Buckeyes Still Can't Overlook Oregon Ducks in Big Ten Showdown

The Ohio State Buckeyes will be taking on the Oregon Ducks this week at home, giving the team another chance to pick up a big win.

While this matchup doesn't have as much hype as many thought it would earlier in the season, there is still a lot to play for. The Buckeyes remain one of the best teams in the country, and they still have everything to go after this season, even with the unfortunate injury to star quarterback Julian Sayin.

Ohio State comes into the game with a record of 6-2, going 4-1 in Big Ten play so far. The Buckeyes lost to the USC Trojans this weekend, dropping a massive game.

But this contest this week could be huge for the Buckeyes, even with Oregon underperforming this season.

For the Ducks, they come into the contest with a record of 5-3, going 3-2 in Big Ten games so far this season. Oregon has seen inconsistency and injuries take over the season, leading to a lot of problems this year.

But despite this, the Buckeyes have to avoid overlooking the Ducks, even with their record not being up to par this year. Oregon still has plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball that can make life tough for Ohio State, and if the Buckeyes aren't careful, they could find themselves in a tiger game.

With Oregon underperforming this year, the team will be looking to salvage the season the rest of the way. One of the better ways to make that happen would be to go on the road to grab a massive win over Ohio State, reminding everyone what type of football program they are.

So, for the Buckeyes, the team will need to make sure that they stay focused throughout the week, avoiding the trap game here. Ohio State can do this by getting the ball to star wideout Jeremiah Smith early on in the contest, setting the tone for the game.

Smith has put together a truly special year for the Buckeyes so far, and he is looking to go after the Heisman Trophy. Even with Sayin now out, Smith should still be able to get his strong numbers, with the Buckeyes feeding him the ball during the games.

Against Oregon, the Buckeyes have to stay the course, avoiding making any changes from what has worked this season. Head coach Ryan Day understands the stakes of this game, even with Syain out and the Ducks not as highly ranked.

These two programs have met a few times in recent years, and each time, there have been fireworks out on the field. Getting another Big Ten win could be huge for the Buckeyes as well, making this game in Columbus just as important.

Kickoff for the upcoming contest between the Buckeyes and Ducks is set for 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET.