Six games through the 2018 season, Ohio State was ranked No. 3 in the country — exactly where it finds itself six games into the 2019 slate.
The vibe between the two teams, however, couldn't be more different.
Last year's Buckeyes were dominant offensively, but that was thanks to a record-breaking passing attack spearheaded by quarterback Dwayne Haskins. The offense lacked balance, though, and the absence of a strong running game was concerning.
Then there was a defense showing signs of big issues. Nick Bosa was lost for the season, the linebacker and secondary coaches were running a secret competition to see who could erase their position groups from relevancy on a weekly basis, and opposing offenses were having little trouble finding room to work.