Ohio State's Tommy Eichenberg named 2...........

Tommy Eichenberg of Ohio State is a semifinalist for the 2023 Bednarik Award.

For the second year in a row, Ohio State’s top defensive player is Tommy Eichenberg. Eichenberg is the “quarterback of the Buckeye defence,” as defensive coordinator Jim Knowles puts it, and he has played a key role in the Red and Gray’s defensive advancements this season.

The Maxwell Football Club National Selection Committee revealed the 29th Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalists on Monday. Eichenberg was named one of the 20 finalists for the Bednarik Award, which is given to the top defensive back in college football each year. Players from seven different conferences are represented on this list, along with one independent. The Big Ten and SEC lead the way with four representatives each, followed by three each from the Big 12 and ACC.

Together with Eichenberg, the following players are semifinalists for the Bednarik Award: defensive lineman James Madison, defensive backs Malaki Starks of Georgia, Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois, Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean, defensive back T.J. Tampa of Iowa State, and linebacker Dallas Turner of Alabama.Louisville linebacker on defence Green JalenMichigan’s defensive end Ashton GillottePayton Wilson, a defensive lineman for Notre Dame; Kris

Jenkins, a defensive back for Missouri; and Kris Abrams-Draine, a linebacker for NC StateHoward Cross III, an Old Dominion linebackerTexas defensive lineman Jason Henderson, T’Vondre Sweat, Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, and UCLA defensive linemanTwo Laiatu Latu players are cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. from West Virginia and defensive end Josh Elliss from Utah.Beanie Jr. was born.

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Eichenberg, the linebacker, had the most tackles on Ohio State’s defence with 75 through nine games this season after totaling 120 against Rutgers. The linebacker was sidelined this past week against Michigan State due to an arm injury. The less aggressive play of the Buckeye defence this season—just 2.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, and one forced fumble—has statistically hurt Eichenberg.

Three times this season, including early last month against Maryland, Eichenberg has recorded double-digit tackles. In seven of the nine games he has played, Eichenberg has led the Scarlet and Grey in tackles.

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In its 28-year history, Ohio State has only had one player win the Bednarik Award. When defensive lineman Chase Young brought the trophy to Columbus in 2018, that was the occasion. On Friday, December 8, 2023, at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show, the 2023 Bednarik Award winner will be revealed. On Friday, March 8, 2024, at the 87th Maxwell Awards Gala, the Bednarik Award will be formally presented.Stat Pack: Ohio State’s statistical standing following Week 11; this week’s statistics for the Buckeyes include both national and Big Ten rankings.

First place Saturday saw Ohio State return home following two consecutive evening games. In the first and only home night game of the 2023 season, the Buckeyes hosted Michigan State in Columbus, Ohio, and won 38-3.

In their most comprehensive game of the year, the Scarlet and Grey outperformed a struggling Spartans squad on both the offensive and defensive ends. On the first play of the game, Ohio State marched down the field, scored a touchdown, and then repeated the feat on five of the following six drives before kicking a final field goal. Only twice did the Green and White manage to move the ball more than thirty yards due to the defence forcing four three-and-outs.

Kyle McCord, the quarterback, had his best game of the year, throwing for three touchdowns and a career-high 335 yards. McCord frequently passed to tight end Cade Stover and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Stover had seven receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown at the end of the game, while Harrison finished with seven catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown. TreVeyon Henderson, a running back, gained 63 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

The Buckeyes had some other players step up in lieu of safeties Josh Proctor and Lathan Ransom and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. Linebacker Cody Simon and cornerback Davison Igbinosun each had five total tackles. Tyreek Williams, the defensive tackle, and Sonny Styles, the safety, both recorded sacks. Igbinosun led the group with two as well.

Prior to anticipating the season’s penultimate home game against Minnesota the following week, let’s take a moment to review the Scarlet and Gray’s standings in a number of national and Big Ten statistical categories following their most recent victory. Ohio State’s statistical standings will be updated all year long. These figures were all sourced from CFBstats.com.

