For the second game in a row, Ohio State had to adjust its depth chart to account for the absences of numerous starters and other key contributors in Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game against Northwestern.
While most of the players who missed the Michigan State game were back for the conference title game – including offensive linemen Thayer Munford, Josh Myers and Nicholas Petit-Frere, linebacker Tuf Borland and safety Josh Proctor – the Buckeyes had two dozen unavailable players for their trip to Indianapolis including wide receiver Chris Olave, linebacker Baron Browning, punter Drue Chrisman, defensive ends Tyler Friday and Javontae Jean-Baptiste and safeties Marcus Hooker, Ronnie Hickman and Bryson Shaw.