Ohio State enters a critical Big Ten matchup on Saturday as the Buckeyes host Northwestern at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, with kickoff scheduled for noon.

Read in Somali ↓

Both programs arrive with matching 6-3 records, but Ohio State is working to halt a midseason slide. Starting quarterback Julian Sayin was injured last month during a victory over No. 5 Indiana, thrusting replacement Luke Fahey into the starting role. The Buckeyes subsequently suffered back-to-back losses against USC and Oregon. Despite the recent setback, history heavily favors Ohio State, which has won every game against Northwestern since 2004 and every home contest in the series since 1971.

A primary focus for head coach Ryan Day is feeding junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who is making his third start alongside Fahey. Ohio State has launched a campaign promoting Smith for major postseason honors, including the Biletnikoff Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award, and the Heisman Trophy. After surpassing 200 receiving yards in two straight games, Smith was limited to under 100 yards in the next three before bouncing back against Oregon with seven receptions for 133 yards.

“When you look at how we design plays and everything, he’s obviously the first thing we try to make sure that he’s touching the ball,” Day said. “When that doesn’t happen now, sometimes there are things that are designed and it just doesn’t go that way.”

The matchup also features a reunion with Northwestern offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Kelly previously served as Day’s offensive coordinator at Ohio State during the team’s 2024 national championship run, part of an intertwined coaching history between the two that spans 36 years. Working alongside Northwestern head coach David Braun, Kelly has deployed unique offensive wrinkles, including wing-T concepts and positioning receivers a dozen yards or more behind the line of scrimmage.

Northwestern will navigate Saturday’s game without starting quarterback Aidan Chiles, who is sidelined with an injury. West Virginia transfer Nicco Marchiol will start in his place.

Red zone execution will be an important factor for both sides. Northwestern ranks second in the Big Ten with a 75% defensive success rate inside the 20-yard line. Over the past four games, Ohio State has visited the red zone no more than four times per contest, converting on 13 of 14 trips but having to settle for five field goals.

“You can’t control whether or not you’re going to be leading after the first quarter,” Braun said. “But you can control your level of focus, your level of urgency.”

Source: NBC4 Columbus — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Ohio State oo Garoonkeeda ku Wajaheysa Northwestern si ay Guul ugu Soo Laabato

Kooxda kubadda cagta jaamacadaha ee Ohio State ayaa garoonka Ohio Stadium ee magaalada Columbus, Ohio ku martigelinaysa kooxda Northwestern, iyada oo ciyaartu bilaaban doonto duhurnimada. Labada kooxood ayaa wada haysta natiijo ah 6 guulood iyo 3 guuldarro (6-3), balse Ohio State ayaa u baahan guul si ay uga soo kabato dhibaatada soo foodsaartay bartamaha xilli-ciyaareedkan.

Taariikhda ayaa si weyn u taageeraysa Ohio State, maadaama aysan wax guuldarro ah kala kulmin Northwestern tan iyo sanadkii 2004, isla markaana ay guuleysatay dhammaan kulamadii garoonkeeda ay kula ciyaartay kooxdaas tan iyo 1971-kii. Xaaladda kooxda ayaa adkaatay bishii hore markii uu dhaawac soo gaaray ciyaaryahankeedii booska quarterback ee Julian Sayin intii lagu jiray ciyaartii ay kaga adkaadeen Indiana oo kaalinta 5-aad ku jirtay. Booskiisa waxaa la wareegay Luke Fahey, waxaana Ohio State guuldarrooyin xiriir ah kala kulantay kooxaha USC iyo Oregon.

Tababare Ryan Day ayaa dadaal ugu jira sidii kubadda loo gaarsiin lahaa ciyaaryahanka khadka qabashada kubadda ee Jeremiah Smith, kaas oo ay Ohio State u sharaxday abaalmarinnada waaweyn ee xilli-ciyaareedka sida Biletnikoff, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell, iyo Heisman Trophy. Smith ayaa laba kulan oo isku xigay ku dhaliyay in ka badan 200 yards, inkasta oo saddexdii ciyaarood ee xigay uu ka hooseeyay 100 yards, balse kulankii Oregon wuxuu dib ula soo noqday qaab ciyaareed wanaagsan isaga oo sameeyay 7 qabasho oo uu ku helay 133 yards, kuwaas oo 57 ka mid ah ay ku yimaadeen hal ciyaar.

“Marka aad eegto sida aan u qaabeyno ciyaarta iyo wax kasta, isaga ayaa ah qofka koowaad ee aan isku dayno inaan xaqiijinno inuu kubadda taabto,” ayuu yiri Day. “Haddii taasi dhici weydo hadda, mararka qaar waxaa jira waxyaabo la qorsheeyay oo aan sidii loogu talagalay u socon.”

Kulankan ayaa sidoo kale dib u midaynaya tababare Day iyo iskuduwaha weerarka ee Northwestern, Chip Kelly. Kelly ayaa horay ugu soo shaqeeyay Day hoostiisa intii lagu jiray xilli-ciyaareedkii 2024 oo ay Ohio State ku guuleysatay horyaalka qaranka, waxaana labadooda ka dhexeeya xiriir shaqo oo socday muddo 36 sano ah. Kelly oo la shaqeynaya madaxa tababarayaasha Northwestern David Braun ayaa adeegsanaya xeelado weerar oo kala duwan, sida ciyaartoyda qabashada oo la fogeeyo iyo habka wing-T.

Northwestern ayaa ciyaartan wajihi doonta iyada oo uu ka maqan yahay quarterback Aidan Chiles oo dhaawac ah, waxaana ku bilaabanaya Nicco Marchiol oo ka soo wareegay West Virginia. Dhanka kale, difaaca red zone ee Northwestern ayaa kaalinta labaad kaga jira shirka Big Ten iyaga oo haysta heer guul oo gaaraya boqolkiiba 75. Afartii kulan ee u dambeysay, Ohio State ma aysan tagin aaggaas wax ka badan 4 jeer ciyaar kasta, inkasta oo ay dhibco ka heleen 13 jeer marka loo eego 14 fursadood, haddana 5 ka mid ah waxay ku dhammaadeen field goals.

“Ma xakameyn kartid inaad hoggaanka hayn doonto qeybta koowaad kadib iyo inkale,” ayuu yiri Braun. “Laakiin waxaad xakameyn kartaa heerka diiradaada iyo sida ay degdegga kuugu tahay.”

Xigasho: NBC4 Columbus