Desmond Howard: Ohio State's talent not showing up on field

Ohio State may be 8-1 on the season and ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff Top 25, but it’s no secret that the Buckeyes haven’t been at their best this year. During ESPN’s College Football Live show on Friday, college football analyst and College GameDay co-host Desmond Howard offered his comments on Ohio State and where the team stands at this point of the season.

“That’s the comment I keep hearing everybody talk about … ‘They got the most talent, they got the best talent,’ but it doesn’t show up on the field – especially against an opponent with a pulse,” Howard said. “It just hasn’t. They struggled against Minnesota, they lost against Oregon, they struggled against Penn State … Penn State went to nine overtimes against Illinois and lost. I mean, damn. That game was at home, too.

“I need to see them dominate a team with a pulse so then I can say, ‘OK, now the talent matches the productivity,’ because it hasn’t so far.”

Ohio State has reeled off seven straight wins since losing 35-28 to Oregon – which is ranked No. 3 in the latest CFP Top 25 – early into the season on Sept. 11, but the Buckeyes’ last two wins haven’t been dominate by any means.

On Oct. 30, Ohio State had to battle for a 33-24 win over Penn State – a Nittany Lions squad that suffered a nine-overtime loss to Illinois, and in Happy Valley. Following that sloppy performance, the Buckeyes last week put up less than 30 points in an ugly 26-17 victory over a struggling Nebraska team.

Tough stretch for Buckeyes starts Saturday vs. No. 19 Purdue

While Ohio State’s last two games were against more-inconsistent opponents and they still had to fight for ugly wins in those, the Buckeyes’ upcoming slate will really show what type of team they are heading down the stretch.

Starting Saturday, Ohio State will take on a No. 19 ranked Purdue team that has beaten both then-No. 2 Iowa and then-No. 3 Michigan State this season. Then, over the next two weeks, the Buckeyes will play both No. 7 Michigan State and No. 6 Michigan – clearly showing that coach Ryan Day’s club could very well not win again in the regular season if they don’t play much better.

Ohio State comes into Saturday’s matchup with Purdue as a 21-point favorite, and ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Buckeyes a 91% chance to win. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET from Columbus with ABC carrying the broadcast.