Buckeyes, Hoosiers hilite weekend college action … As we noted in a post earlier this week there are in fact only a couple of big games involving CFP playoff contenders going head-to-head left on the college football schedule and one of those comes up on this weekend’s docket. That’s when #2 Ohio State hosts #5 Indiana, one of just three remaining unbeaten FBS teams, at Noon ET Saturday on FOX. And while Ohio State is, well Ohio State, Indiana may just be the best 10-0 Big Ten that virtually no one outside Bloomington has ever seen, at least on national TV. What folks will see for starters is star QB Kurtis Rourke (#9, 6-4, 225), a Canadian who came to the Hoosiers after a very successful 4-year run at Ohio of the MAC. Rourke, who is 2nd in the country in passing efficiency behind Jaxson Dart of Mississippi, has a 72% completion rate including 21 TD passes against just 4 picks, although he still hasn’t necessarily gotten a whole lot of respect from pro scouts to date who appear to view more as a second-day type prospect. In fact rising IU DE Malik Kamara (#6, 6-1, 265), who ranks in the top 10 FBS pass rushers with 9.5 sacks, may ultimately be the Hoosiers’ best prospect. Kamara is a bit of an odd-size, but he has an explosive first step and a great motor. Kamara anchors a very aggressive Indiana defence that also includes a couple of other rising prospects in DT CJ West (#92, 6-2, 320) and LB Aiden Fisher (#4, 6-1, 235).
Of course, as noted Ohio State is Ohio State which generally means lots of quality prospects. Indeed, the Buckeyes have as many top prospects as any team in the country, although they don’t necessarily have anyone who is a legitimate lock to be an opening round pick this coming April. However, do have multiple players with at least a second-day grade including the dynamic RB duo of Quinshon Judkins (#1, 6-0, 220), who transferred up from Mississippi this year, and RB Tre’veyon Henderson (#32, 5-10, 215), along with WR Emeka Egbuka (#2, 6-0, 210), OG Donovan Jackson (#74, 6-3, 320), DEs JT Tuimoloau (#44, 6-4, 275) and Jack Sawyer (#33, 6-4, 265), DT Tyleik Williams (#91, 6-2, 290), CBs Denzel Burke (#10, 6-1, 195), Davison Igbinosun (#1, 6-1, 190) and Jordan Hancock (#7, 6-0, 190), LBs Cody Simon (#0, 6-2, 235) and Sonny Styles (#6, 6-3, 230), and S Lathan Ranson (#8, 6-1, 210). However, the key for Ohio State against to Hoosiers could be QB Will Howard (#18, 6-4, 240), who is actually 3rd in the country in passing efficieny right behind IU’s Rourke. Howard, though, will have to make do without two of his top offensive linemen as both LT Josh Simmons and C Seth McLaughlin are out for the rest of the campaign.
