EVANSTON, Ill. – The wind and rain whipped across Ryan Field on Saturday, forcing whatever game plan coaches devised to be altered.
That only partly explains No. 2 Ohio State's struggles against 38-point underdog Northwestern before escaping with a 21-7 victory.
With wind gusts up to 49 mph, Ohio State's passing game was rendered ineffective. C.J. Stroud threw for a career-low 76 yards on 10-of-26 passing.
But the weather was no excuse for the Buckeyes' running game struggling for most of the game for the third straight week. Northwestern's run defense ranked 111th entering the country.