Ohio State faces Rutgers without two key receivers as injuries linger, raising concern ahead of next week’s huge rivalry showdown.

The No. 1 Buckeyes host Rutgers Scarlett Knights in a Big Ten showdown Saturday, but the game arrives with a clear wrinkle. Key receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will not play, forcing the Buckeyes to adjust on the fly.

However, after entering the matchup against UCLA tagged as questionable, Smith played in the first half but was ruled out for the second. That only adds further intrigue to Ohio State's wide receiver room, as Carnell Tate was ruled out against the Bruins before an eventual 48-10 Ohio State win.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Ohio State released its injury report for Saturday's game against Rutgers. Wide receiver Carnell Tate will miss his third straight game, and fellow wideout Jeremiah Smith, who left last week's win over UCLA early, also will not play Saturday. A total of 10 Buckeyes will not be available.

The Bruins already have six losses on the season and are being treated with a clash against college football's best.

Ohio State doesn’t actually have anything to prove. It’s the reigning national champion, and last season proved that what happens at the end of November is no longer the death sentence it was previously. But that 13-10 loss is still a stain on what was otherwise a magical season.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will head west to Purdue University to take on the lowly Boilermakers, who are limping their way through the 2025 football season in week 11. Saturday is a case study of two teams that are in two completely different tiers, having ...

After Julian Sayin and the Ohio State Buckeyes handed unranked Rutgers a 42-9 loss in Columbus on Saturday, they now sit one win away from completing an undefeated regular season.