Ohio St. RB TreVeyon Henderson to return from 3-game injury absence
Coach Ryan Day indicated Thursday on his radio talk that Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson will play against Wisconsin on Saturday after missing the previous three games due to injury. Henderson dressed up and went through warmups for the No. 3 Buckeyes in each of their last two games, including last week’s duel with Penn State, but did not play due to an unexplained ailment.
Henderson last appeared against Notre Dame on September 23rd, gaining 104 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Henderson was a late scratch for Ohio State’s Oct. 7 win over Maryland after a bye week. “Trey’s had a really good week of practice,” stated Day on the radio show. “He’s full-go, so excited to get him back out there.”
Henderson leads Ohio State in rushing this season with 295 yards and five touchdowns on 44 attempts. Day stated that “other guys will get opportunities as well” against the Badgers. Chip Trayanum has started the last three games, and Miyan Williams had 62 yards and a touchdown against Penn State.
Day did not say whether wide receiver Emeka Egbuka or cornerback Denzel Burke would return from their injuries versus Wisconsin.
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No. 3 Ohio State was intent on preventing Camp Randall from becoming a haven for pain.
Things to watch during Week 9 of play in the Big Ten Conference:
Game of the week
No. 3 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
Ohio State coach Ryan Day expects a juiced-up crowd at Camp Randall Stadium when the Buckeyes visit on the weekend before Halloween. Even though the Badgers have lost nine in a row in the series, Ohio State seems to get pushed to the limit every time it plays in Madison. The previous two games there went to overtime.
The Buckeyes must guard against a letdown after their big win over Penn State. They appear to be getting healthier. RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Emeka Egbuka and CB Denzel Burke are expected to play.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is a former Ohio State player, position coach, defensive coordinator and interim head coach. There’s no doubt a win over his old team would be sweet for the West-leading Badgers, who finish the regular season with a very manageable schedule (Indiana, Northwestern, Nebraska and Minnesota).
Best matchup
Purdue (2-5, 1-3) at Nebraska (4-3, 2-2), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Nebraska has won four of its last five games under first-year coach Matt Rhule, has matched its 2022 win total and is in the thick of the West race. FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Cornhuskers as a 2 1/2-point favorite against a team that has beaten them in back-to-back years.
The Huskers are without three starting offensive linemen and their top receiver because of injuries and will need the defense to continue being stout.
Purdue, the defending West champion, has lost four of its last five games under first-year coach Ryan Walters and must go 4-1 down the stretch to make a third straight bowl.
Inside the numbers
Penn State, which hosts Indiana, is 12-0 at home against the Hoosiers. Indiana has lost 10 of its last 11 Big Ten road games. … Maryland’s nine interceptions are tied second-most over the first seven games in 20 years. The 2018 team had 13 picks at this point. … Minnesota’s 12-10 win over Iowa last week was its first since 1981 when it didn’t score a touchdown. The Gophers beat Iowa 12-10 in that game, too.
Long shot
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Northwestern (3-4, 1-3) is a 13 1/2-point home underdog against Maryland (5-2, 2-2). If the Wildcats’ offense performs like it did against Nebraska last week, they have no chance. QB Brendan Sullivan has started the last two games in lieu of the injured Ben Bryant, whose prognosis for this week is unknown.
The Wildcats’ defense has given good efforts, but it might be a long day if it can’t get off the field against Taulia Tagovailoa’s 422-yard-per-game attack.
Impact player
Michigan State quarterback Katin Houser will be looking to rebound in his third career start, and second on the road, against Minnesota. Last week, he went 12 for 22 for 101 yards and an interception in a 49-0 home defeat to No. 2 Michigan. The redshirt freshman was strong in a defeat against Rutgers that should have been a win, and it appears that the job is his to lose after taking over for the unproductive Noah Kim.
