After a week away from the action, Urban Meyer and the No. 22 Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1) are set to host the Cincinnati Bearcats (2-0) under the lights in Ohio Stadium this Saturday.
Tommy Tuberville and his high-flying Bearcats will test the Buckeyes, who are looking to close out their nonconference slate on a high note before entering Big Ten play.
What does Ohio State need to do to notch a win against this week’s in-state opponent?
Limit Gunner Kiel and the Cincinnati Offense
Quarterback Gunner Kiel is off to a red-hot start this year.
The redshirt sophomore torched Toledo in Cincinnati’s season opener, completing 25 of 37 passes (67.6 percent) for 418 yards and six touchdowns against no interceptions. A week later against Miami (Ohio), he threw for 271 yards and four more touchdowns.
With Kiel triggering Cincinnati’s pass-happy offense, Meyer knows his defense will need to be at its best.
“Here we go. This is the test,” Meyer said of Cincinnati, according to Austin Ward of ESPN.com. “This is the one that we’re all shooting for.”
The Buckeyes’ new-look pass defense hasn’t been truly challenged this season. Navy threw just four passes in the season opener, Virginia Tech was “uneven” offensively and Kent State was overmatched. Cincinnati will be the best indicator as to whether Ohio State has improved its pass defense, which ranked 110th nationally a season ago.
Protect J.T. Barrett
The Buckeyes are just…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: Keys to a Buckeyes Victory over Cincinnati
