Last Call: Questions, players to watch and predictions for Ohio State vs. Marshall

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21 September 2024 – Noon

Ohio Stadium

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State's third game of the season against Marshall is unlikely to be much more exciting than its first two games of the season against Akron and Western Michigan. However, it is an important opportunity for the Buckeyes to continue to hone their skills in all phases of the game, as it is Ohio State's last true preseason game before Big Ten play begins next week at Michigan State.

With that in mind, here are our top questions, the best players to keep an eye on, and our predictions for Saturday afternoon's game against the Thundering Herd at Ohio Stadium.

Questions

How many quarterbacks play?

I asked this question in the Last Calls before Akron and Western Michigan, and I'll ask it again here. (I might ask it again next week — or until Dan tells me to stop.) In the season opener, Will Howard took 56 snaps and Devin Brown took 10. The following week, Howard took 48, Brown took 18, Lincoln Kienholz took five and Julian Sayin took four. When Marshall is in town for the final nonconference game of the regular season, will the quarterbacks' snap counts look like the Akron game or the Western Michigan game? (I think I'm going with the former).

– Chase Brown

Can the defense record another shutout?

Ohio State's defense recorded a zero on the opposing scoreboard for the first time since 2019 when it faced Western Michigan two weeks ago. With the Buckeyes' final Group of Five game on the schedule on Saturday, Jim Knowles' squad will no doubt look to accomplish the same feat once again, and in doing so, OSU will have to slow down Marshall's AJ Turner-led offense.

– Andy Anders

Will Brandon Inniss give the Buckeyes new momentum on kickoff returns?

Inniss gave the Buckeyes a big boost on punt returns in Week 1, when he managed 60 yards on four punt returns, but Western Michigan's better hang time and punt coverage limited Inniss' impact as a returner in Week 2. He could get even more opportunities in the return game against Marshall, however, as Ryan Day said Wednesday that Inniss was in action as a kickoff returner this week.

Although Day hasn't named Inniss the kick returner ahead of Jayden Ballard yet, it seems like an inevitable move after Ballard botched Western Michigan's only kickoff in Week 2, giving Ohio State the ball at the 6-yard line. And Inniss has already proven to be a big player in the return game, giving him the potential to be a difference-maker on kickoff returns as well.

Ohio State's last return touchdown from a kickoff or punt came in 2014 against Indiana when Jalin Marshall returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown. It would be fitting if Inniss ended that drought against Marshall 10 years later.

– Dan Hope

Can Ohio State overtake Georgia in the AP Poll with a landslide victory?

My question is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things. I ask it more out of curiosity and to change the perspective, since the opponent is probably an opponent that will not leave Columbus feeling very good about himself.

With Georgia having a bye and the Bulldogs coming off a lackluster performance in their last game against Kentucky, one has to wonder if the Buckeyes can knock Georgia off the No. 2 spot in the AP Poll if they do well against Marshall, or if voters will continue to give the Bulldogs the benefit of the doubt. There's no way they're going to overtake Texas unless the Longhorns are a total disaster, but I've always been oddly curious about the weekly fluctuations in the AP Poll, so this could be something interesting and watchable.

– Garrick Hodge

Players in focus

Donovan Jackson

Jackson, who is expected to be Ohio State's best offensive lineman this season and has already made 26 starts as a Buckeye, returns to his left guard position after missing Weeks 1 and 2 with injuries. How the offensive line fares now that it is complete with five starters will be one of the more interesting stories from Saturday's game.

– Andy Anders

Ty Hamilton

Marshall starts a sophomore at right guard named Jalen Slappy, an All-Name Team nominee. No matter how Hamilton lines up relative to Slappy, I expect the future All-Big Ten defensive tackle to feast on him. I wouldn't dare predict that Hamilton will outplay Slappy the way he did Western Michigan's All-MAC center Jacob Gideon, but I expect Hamilton to show his dominance often on Saturday.

– Chase Brown

Cody Simon

Marshall's most dangerous offensive weapon is running back AJ Turner, who has already had two 60-plus yards rushing in just two games this season. Simon will play a crucial role in making sure that doesn't happen against Ohio State from his position as middle linebacker. Simon looked as good as ever in his season debut against Western Michigan after missing the season opener with a lower-body injury, and he'll look to build on that by having a big day leading Ohio State's defense now that he has a game under his belt.

– Dan Hope

Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka has been somewhat overshadowed so far this season, mostly because OSU's offense hasn't had to force him against lackluster opponents and Jeremiah Smith is just doing crazy things as a freshman. But my gut tells me Saturday could be the game where Egbuka puts on a great performance and shows why he's so highly regarded in NFL Draft circles. As you'll see below, Dan agrees with my sentiments.

– Garrick Hodge

Predictions

Ohio State finishes its non-conference schedule without allowing a single offensive touchdown

So far, the Buckeyes' defense has been as advertised, holding Akron to two field goals and Western Michigan to zero on the scoreboard. Marshall may have a sweet all-you-can-eat NIL deal with Tudor's Biscuit World, but there is no offense that can consistently threaten the Buckeyes on Saturday. I'm giving the Thundering Herd a field goal on Saturday, but I expect them to be held out of the end zone and the Buckeyes will head to East Lansing next week without having allowed a single touchdown in the 2024 season.

– Garrick Hodge

Emeka Egbuka will score two touchdowns

Nine different players have combined for 15 touchdowns in two games for Ohio State, but none of them have been Emeka Egbuka. It's high time he ended that drought, especially considering he probably should have scored a touchdown against Akron. I expect Egbuka to do that in grand fashion by scoring two touchdowns against the Thundering Herd.

– Dan Hope

TreVeyon Henderson runs for 100 yards

Quinshon Judkins had a great day carrying the ball for Ohio State against Western Michigan; this week it should be Henderson's turn. The Buckeyes have kept his runs to a minimum early in the season, but he has proven effective in his opportunities, racking up 131 yards and two touchdowns in just 18 attempts (7.3 yards per carry). Henderson is 124 yards away from 3,000 in his career.

– Andy Anders

Ohio State scores a defensive touchdown

The Silver Bullets scored two defensive touchdowns in the season opener, but didn't score a single one last week. If Ohio State's defense is going to be perfectly balanced — and it should be — then the Buckeyes need a touchdown from that side of the ball against Marshall. (I think we can all agree that a special teams touchdown would be acceptable, too.)

– Chase Brown