No. 3 Ohio State goes for 10th straight win vs. Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Ohio State is the one Big Ten Conference foe that's had its way with Rutgers since the Scarlet Knights joined the league in 2014.The teams have met nine times and the No. 3 Buckeyes have won every one comfortably. The closest the Scarlet Knights have been at the end of a contest was 22 points.There's a chance the big gap may close a little this year when the Scarlet Knights (6-2, 3-2) host the Buckeyes, (8-0, 5-0, No. 1 in the CFP) at SHI Stadium on Saturday.While they have lost to No. 2 Michigan and a Wisconsin team that Ohio State beat 24-10 last weekend, Rutgers have been competitive."I look at it as an amazing opportunity," Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt said. "The number one (CFP) team in the country is coming into our stadium this weekend in front of our fans. The opportunity to compete and be out there with my guys and just go out there and play the game we love."The reason for Rutgers' hope is coach Greg Schiano finally has a full recruiting class in the fourth year of his second tour. His defense is outstanding. His ball-control offense has limited its mistakes and Wimsatt has exceeded expectations. Special teams also is making big plays.While Ohio State remains a top team, its offense has not been as dynamic as recent years. The defense remains among the best in the nation."I think it's a mindset, you know, you're not allowed to have a bad day at Ohio State," Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said. "Any of us, that's just the way it goes. So I say all the time, on your bad days you have to be average at the very least, if not better than that. On your average days, you got to be really good. On your good days, you got to be great."Getting traction The Buckeyes finally got their ground game moving after struggling much of the season.No. 1 back TreVeyon Henderson returned against Wisconsin after missing three games with an injury caused by what he called a "cheap shot" in a win over Notre Dame. He carried 24 times for 162 yards and iced the game with a 33-yard run with 5:15 left."We took a step in the right direction, and getting Tre back helped us," Day said. "But that was one game. You know, we'll figure out where we're at this week, and then at the end of the season, you come up for air and figure out where you're at."Beat-up Buckeyes The Buckeyes have a couple of key players nursing injuries.Quarterback Kyle McCord limped off the field favoring his right ankle after last week's win. Backup quarterback Devin Brown injured an ankle in the previous week's win over Penn State. Day said he was going to start practicing again this week.Receiver Emeka Egbuka and safety Lathan Ransom are questionable due to injuries.Special teams Special teams play has been a trademark of Schiano's 15 years at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have blocked 68 kicks in his tenure and scored on 13 blocked punts.The last time was two weeks ago when Loyal blocked an Indiana punt and fellow defensive back Eric Rogers scooped it up and returned 17 yards for his first career touchdown in the past two games.In the previous game against Michigan State, running back Aaron Young recovered a ball that slipped through the hands of Michigan State punter for a touchdown.Rutgers running Rutgers has relied on a ball-control offense that features Wimsatt and Kyle Monangai running behind an offense line that has paved the way for four 250-yard games on ground. The total matches the number it had in the previous six seasons (70 games).Monangai is second in the Big Ten with 744 yards rushing, including 109 against Indiana. Wimsatt rushed for 143 in the same game, the most by a quarterback in program history. ----- No. 3 Ohio State at Rutgers Time/TV: Noon Saturday, CBSRecords: Ohio State is 8-0, 5-0 in the Big Ten. Rutgers is 6-2, 3-2.Series record: Ohio State leads 9-0. Key matchup Rutgers pass defense against the Buckeyes' talented group of receivers led by Marvin Harrison Jr. The Scarlet Knights rank second in passing defense, yielding an average of 156.2 yards. Harrison is seeking his second 1,000-yard season. He has 889 yards receiving, and his 18.5 yard average ranks No. 1 nationally among wide out with 40 catches. He would the first Buckeye receiver with two 1,000 seasons. Scarlet Knights cornerback Max Melton has NFL talent. Players to watch Ohio State: LB Tommy Eichenberg is key to Buckeyes' defense and stopping Rutgers' running game is a must. The fifth-year player teams with Steele Chambers in coordinator Jim Knowles' two-linebacker sets. Knowles relies on Eichenberg to make sure everybody is on the same page. He leads the team with 65 tackles and will be a major cog in reading Scarlet Knights' run-pass options and QB Gavin Wimsatt.Rutgers: RB Kyle Monangai. The junior runner has made the Scarlet Knights ground game go. He has carried 144 times for 744 yards, the second most in the conference this year. He has run for seven TDs. In his first two seasons combined, Monangai had 171 carries for 680 yards and six touchdowns. Facts & figures Ohio State's defense has allowed fewer than 260 yards for three straight games. The Buckeyes have held all eight opponents to 17 points or fewer, tied for their longest streak in the last 15 years. They are 36-2 in Big Ten play under Ryan Day and have won an FBS-high 36 straight games against unranked teams. ... Ohio State has averaged averaged 51.8 points against Rutgers. ... Derek McCord, father of Ohio State starting quarterback Kyle McCord, played QB at Rutgers in 1988-92. … Buckeyes CB Denzel Burke leads the Big Ten with 10 passes defensed. … Ohio State had its first three-turnover day since 2020, with two interceptions and a lost fumble against Wisconsin last week. ... Rutgers' start is its best since beginning 7-1 in 2012. The six wins are the most in a season since going 8-5 in 2014. ... The three conference wins match the Scarlet Knights' most since joining the league in 2014. ... Rutgers has held opponents to 126 points, its best mark through eight games in the Big Ten era and fewest since 2012 (114). ... The Scarlet Knight punt block unit has scored touchdowns the past two games. ... Rutgers is 5-0 at home this season. ... Schiano was Ohio State's defensive coordinator from 2016-18 when Urban Meyer was the coach.