Northwestern @ Ohio State preview
Lucas Oil Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2016 ) Northwestern 20, Ohio State 24
Sixth-ranked Ohio State looks to strengthen its case for a College Football Playoff berth when it faces No. 21 Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship game on Saturday in Indianapolis. Ohio State eviscerated seventh-ranked Michigan 62-39 to capture the Big Ten East Division title and vault into contention for a postseason spot, but No. 4 Georgia and fifth-ranked Oklahoma are potential roadblocks in their path to the playoff as the Buckeyes aim to win their second consecutive conference championship game.
"When you start using terms like national championship and playoffs, that's very rare air," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer told reporters. "That's why we have a job to do … to go win the Big Ten championship and worry about that down the road." Northwestern is making its first Big Ten Championship game appearance after ending Wisconsin's dominance in the West division. The Wildcats have won seven straight conference games, including a 24-16 victory over Illinois to capture the Land of Lincoln Trophy last week, and hope to ride the momentum by knocking off the Buckeyes for the first time since 2004. "I'm fired up to take the purple down to Indy as every year our goal is to win the Big Ten West and we've gotten over that hump," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald told reporters. "We have an opportunity to take the team to the Rose Bowl and if that doesn't motivate you then I don't know what does."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Ohio State -14
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (8-4, 8-1 Big Ten): Clayton Thorson completed 12-of-18 passes for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns while adding another on the ground as the Wildcats downed the Fighting Illini for the fourth consecutive time. Linebacker Paddy Fisher earned All-Big Ten First Team honors after making 92 tackles and forcing three fumbles, while defensive end Joe Gaziano was named to the second team following six sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2018. Fitzgerald was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to eight conference wins, which matched a single-season program record.
ABOUT OHIO STATE (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten): Dwayne Haskins continued his push for the Heisman Trophy as he threw for 396 yards and equaled a program record with six touchdown passes in the win against Michigan. Haskins was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for a record sixth time after his dominant display against the Wolverines, breaking the old mark of five set by former Heisman Trophy winner and former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith in 2006. Defensive tackle Dre'mont Jones was selected to the Big Ten First Team after registering 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss to go along with a pair of touchdowns while Chase Young earned second-team honors.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Ohio State has won six consecutive meetings with Northwestern.
2. Haskins set Big Ten single-season records with 4,081 passing yards and 42 touchdowns.
3. The Wildcats have won 15 of their last 16 Big Ten games dating back to last year.
PREDICTION: Ohio State 49, Northwestern 20