REVENGE

30th in the country and third in the Big Ten in terms of scoring offence (33.3 points per game) (Last week: 32.8 points per game – 33rd nationally, 3rd in the Big Ten)

Passing offence: 290.2 yards per game, which ranks first in the Big Ten and 19th nationally (283.2 yards per game, which ranks first in the Big Ten and 25th nationally last week).

Rushing offence: 138.6 yards per game, which ranks eighth in the Big Ten and 90th nationally (134.33 yards per game, which ranked seventh in the Big Ten last week)

(Last week: 417.6 yards per game – 46th nationally, 2nd in the Big Ten) Total offence: 428.8 yards per game – first in the Big Ten and 36th nationally.

(Last week: 43.97 percent – 35th nationally, 3rd in the Big Ten) Third down conversion: 44.09 percent – 31st nationally, 3rd in the Big Ten

Red zone conversions last week were 83.33 percent, which tied for 70th place nationally and 9th place in the Big Ten. This week’s numbers are 83.33 percent and 83.33 percent, respectively.

Sacks allowed: 17 – tied for fifth place in the Big Ten and 47th place nationally (last week: 17 – tied for 56th place in the country and 7th place in the Big Ten)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Last week’s punting total of 43 yards per game tied for 49th place nationally and 7th place in the Big Ten, puts them in fifth place in the Big Ten and 44th place nationally.

The field goal percentage from last week was 90.9 percent, which tied for second place in the Big Ten and 23rd place nationally. This week’s percentage was 84.6 percent.

Extra points: 97% of the sample, ranking 78th nationally and 9th in the Big Ten (compared to 96.4 last week, ranking 85th nationally and 10th in the Big Ten).

69th nationally and 10th in the Big Ten for kickoff returns (21.7 yards per return) (Last week: 19.73 yards per return – 71st nationally, 10th in the Big Ten)

Punt return: 7.3 yards per return; this week: 4.13 yards per return; this week: 109th nationally, 11th in the Big Ten10)

MISCELLANEOUS

Penalties: 49.9 yards per game last week, ranking 59th nationally and 10th in the Big Ten; 47.4 yards per game this week, ranking 49th nationally and seventh in the Big Ten

opponent penalties: 44 yards per game, ranking 12th in the Big Ten and 101st nationally (last week: 44.9 yards per game, ranking 10th in the Big Ten and 98th nationally).

Time of possession: 29:51.00, which places them sixth in the Big Ten and 68th nationally (last week: 29:42.00, which ties them for 73rd place in the Big Ten).

Turnover margin: -0.10 – tied for eighth place in the Big Ten and 78th place nationally (last week: -0.11 – tied for eighth place in the Big Ten and 74th place nationally)

OTHER INTERESTING STATS

Ohio State is currently 18-9 at home and 37-15 overall against Michigan State.

Along with the opening game of the season against Indiana, this was the second straight game this year that the Buckeye defence had not allowed a touchdown.

Only the 153 yards allowed in the season opener separated the Scarlet and Grey defense’s 182 total yards allowed as the lowest of the campaign.

With today’s victory, Ohio State now has 10 or more wins in 30 seasons, including nine during the College Football Playoff era.

The Buckeyes’ total yards of 530 were their second-highest of the season, trailing only their 563 against Western Kentucky.

Ryan Day, the head coach, has a 38-2 record in Big Ten Conference games and a 19-1 home and away record. In his head coaching career, he is also 5-0 against Michigan State.

With seven games this season, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. tied David Boston for first place in Buckeye history with 14 career games of 100 or more receiving yards.

Harrison made history by becoming the first receiver for the Scarlet and Grey to record multiple seasons with 1,000 yards receiving.

Harrison is one touchdown behind Devin Smith (2011–14) for fourth place in programme history in career receiving touchdowns.

Kyle McCord, the quarterback, recorded a career-high 335 passing yards.

In his collegiate debut, Lincoln Kienholz, a freshman quarterback, completed two of three passes for eighteen yards.

Narrow endWith seven receptions, Cade Stover tied his career high. With 72 receptions in his career, he is currently tied with Jeff Ellis (1987–1989) for the most by an Ohio State tight end.

Reversing courseWith 2,067 yards, TreVeyon Henderson moved up to 19th place on the career rushing list, surpassing Howard “Hoppalong” Cassidy.