Ohio State-Rutgers football preview, prediction: How will Buckeyes replace Lathan Ransom?

Ohio State enters Saturday’s game at Rutgers as the top-ranked team in the country for the first time this season.

The Buckeyes earned the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, but few people around the program seem to care about the recognition that comes after two wins against top-15 teams in Notre Dame and Penn State. Ohio State still needs to take care of business in November ahead of Michigan, and that starts with Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights are 6-2 (3-2 Big Ten), already their most wins in a season since their Big Ten debut in 2014. They’re led by a defense that doesn’t give up big plays and an offense that is averaging 28.1 points per game — up from 17.4 last year. It’ll be Ohio State’s last road challenge before The Game, and it’s at least more of a challenge than Rutgers has typically been. After all, Ohio State has won all nine meetings by an average of 42.1 points, and the Scarlet Knights have never stayed within three touchdowns.

There’s a good chance that Ohio State takes the field without Ransom.

The fourth-year safety is one of the most experienced players in the secondary and was having a great season before leaving the Wisconsin game with a non-contact leg injury. He left for the locker room before returning to the sideline under his own power. On Tuesday, Ryan Day said that Ransom would miss some time but they didn’t know how much.

Replacing a player like Ransom isn’t easy. He’s been a force in the run game and has 34 total tackles, one forced fumble, an interception and two pass breakups. Mix in his knowledge of the scheme, and Ransom is a key player for a defense that has often carried the team and may be the best in the country.

“Lathan’s been much improved,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “His eyes, any issues he has had in the past with eye discipline, seeing too much.