Ohio State football is 7-0 all-time against Rutgers. The two teams meet again at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Piscataway, N.J.
The Scarlet Knights played in the first college football game ever back in the 1860s, when the university was known as “Queen’s College,” but Ohio State didn’t play them for the first time until 2014.
It’s been a rather one-sided affair. Ohio State has never failed to score at least 49 points against Rutgers, winning that first meeting 56-17 and beating the Scarlet Knights by a combined score of 114-0 in 2016 and 2017.
Game No. 8 could be different. No. 11 Ohio State and Rutgers have identical 3-1 records. While Ohio State’s lone loss is to No. 3 Oregon at Ohio Stadium, Rutgers defeat was on the road in Ann Arbor against No. 14 Michigan.
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The impact Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has had on the program since returning in 2020 has been clear. Rutgers made Ohio State sweat in the second half of the 2020’s game, which Ohio State won 49-27, and the Scarlet Knights already have a road win over an ACC school (Syracuse).
Who will win the eighth meeting between the Buckeyes and the Scarlet Knights? You can follow the action live with insights from Columbus Dispatch's team of reporters Bill Rabinowitz, Joey Kaufman and columnist Rob Oller.
Today's officials
- Referee: Jeffrey Servinski
- Umpire: Tim Owens
- Linesman: Ryan MacDonald
- Line Judge: Brett Bergman
- Back Judge: Mike Brown
- Field Judge: Phil Hicks
- Side Judge: Todd Ransom
- Center Judge: Jason Nickleby
C.J. Stroud takes first-team reps
This was expected. Quarterback C.J. Stroud lined up with the first-team offense during the 11-on-11 warmup period.
As Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said earlier this week, Stroud will remain the starter if healthy.
Thayer Munford, who is also returning against Rutgers, lined up with the starters at left guard.
Cornerback Cameron Brown did not warm up with the first-team defense despite being available. Sevyn Banks was at the outside corner spot opposite Denzel Burke.
Palaie Gaoteote's status
Linebacker Palaie Gaoteote, who was listed as a game-time decision on the pregame availability report, is not warming up with teammates and is not dressed in uniform.
His absence leaves the Buckeyes even thinner at the position following the recent departures of Dallas Gant and K'Vaughan Pope.
Only four scholarship linebackers are available against Rutgers, including starters Teradja Mitchell and Cody Simon, plus backups Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg.
Gaoteote saw a season-high 18 snaps against Akron last week, according to Pro Football Focus.
Numbers change
Tight end Cade Stover, who has previously worn No. 16, will be donning No. 8 against Rutgers.
Wide receiver Kamryn Babb is now No. 1. Babb is unavailable after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament earlier this year, but he traveled with the Buckeyes as a team captain.
Indications are that Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud will start for the Buckeyes
After missing the Akron game and watching Kyle McCord win Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud, who was battling a shoulder injury, is expected back under center for the Buckeyes against Rutgers. Stroud has 963 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions on 63-for-101 passing this year.
Ohio State starting linebackers
The Buckeyes defense was already under a microscope with playcalling duties being shifted away from defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs following the loss to Oregon in Week 2. Now the team is thinner at the linebacker position after losing a pair of backers in the last two weeks.
Here's what we anticipate the depth chart will look like.
- LB: Teradja Mitchell; Palaie Gaoteote
- LB: Cody Simon; Tommy Eichenberg
- Bullet: Ronnie Hickman
Quinn Ewers is a part of today's travel roster
Quarterback Quinn Ewers arrived at training camp late, the result of some procedural hurdles after leaving high school early. Coach Ryan Day said he suffered an injury shortly after that. This news would seem to be a sign that things are starting to go the right way for the true freshman signal caller.
Who is playing for the Buckeyes against Rutgers?
Ohio State’s offensive line should be at full strength at Rutgers on Saturday afternoon.
After missing last week’s game against Akron due to an injury, starting left guard Thayer Munford is set to return against the Scarlet Knights. He was not among the 13 players on the team’s pregame unavailable list.
Ohio State vs. Rutgers:Ohio State football left guard Thayer Munford to return for Saturday's game at Rutgers
Munford is the Buckeyes’ most veteran starter, having spent the past three seasons at left tackle before moving to the interior for this season.
A pair of key defensive linemen in defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste and defensive tackle Taron Vincent are also to be available after being sidelined last Saturday, though defensive end Tyreke Smith remains out.
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