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At Ohio State, it’s about the talent and the money
Iowa faces a high-powered Buckeyes offense and a team that will receive $20 million in NIL money, including ‘roughly 10 players’ who will get at least $1 million each
Oct. 3, 2024 12:36 pm, Updated: Oct. 3, 2024 1:36 pm
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CEDAR RAPIDS — What’s better than having one all-conference running back on your roster? Having two, of course.
That’s the way things work in the Ohio State football program.
Its financial resources are incredibly strong, so it pays head coach Ryan Day $10 million a season. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles gets $2.2 million.
Chip Kelly moved from head coach at UCLA to Buckeyes offensive coordinator. The former NFL head coach took a big pay cut to a mere $2 million a season.
Then there are the players.
Ohio State needed a quarterback, so it went out and signed former Kansas State star Will Howard out of the transfer portal. It also secured safety Caleb Downs after he was named national freshman of the year at Alabama.
And it picked up Quinshon Judkins, a two-time all-SEC running back at Mississippi. Even though it already had TreVeyon Henderson, who was a first-team all-Big Ten running back last season.
A story on the On3 website said Ohio State’s NIL collective raised $20 million for players on this season’s roster. Its foundation head said “roughly 10 players” will make at least $1 million.
That’s college football 2024, and the Iowa Hawkeyes face that spending power Saturday when they head to Ohio Stadium for their matchup with third-ranked OSU. It’s a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS.
It’s a very tough ask for Iowa’s renowned defense, facing a team that is averaging 48.75 points in its first four games. Ohio State averages 307.75 yards per game passing and 227 yards rushing.
Kelly always has been known for his offensive chops as a coach.
“I’d say it’s really good,” Henderson told OSU media earlier this season. “Just the offensive scheme I think fits my game a lot and Quinshon’s and the other players. I think it’s going to be really good this year.
“He’s helping all of our games get better. He’s a great coach with a great mindset. He wants perfection, he wants us to be sharp. We’re just trying to get better every day.”
Henderson became the 12th player in Ohio State history to surpass 3,000 career rushing yards in his team’s 38-7 win last week at Michigan State. The Virginia native had 1,248 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns as a freshman, but was beset by injuries as a sophomore and junior.
He has 276 yards and four TDs this season. Judkins leads Ohio State with 390 rushing yards and five touchdown.
A thunder-and-lightning combo.
“We’re very close,” Henderson said. “I’m just thankful God brought him here. We’ve both been helping each other, struggling with each other ... However I can encourage him along the way, I’m willing to do so ... It’s going to be a great opportunity.”
“I think (it’s) just the situation here, doing what I can to contribute to the team. Just do what I can to win a national championship. Just playing my part,” Judkins said. “We’re both very competitive at what we do ... I think we’re just both very fortunate of each other playing here.”
Judkins, an Alabama native, was asked why he transferred to Ohio State.
“My answer would be why not Ohio State?” he said. “(It’s) a place with great culture, the best coaches, the best players, the best fan base that is very passionate about their team and the whole city. That was my reasoning.”
Kelly said at the coaching staff’s press conference this week that he doesn’t expect yards and points to come easily against Iowa. He gave plaudits to defensive coordinator Phil Parker.
“Phil’s been there for a long time, and I think they really, truly teach their system, and they develop players. They do an unbelievable job of developing players,” Kelly said. “Really, I think it starts in recruiting for them. So they know exactly what all 11 guys’ skill sets are and what it requires for them to execute the defense that they deploy each week.
“I think they do a great job of identifying who fits into their scheme and then continue to develop those guys over the course of their careers there. They are fundamentally sound, they are really well coached. They are the best-coached defense that I think we will face all season long. That’s the challenge going against them.”
Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
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