COLUMBUS, Ohio — In one of the most significant matchups of the regular season, No. 2 Ohio State is going up against No. 3 Oregon on Saturday evening.
The two teams are among just nine undefeated teams among Power Four schools. This will be the very first time that two top-five teams meet at Autzen Stadium.
The Buckeyes last played Oregon in 2021 in Columbus. Oregon won that game 35-28, but Ohio State won the nine previous matchups.
Between Jan. 2010 and Sept. 2021, the teams have only met three times. The largest margin of victory was 42-20, with the win going to the Buckeyes.
Ohio State leads the nation in total defense, allowing opponents only four touchdowns collectively and an average of just 202.4 yards offense per game. Oregon has been averaging 458.8 offensive yards a game with 20 touchdowns. For the Ducks to have a chance, they'll have to lean on the experience of quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a transfer this season from Oklahoma, who has thrown for 1,449 yards and 11 touchdowns and leads the nation in completion percentage.
- This will be the 11th meeting between Ohio State and Oregon. The Buckeyes hold a 9-1 record.
- The Bucks and Ducks most recently played in 2021. Oregon won 35-28 in Ohio Stadium.
- Ohio State won its most recent national championship by defeating Oregon 42-20 in 2015.
- Oregon has the nation's No. 35 ranked scoring offense, averaging 35 points scored a game.
- The Ohio State offense is a perfect 21-for-21 in the red zone this year, good for 20 touchdowns and one field goal.
- Ryan Day's Ohio State teams are 18-8 against Top 25 ranked teams. He is 9-7 against Top 10 ranked teams.
- Emeka Egbuka is coming off a huge game against Iowa last week. He had a career-high tying nine catches and a career-high three touchdowns.
- Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has caught a touchdown pass in his first five games as a Buckeye, which is a school record.
- Smith is challenging every freshman receiving record: Catches (23; Cris Carter had 41), yards (454, Carter had 648), TD receptions (6, Carter had 8.)
- Ohio State's defense has allowed just 34 points through five games, the 4th-fewest allowed since 1950.