Akron at No. 2 Ohio State, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
BetMGM college football odds: Ohio State at 50 1/2.
Series record: Ohio State leads 4-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
With 16 returning starters and some key additions from the transfer portal, the Buckeyes have all the tools to compete for a Big Ten title and national championship. The opening game against Akron shouldn’t pose much of a challenge, but it will give Ohio State a chance to iron out the finer details. The Buckeyes will have plenty of opportunity to do so, with home games against another MAC school, Western Michigan, and Marshall before facing Michigan State on the road on Sept. 28. Akron has been awful since going 7-7 in 2017, including 2-10 over the past two seasons.
KEY GAME
Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka against Akron’s secondary. Now out of the shadow of superstar Marvin Harrison Jr., Egbuka is poised for a great season. PLAYERS TO WATCH
Akron: Ben Finley, a five-year quarterback, will look to bring some stability to an offense that hasn’t accomplished much in recent years. Finley is a backup who played three years at North Carolina State before transferring to Cal for his fourth year. The Zips used three quarterbacks during the disappointing 2023 season.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes have plenty, but it will be interesting to see how Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard runs the offense and distributes the ball to his offensive weapons.
Facts & Figures
Ohio State beat Akron 59-7 in their last meeting in 2021. … Of their four meetings, the closest was a 28-14 win by the Buckeyes in 2001. In the next three games, Ohio State outscored the Zips 121-9. … Akron has won seven games in the past five seasons, just four against FBS teams. … Five of the Zips’ losses last year were by a touchdown or less, four of them by three points or fewer. … In addition to Howard, the Buckeyes have other transfers expected to play key roles, including running back Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss), safety Caleb Downs (Alabama) and center Seth McLaughlin (Alabama). … Freshman QB Julian Sayin is also a transfer from Alabama. … Akron DE CJ Nunnally IV was first-team All-MAC last season and is considered one of the conference’s best pass rushers. … The Zips also have their two best tacklers from last season back, linebackers Antavious Fish (95) and Bryan McCoy (94). … Akron coach Joe Moorhead was Oregon’s offensive coordinator in 2021 when the Ducks beat Ohio State 35-28 in the Shoe.
