Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 SEPT. 23, 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: OHIO STATE Obviously, studying and game planning for the Buckeyes will take precedence. But Freeman doesn't want his guys wor- rying about Saturday on Monday, Tues- day or Wednesday. Staying in the present, Freeman said, will keep his players' minds on the task at hand. They'll be more attentive. They'll be more intentional. They'll be better prepared for the task at hand. "If we can do that, you're going to build skill," Freeman said. "You're go- ing to become a better football player as an individual. We're going to become a better team." REASON TO BELIEVE For a moment — the last moment of the 2022 calendar year in Atlanta — it looked like Ohio State might knock off No. 1 Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Despite losing star wide receiver Mar- vin Harrison Jr. to a concussion in the second quarter, OSU quarterback CJ Stroud willed the Buckeyes into field goal range with 8 seconds left and the Bulldogs clinging to a 42-41 lead. Kicker Noah Ruggles had a chance to send Ohio State to the national championship game with a 50-yard attempt. Then, the clock struck midnight. "No good!" ESPN announcer Chris Fowler shouted when Ruggles' kick went wide left. "He hooked it! And Georgia survived!" Georgia went on to beat TCU 65-7 in the national title game. Ohio State had a legitimate shot to knock off the Dawgs. 1. Figuring It Out At Quarterback Ohio State had everything it wanted at quarterback from 2018-22. The Buckeyes enjoyed the services of three Heisman Trophy finalists in that stretch from Dwayne Haskins (2018) to Justin Fields (2019-20) to CJ Stroud (2021-22). It does not appear former five-star recruit Kyle McCord is going to follow in their footsteps. There is definitely still time for him to turn it around, but he did not get off to a start worthy of showing up in New York City in December. In his first two starts of 2023, McCord completed 34 of 53 passes for 497 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. McCord, a junior with three years of eligibility remaining, still has a rifle of an arm. He was the No. 5 quarterback recruit in the country in 2021 according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Notre Dame still has to be careful. The Irish do not want to be responsible for his coming-out party. 2. Three-Headed Running Back Attack Junior TreVeyon Henderson and senior Miyan Williams have had to make room in the backfield for senior Chip Trayanum, an Arizona State transfer who split time at running back and linebacker in his first year in Columbus in 2022. Trayanum played 46 offensive snaps in all of 2022. He played 50 in the first two games in 2023. Henderson had 17 carries through two games to lead the team. Traya- num had 14 to slightly edge 13 for Williams. He also averaged 5.5 yards per carry to Williams' 3.8. Henderson will likely continue to distance himself as the lead back, and Williams has a role as a short-yardage specialist. But with such high usage and productive results in two games, Trayanum has to be watched by the Notre Dame defense. He's an athletic 5-foot-11, 233-pound player who can hurt an opposing defense. 3. Talent In The Front Seven Ohio State linebackers Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg could start anywhere in the country. They pose all sorts of problems for oppos- ing quarterbacks, running backs and even tight ends and wide receivers. The one-two punch of Michael Hall Jr. and Tyleik Williams at defensive tackle is going to make it difficult for Notre Dame ball carriers to even reach Chambers and Eichenberg. Williams, who actually out-snapped Hall, 65 to 52, in the first two games of the season per Pro Football Focus, was the top-graded player on the Ohio State defense per PFF through Week 2. Hall came in at No. 3, with cornerback Denzel Burke sandwiched between them at No. 2. There is certainly not a shortage of defensive talent for the Buckeyes. While breaking in a new quarterback, the Buckeyes will probably have to lean on this side of the ball a little more than usual. — Tyler Horka The Buckeyes have benefited from stellar quarterback play in recent years, but first-year starter Kyle McCord is off to a slow start in 2023. PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETICS Three Things To Know About Ohio State