Arkansas State will try to spring the biggest upset of the season when it travels to No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday afternoon. The Red Wolves are coming off a 58-3 win over Grambling State, but they will face a much tougher opponent this week. Ohio State did not play its best football for most of last week’s game against then-No. 5 Notre Dame, but the Buckeyes survived in a 21-10 final.
Arkansas State opened the season with a convincing blowout win over Grambling State, rolling to a 58-3 win. The Red Wolves are led by head coach Butch Jones, who has made stops at Tennessee and Cincinnati during his career, along with being a special assistant at Alabama when the Crimson Tide blew out Ohio State in the 2020 national title game. Jones struggled during his first year as Arkansas State’s head coach, going just 2-10 last year. However, the Red Wolves have an experienced quarterback in James Blackman, who spent time as Florida State’s starter. Blackman found Oregon State transfer Champ Flemings seven times for 122 yards last week.
WOKE UP 1-0?? GAME 1 RECAP??#WolvesUp x #ADifferentBreed pic.twitter.com/eozKtQI3RD
— Arkansas State Football (@AStateFB) September 5, 2022
Blackman, a senior, completed 16 of 21 pass attempts for 210 yards and two touchdowns in the blowout win. Senior running back Johnnie Lang had an excellent day as well, rushing for 124 yards and a score on 13 carries. Backup quarterback AJ Mayer added seven carries for 74 yards and completed 5 of 6 pass attempts. The Arkansas State defense had an outstanding day as well, picking up five sacks against Grambling. The Red Wolves were one of eight teams from the Sun Belt to pick up wins in Week 1—Ohio State has faced Sun Belt schools Marshall (twice) and Troy during its history.