Matt Patricia’s masterclass? Why Ohio State’s defense vs. Rutgers was a warning shot to Michigan

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football may have been playing Rutgers on Saturday, but its eyes — and more importantly, their defensive game plan — were already looking ahead to Michigan.

In the latest episode of Buckeye Talk, hosts Stephen Means and Stefan Krajisnik dissected what many fans might have missed: Matt Patricia’s defensive strategy against Rutgers wasn’t just about handling the Scarlet Knights. It was a deliberate preview of what’s coming for Michigan’s freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood.

“I felt it in the moment and I felt it definitely re-watching it that Matt Patricia is starting to ramp it up a little bit, and I am wondering if he showed us some things against Rutgers that weren’t about Rutgers,” Means said. “They were about getting the reps on film because they’re about to play Michigan and they’re in playoff mode now.”

The evidence isn’t just theoretical. It’s in the numbers. Means highlighted the revealing statistics of linebacker Arvell Reese’s deployment: “Arvell 26 snaps where he was lined up as a defensive lineman. Those are all on the edge… That tells me more about what they’re going to do against Michigan.”

The Buckeyes were showing their cards not because they needed to, but because they wanted Michigan — and specifically Michigan’s true freshman quarterback — to see them.

Krajisnik agreed with the assessment, noting how the defense returned to a more complex approach after weeks of relatively vanilla schemes.

“Up front, this was kind of like a return to form for Matt Patricia just in terms of throwing a lot of stuff at the quarterback (Athan Kaliakmanis) and making it really difficult for him to predict what’s coming, make it very difficult for that offensive line.”

The timing isn’t coincidental. After several games where Ohio State could afford to be basic with its defensive calls, Patricia chose the penultimate regular-season game to unveil a more sophisticated approach. It wasn’t just Reese who was deployed differently. The secondary and safety rotations also offered hints about how the Buckeyes plan to attack Michigan.

Ohio State’s defense has been historically dominant this season, but according to the hosts, they’ve yet to show their full arsenal. The Rutgers game provided a glimpse of what Michigan might face: multiple fronts, disguised coverages and specific personnel packages designed to confuse an inexperienced quarterback.

The hosts also highlighted how Rutgers’ head coach Greg Schiano acknowledged the defensive pressure during an in-game interview, with Krajisnik paraphrasing, “we’re in hell right now, my guys are trying their best and I’m very proud of them for doing that.”

For Michigan fans hoping that Ohio State’s defense might have been fully revealed on film already, this podcast episode delivers a sobering message: you haven’t seen anything yet. The Buckeyes have been saving some of their best defensive looks specifically for Underwood and the Wolverines.

• BETTING: For Saturday’s game featuring Ohio State and Michigan, the over/under is set at 44.5 points on BetMGM. Our comprehensive BetMGM Sportsbook review will help you figure out how to navigate through their platform. For all of the best Ohio State Week 14 odds, be sure to check out our expert takes.

As college football’s greatest rivalry approaches, Patricia’s defensive masterclass against Rutgers should serve as both a warning and a preview. The real target wasn’t the Scarlet Knights — it was Michigan all along.

Want to hear the full breakdown of Ohio State’s defensive strategy and how it might translate to The Game? Listen to the complete episode of Buckeye Talk where Means and Krajisnik dive deeper into the film study and statistical analysis that reveal Patricia’s plan for Michigan.

Here’s the podcast for this week: