Colin: Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, what’s up with Jaxon Smith-Njigba? 

Baver: It’s hard for me to not believe what my own eyes saw against Iowa. I saw an Ohio St offense that clearly looked better after Njigba left the game. Coincidence? Maybe, but I don’t think so. I wonder how much of the Iowa practice week was spent working Njigba back in, with thoughts that he was ready to roll? Over the first half of the season without JSN, this Buckeye offense was at worst the 2nd best offense in the country. And after Njigba left the Iowa game, the OSU offense seemed more comfortable with the Marvin/Egbuka/Fleming trio that has hit the big-time.

On top of the physical toll the hamstring has taken on JSN, I am also left wondering about his confidence. I tend to doubt Njigba fumbles the ball he did against Iowa if he wasn’t overwhelmed with what this injury has reduced him to. Maybe Njigba plays tomorrow, but I tend to doubt it. Is it possible JSN calls it quits to get healthy, and to focus on the NFL draft like an injured-Nick Bosa did in 2018? I would think that is a possibility right now.

Colin: In related news, are we one WR injury away from our team’s greatest strength disappearing? 

Baver: Not disappearing, but let’s not even think about losing Marvin with the year he is having.

Colin: In related, related news, can our running game carry us in a bad weather game vs Penn State, Illinois or gulp… Michigan?

Baver: TreVeyon has been coming up lame at some point in about every game, which is quite worrisome. Arizona St transfer Chip Trayanum is a guy the coaches want in the two-deep at LB, but he has been moved to TB because of depth concerns. Still, the problems running the football against Iowa I think will provide this offensive staff with some good teaching moments.

Colin: Moving to defensive of the ball, have you ever seen such a dramatic turnaround in a unit with basically the same players from 2021? 

Baver: It’s far better, no doubt. But I do caution fans from getting too far ahead of themselves here. These are OSU’s opponents’ total offense rankings after 8 weeks: Toledo #65, Wisconsin #72, Notre Dame #77, Arkansas St #102, Michigan St #104, Rutgers #113, Iowa #131.

Colin: Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg has gone from the worst player on the field to the best player on the field in just 11 months. Has this ever happened before?

Baver: Not to the extent of the transformation that Eichenberg has made. So much of the “this guy is too slow” talk that you hear all too often relates to young defenders having to spend extra time thinking things through. Eichenberg isn’t having to over-think things anymore, and it’s made all the difference in the world. What a great story.

Colin: The Big Ten West is a disaster and the East isn’t much better. Is it already a Big 2, little 12 battle between OSU and Michigan in October? 

Baver: It’s a two-game season…this Saturday, and Michigan. If it’s OSU out of the East, they will be close to a 3-touchdown favorite over the West champ in Indy.

Colin: What worries you about the Buckeyes moving forward? 

Baver: Not playing enough good offenses in the Big Ten to push this defense harder than they are getting pushed right now. That, and staying relatively healthy at the skill positions from here on out on offense.

Colin: It’s hard not to think about the CFP. Are there matchups for the Buckeyes we would want to avoid? 

Baver: The prevailing thought is that Ohio State’s weakest position is cornerback. If Tennessee were to sneak in the CFP and face Ohio State, that’s a UT offense that could potentially torch OSU’s defense. Hendon Hooker is really, really good. And the Vols, like Ohio St, have been playing without their #1 WR (Cedric Tillman), for some time now. And Tillman should be back in early November.

But when it comes right down to it, despite the Vols upset of Bama, I still think it’s Ohio St, Ga & Bama occupying tier #1 in CFB. And I don’t think any of those three teams is that much better or that much worse than the other two. So, while I don’t see obvious matchup problems for Ohio St vs Georgia or the Tide, I think the worst news for an OSU playoff team would be a path that required the Buckeyes to have beat BOTH of those teams. That’s a tall task in my opinion.

Colin: Is this Penn State game causing you any worry? Give us your thoughts on the Nits…

Baver: It’s causing some anxiety; that’s for sure. Penn State has covered the Vegas number vs Ohio St in 5 of the last 6 games. Since Penn State’s upset of a #2 ranked Buckeye team in 2016, Penn State’s 5 losses from ’17 through ’21 were by an average of 7 pts per game. Last year’s game saw Ohio St up only 27-24 heading into the 4th quarter. Penn St brings their A game vs the Bucks pretty much every year, and I expect more of the same Saturday.

As a 6th year senior, Sean Clifford is finally playing at high level, with his INTs down considerably. And he is a far better QB when he plays in Beaver Stadium. The true frosh RB duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen is nice one. They also have a solid 1-2 punch with Parker Washington & transfer Michael Tinsley at WR, while TE Brenton Strange has become a nice receiving target as well. But the Nitwits OL is a middle-of the road unit in the Big Ten, at best.

PSU has a solid D, but not quite at Iowa’s level. Michigan torched their run D to the tune of 400+ yards, which I didn’t see coming. DT PJ Mustipher is their top lineman, while CB Joey Porter and safety Ji’Ayir Brown may be the best in the Big Ten at their respective positions.

The Buckeyes better be focused, or this one could be more interesting than we want it to be. Still, I’ve got Ohio State winning this one….I’ve got it Ohio State 31 Penn St 23.

Go Bucks!