The Ohio State Buckeyes are on the road again for their second-to-last road trip of the season. This week, they hit the road for a trip to West Lafayette to take on the 2-7 Purdue Boilermakers. 

Ohio State Gameday: Buckeyes Travel to West Lafayette to Take on the Purdue Boilermakers The Ohio State Buckeyes face off against the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday afternoon in West Lafayette. The Buckeyes are massive favorites in the game and ...

To say that the Buckeyes are heavy favorites on Saturday would be disrespectful to the term "heavy favorites." It is hard to imagine a world where the Boilermakers keep it respectable on in week 11, let alone competing to win the game. 

While the outcome is hardly in question, there are still several keys that Ohio State needs to address in order to feel good about Saturday's outcome. 

1. Give the Boilermakers the Proper Respect

One of the very best things about this year's Buckeye team is that they are an incredibly professional group. They have yet to look past an opponent this year, and there is no reason to believe that they will start that on Saturday. 

Head coach Ryan Day and his squad must continue the positive momentum that they have built to this point in the season by coming out of the locker room fast, putting up some numbers on offense, and totally stifling the Boilermakers' offense. 

2. Health is Wealth

There isn't much skill or tactic around getting out of a game healthy, but the only way that this season gets derailed is if they lose one of the key players on either side of the football due to an injury.

Unlike last year, the Buckeyes have yet to show their depth. Ohio State has remained healthy through the first three months of the season, and it will be critical for the Buckeyes stay that way on Saturday.

3. Run the Football

Earlier this week, Day told reporters that his offensive group has spent the start of this year chasing efficiency instead of points. He also claimed that when the time comes, the offense will drop the clutch and kick their efforts into second gear. 

While Buckeyes fans are excited for that day, whenever it may comes, there are things that the Buckeyes' offense needs figure out this week, such as how to effectively run the football. 

Against the Penn State Nittany Lions in week 10, Ohio State struggled to tote the football. Outside of a late 51-yard scamper, the Buckeyes notched less than 100 yards on the deck for just north of three yards per carry. 

Commitment to establishing the run should be a top priority for the Buckeyes on Saturday.  If they find a rushing attack, Ohio State's offense will truly be unstoppable.