COLUMBUS — Ohio State coach Ryan Day and Marshall coach Charles Huff had a few fun exchanges back and fourth this week about NIL and the disparity between the two programs.

But once the ball kicks off for the Buckeyes and Thundering Herd on Saturday at Noon inside the Horseshoe, none of that matters. Ohio State has a lot to accomplish. Marshall has plenty to prove as nearly a 40-point underdog.

Day knows Huff will have his team ready to face the Buckeyes.

“He’s going to get those guys ready. I know that for a fact. They’re a good team, and he’s a good coach. A good staff, good players, and they have a lot to come in here and prove. Every day you have an opportunity to prove somebody right, prove somebody wrong. And they’re going to come in the same way. So, you know, we have to be ready for that.”

The Lettermen Row crew is handing out our score predictions, and then we’ll get into some final notes and intel ahead of the Buckeyes showdown with Marshall to wrap up nonconference play. Let’s dive in.

Lettermen Row staff picks

Spencer Holbrook: Ohio State 48, Marshall 9

Andy Backstrom: Ohio State 63, Marshall 0

Tim May: Ohio State 56, Marshall 6

Matt Parker: Ohio State 58, Marshall 7

Mick Walker: Ohio State 65, Marshall 10

Alex Gleitman: Ohio State 45, Marshall 7

Two final thoughts ahead of Buckeyes vs. Thundering Herd

Backup tackles can show this team has real offensive line depth

If Ohio State takes care of business as we expect it to do, the backup offense should see plenty of time in the second half. That group includes second-team tackles Zen Michalski on the left side and George Fitzpatrick on the right. Ohio State would love to see more solid play from those two in order to feel good about its tackle depth the same way it does about depth on the interior.

“George and Zen are putting in good days,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Wednesday. “They’re getting reps. I I’d like to see them get some more quality time. They did get some play in the last game. And again, that’ll be important as well. So, yeah, we have to keep pushing those guys and getting them reps. They are going against really good players every day in practice, and it gives us a good opportunity to evaluate them there. And they’ve got to keep coming.

“We have to keep challenging them. We need that.”

Saturday will be a major opportunity for both of them to show that the next wave of offensive tackles can perform at a high level.

Should we expect another shutout?

It’s hard to even imagine a second straight shutout, considering Ohio State just had its first since 2019 — and just the second of the Ryan Day era. Shutouts are hard.

But scoring points on this Buckeyes Silver Bullets defense might be even tougher. No team has had a play of longer than 50 yards on the Buckeyes so far. Neither opponent has crossed the Ohio State 30-yard line, either. Couple those facts with Marshall’s inability to move the ball with any consistency on Virginia Tech during the Thundering Herd’s last time out, and it’s hard to find points for Marshall. I didn’t predict a shutout, but it’s hard to find points for Marshall here. A second-straight shutout could be in the cards.

One final prediction

Ohio State involves tight ends more against Marshall

The Buckeyes have been quite complementary of their tight ends in recent conversations, and rightly so. This group had plenty of question marks heading into the season but appears to be getting better with each practice — and certainly with each game. Ohio State wants the tight ends to be involved in the passing game, not just as blockers for the run game. Bennett Christian got that party started against Western Michigan with a 55-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter, and that will continue this week. Let’s predict that another Buckeyes tight end catches a touchdown, this time one of the first-team rotational guys. Will Howard will connect with Jelani Thurman for Thurman’s first touchdown in college on Saturday.

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