Prospect Matchup Deep Dive Week 4

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Recap of Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud vs. Wisconsin’s Defense

Last week we looked at the Heisman favorite C.J. Stroud against the stout Jim Leonhard Wisconsin defense. We expected Stroud to have a solid performance and for the Buckeyes offense to handle Wisconsin, but they were dominant. They put up 45 points through 3 quarters, and Stroud was almost perfect except for his one interception before the half as he was pushing against the clock to get more points. Stroud was 17 of 27 for 281 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. All the while only having to distribute the ball to four receivers. The Wisconsin defense was a mess. They couldn’t get pressure with four, and when they blitzed, the defensive backs were victimized by the Ohio State receiving core. Wisconsin was forced to play a lot of heavy defensive back packages, which they were then crushed in the run-game by RBs TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams. Stroud was not forced to show us anything special in this one, which may be the norm for the next several weeks. If there is one thing to knock Stroud for or want to see, it would be the running ability. He has speed but rarely uses it, and the belief is that he hasn’t had to. It may not be something we see until the Michigan game or College Football Playoff when he may be forced to create opportunities with his legs. Regardless, the Heisman trophy and the first overall QB taken in the 2023 NFL Draft both look like Stroud’s to lose.

This Week's Matchup to Watch

Texas A&M RB Devon Achane vs. Mississippi State’s Rush Defense