to keep a lookout for. Losing Chip Trayanum hurts but Dallan Hayden picked up that slack. Denzel Burke’s injury would be more devastating to the team as Burke has been having an all-American season. He’s been a lockdown corner, something Ohio State has missed having since about 2020.
The glass half full is the defense and their continuous growth. Marvin Harrison Jr. Cade Stover. Maybe none bigger is Kyle McCord’s continued growth and improvement. His clutch game against a team that destroyed the reigning Heisman trophy winner has me believing, along with the fact that despite a couple of fumbles, he hasn’t thrown an interception since the Indiana game. That must continue to beat Penn State and that team up north.
1968 Moments: The defensive line.
They came into this game with only seven sacks. That was tied for third worst in all of college football. They came up with three sacks against Purdue. A marked improvement, and something to build on when you add their 6.5 tackles for a loss. They’ve led the way through six games in only allowing three rushing and four passing touchdowns. So, while the Rushmen improved in rushing the passer and need continued improvement there, they are leading the way for a unit that is keeping opponents out of the endzone. They’ve allowed only 58 total points this season. Only 58 points this season, 9.6 points a game.
Check out the rankings heading into Week 8! I don’t have the Bucks as high as most but this team can still prove it out on the field, starting with Penn State.
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