On Sunday, Sept. 17, two of the National Club Football Association’s most successful programs will renew their spirited rivalry.
Ohio State, which opened the season ranked No. 2 in the 2023 NCFA preseason poll is set to travel to No. 9 Oakland to play in the ninth edition of what has become one of the best rivalries in NCFA history. The two programs have accounted for four of the league’s 12 national championships, each winning two. The Buckeyes (2019, 2021) and Grizzlies (2014, 2016) stand tied in that department with Coppin State (2012, 2013) as the only three teams in league history to win multiple national titles.
The rivalry with Oakland has been separated into two eras, with the Grizzlies winning the first four matchups in the series spanning from 2013-2016. The Buckeyes have since evened the series, winning the last four matchups by a combined score of 180-26, highlighted by a 36-9 win in the 2019 NCFA National Championship Game. Between them, Ohio State and Oakland have appeared in seven national title games and have won nine conference crowns.
The 2023 edition of the rivalry is set to see a new era for both programs. The Buckeyes graduated NCFA legends Kellyn Gerenstein, Casey Scroggins and Jordan Griffith-Simmon who combined for nine NCFA All-American honors in their time in Columbus. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are set to return just nine overall players from a 2022 squad that finished 4-3 overall and 3-3 in the Great Lakes Conference.
With Gerenstein gone, the Buckeyes are set to turn to Spencer Moore at quarterback for just the second time as the starting signal caller. Moore filled in for an injured Gerenstein against Michigan State in 2022 and promptly set the program record for completions in a single game (24), while accumulating 381 passing yards and four touchdowns on the day. Over his career, Moore has completed 38-of-54 pass attempts for 608 yards and seven touchdowns to just one interception. He also caught 13 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons as a tight end in 2021-22.
While the Buckeyes are replacing their full-time starter at quarterback, one of the few returning players for the Grizzlies is QB Evan Plets. Plets is entering his third year as the starter for Oakland. In 2021, he led the Grizzlies to a conference title and 4-4 overall record. In two seasons he has completed 48% of his passes for 1,260 yards and 10 touchdowns to 18 interceptions. He has also added three rushing scores. His favorite target has been Tyrese Johnson who has led the Grizzlies in receiving yards each of the last two seasons. Johnson, who is entering his fourth year with Oakland, has accumulated 41 career catches for 605 yards and five touchdowns in his career.
Despite losing the program’s all-time leading receiver in Scroggins, the Buckeyes return one of the most experienced offenses in the league at the skill positions. First-team All-American Abdou Keita is looking to build on a stellar first season in which he caught 29 passes for 666 yards and nine touchdowns, while Johnathan Thiele returns as Ohio State’s starting running back after missing the latter half of 2022 due to injury. Thiele has tallied 603 rushing yards on 81 career carries, despite missing portions of both 2021 and 2022 due to injury.
A variety of newcomers figure to factor into Ohio State’s offense, including freshman Zach Hayes and junior Patrick Parrish. Veterans David Cooper and Jalen Haley will also add an element of explosiveness to the Buckeye offense.
Up front, the Buckeyes are set to return two starters from an offensive line that paved the way for the best rush offense in team history a year ago. Zach Davis and Sam Dominguez return to anchor an offensive front that welcomes two transfers and a number of freshmen.
Defensively, both teams are replacing a plethora of talent. Ohio State’s entire secondary, with the exception of NCFA Academic All-American Joe Umba and Christian Allen, will be new while the Buckeyes also must replace linebackers Colby Stahl and Lance Wickham. Jackson Rittman has emerged as the leader of the defense at linebacker while Ohio State’s sack leader from a year ago, Trey Jones, is also set to play a prominent role. Freshman Glorien Gough has been as impressive as anyone in fall camp and should be an explosive member of the secondary for Ohio State.
While Oakland’s attacking style defense continues to be the cornerstone of its program, the personnel being used to execute remains largely unknown as the Grizzlies have rebuilt the majority of their roster over the offseason. Former NCFA All-American Brett Jacobs is set to take the reins as head coach full time in 2023 after spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons as an assistant and co-head coach respectively.
Kickoff between the two rivals is set for 7 p.m. at Elaine Leigh Stadium on campus at Oakland University. Admission is free.
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