No. 4 Ohio State (6-0) at Northwestern (1-4)
When: Friday, 8:30 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: 94.5 FM
Line: Ohio State by 27 1/2
Over/under: 48 1/2
Series: Ohio State leads 62-14-1
Key matchup
Ohio State offense vs. Northwestern defense. This is the only area where Northwestern can have any semblance of success against the Buckeyes. The Wildcats ranked 24th in total defense and limited Wisconsin to 24 points and 243 total yards. Stopping the run would put Justin Fields in position to need completions against a solid Northwestern secondary.
Players to watch
■ Ohio State: J.K. Dobbins. The junior running back ranks second nationally with 826 yards and six touchdowns. In last year’s Big Ten championship game against Northwestern, Dobbins had 68 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
■ Northwestern: Greg Newsome II. The sophomore cornerback is one of the best lockdown corners in the Big Ten. He’s second in the conference and 12th in the country with 1.6 passes defended per game. He leads Northwestern with eight pass breakups and had four against Michigan State.
Did you know?
Northwestern's last win over a team ranked in the AP top five came in 1959. The Wildcats have lost 39 consecutive games to top-five opponents.
First Published October 14, 2019, 11:57 p.m.
