It could be a grim scenario for Marshall when they meet No. 3 Ohio State at Ohio Stadium this Saturday as a 39.5 underdog. Marshall is currently 1-1, ranking 83rd after falling to Virginia Tech. On the other hand, Ohio State dominated their first two games and is looking for their third win against the Thundering Herd. 

Despite a tough game ahead, Marshall HC Charles Huff is feeling good about the track they’re on and the players they have. Still, it didn’t stop him from sporting some smart recruiting tactics ahead of their game. But does his NIL comment hide more than just an offer?

In an X post by Brett McMurphy on September 17, Huff appeared in a conference speech to make an enticing offer for the Buckeyes. He promised this to any Ohio State player who would transfer to MU saying, “We’ve got a Tudor’s Biscuits NIL, all-you-can-eat… I promise you, all you can eat, all day, if you transfer here.”

Painting a contrast between the two teams’ NIL situation, while Marshall is priding itself on an all-you-can-eat deal, Ryan Day and Ohio State reportedly received around $20 million in NIL money. Not only that, they’re not just No. 3 in CFB but also the third in the program with the most NIL deals. According to a study conducted on CFB programs for a duration from March 2021 to May 2024, Ohio State has a staggering 286 reported deals just behind Florida and Texas. And their NIL success is shining on the football field this season.

Ohio State dominates early 2024 season

Ohio State opened the 2024 season in a very dominant fashion with a 52-6 win against AKR. After their last 56-0 victory over WMU in Week 2, they emerged on AP’s top 3 of the best CFB teams just behind Texas and Georgia. They even landed on No. 1 on Dan Mullen’s top 25 list. In their two games played, the Buckeyes went 108-6 with 1,087 total yards in offense. 

But with lucrative NIL money, Ohio State AD Ross Bjork made sure that it takes their recruitment to a higher level by luring elite prospects. With the Buckeyes dominating the NIL scene as well as the season, the result of the game is almost predictable and Charles Huff could be trying to justify the performance that’s about to go down in advance. The upcoming game against Marshall will mark their last non-conference game before they take on Michigan State.