The Ohio State offense is at full strength and hitting its stride.
If you think the numbers its posted in its last two games are impressive, wait 'til you see what's ahead.
Quarterback Braxton Miller is healthy and playing his best football. Power back Carlos Hyde is running behind a strong, veteran offensive line and chewed up seven yards per carry while scoring seven touchdowns in three October games. Hyde scored twice against an Iowa defense that hadn't given up a rushing touchdown all season on Oct. 19, and Ohio State posted 42-point first half last week against Penn State.
The Buckeyes are up to fifth in the nation in scoring at 47.3 points per game and eighth in the nation in total offense at a little over 517 yards per game.
Next up is Purdue, which is giving up 399.6 yards per game on the season. After that come Illinois (457.7) and Indiana (498.1). The Hoosiers have given up fewer than 41 points just twice in seven games; in two road games, they've given up 63 and 42.
That Nov. 23 game is in Columbus.
The Ohio State offense has been so impressive of late because it's been whole. There were certainly no struggles in three non-conference games when Kenny Guiton replaced Miller, but his return at full speed adds new dimensions. Hyde was suspended for three games and a bit player in two, but his running carried Ohio State to its two most impressive wins and has kept the chains moving since. Miller got sloppy and lost two fumbles at Northwestern, but he's come back as confident as he's been and threw for a career-best 252 yards last week vs. Penn State.
In the last two games, Miller has completed 40-of-51 passes for 474 yards and five touchdowns without an interception; he's also had 29 rushes for 170 yards.
Hyde has had a 100-yard half in each of his last three games. Yes. A half.
Miller and Hyde have opened things up for freshman speedster Dontre Wilson and an experienced receiving crew that isn't extraordinary but has been productive. Philly Brown is tied for the Big Ten lead with seven touchdown catches, and he's one ahead of Devin Smith, who's averaging 15 yards per on 35 receptions.
Miller's improved passing -- he was 15-of-26 at Northwestern -- and the play of the senior-laden offensive line have made the Buckeyes very tough to defend.
"Fundamentally, (Miller) is a much better player than he was a year ago and he's better with knowledge of the offense," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. "I see it every day. The more a quarterback does the same system --- last year was the second system as a quarterback and now he's in the same one, same coach, same system for two years -- you should be better. But he's really better. I anticipated he would be better."
Meyer said it's "no coincidence" that Miller has played better since Guiton started warming up in the second half at Northwestern on Oct. 5. And he's not the only one who's answered the coaching staff's call for improved production.
Meyer has cited Brown as a player who's changed his way and developed into a leader, and the offensive line has also benefited from the emergence of guard Marcus Hall.
"From what pro scouts tell me and what I've seen, (Hall) is one of the most improved offensive linemen in America," Meyer said. "I think he has a future in football. He's arguably the most improved player on our team, too."
The Buckeyes are clearly confident at 20-0 under Meyer. They're experienced, too, with 10 upperclassmen on the first-team offense on the depth chart. Miller is getting the ball out of hand quick on a lot of pass plays and extending others with his feet; Miller and Hyde playing at such a high level is forcing defenses to make difficult decisions on what to try to take away from the Buckeyes.
"We have to keep our foot on the pedal," Miller said.
If the Buckeyes do, the November numbers could be even bigger.
