Nick Saban’s advice for Oregon Ducks to beat Ohio State Buckeyes

Former legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban knows a thing or two about winning games, and the No. 3 Oregon Ducks might want to reference his before Saturday’s game against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium hear the latest advice.

During an appearance Friday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” Saban shared that the key for Oregon to beat the Buckeyes was putting an emphasis on running the ball.

“To beat Ohio State, you have to be able to run the ball,” Saban told McAfee. “In the last six games they lost, the opposing team ran more than them because they will try to run the ball. So if you can control the line of scrimmage, you have a chance. Now Oregon can do it.” ? Can they keep up with the front runners? That will be the big question.”

McAfee then brought up how some of the new Big Ten teams from the West Coast have had difficulty keeping up with the physicality the conference typically offers. However, Saban believes Oregon is one of the teams equipped for this ground-and-pound style.

“You’re one of them,” Saban said of the Ducks. “…For me, that’s the big question because the big question for Oregon early in the season was whether the offensive line would be able to overcome the issues. Now they’ve overcome some of the issues from the first few games “not giving up sacks, running the ball more effectively, but that’s another issue we’ll have to figure out soon.”

Saban then pointed out the lack of “big people” on the West Coast compared to the Midwest and Southeast. He believes that can give the Big Ten a physical advantage at times.

“But I think the big thing on the West Coast — and I’ve always felt this way — is that you have to import big people,” Saban said. “There aren’t enough big people on the West Coast when you talk about interior designers, unless they’re from Hawaii or Samoa or somewhere else, because there just aren’t as big people there as there are in the Midwest and Southeast.”

If the Ducks want to get a huge win at home. They may have to rely on running back Jordan James, who has 88 carries for 552 yards and six touchdowns so far this season. Oregon coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks hope to upset Ryan Day’s Buckeyes on Saturday, October 12 at 4:30 p.m. PT.