DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Jim Heacock was getting acceptable performances from fourth-year juniors Vernon Gholston and Marcus Freeman, but the Ohio State defensive coordinator has been waiting to be wowed.

The Buckeyes have just one senior starter on defense, and Heacock issued a challenge to those two veterans before Saturday's Northwestern game, telling them, as Chef Emeril might say, to kick it up a notch.

"We leaned on them to step it up," Heacock said. "Those guys have to play better than anybody on the field. They're the oldest, and they're the ones who have been around the most. I thought they both did a good job."

Gholston had two sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown, earning the team's defensive player of the week award. And Freeman had his best outing of the season with two tackles for loss and a molar-rattling hit on a Wildcats receiver that drew an appreciative "ooh" from the crowd.

The Wayne product, who was named the team's attack force player of the week, normally rotates at weakside linebacker with Ross Homan. But the sophomore from Coldwater was sidelined with a toe injury, allowing Freeman to play every meaningful defensive snap.

"Any time you get a chance to go out there and make big plays, that's always fun," Freeman said. "I knew with Ross being out, I had to step up.

"Our coaches did a good job of scouting their offense and helping us be alert for different plays," he added. "Getting pressure from the D-line, that disrupts a lot of things."

The Buckeyes put together their most complete effort in the 58-7 win. They held the Wildcats to 0 yards rushing while scoring the most points in a game during the seven-year tenure of coach Jim Tressel.

They're allowing 177.8 total yards per game, second nationally to LSU (161.5). They're third in scoring defense (7.3 points) and seventh in rushing defense (57.5).

OSU faces struggling Minnesota on the road in prime time Saturday. The Gophers are coming off a 45-31 defeat at home to Purdue and have lost to Bowling Green and Florida Atlantic, while beating Miami in triple overtime.

Purdue game on ABC

OSU announced that its game at Purdue on Oct. 6 will be carried by ABC at 8 p.m.

Next game

Who: Ohio State (4-0, 1-0) at Minnesota (1-3, 0-1)

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

TV: ESPN2

Radio: WING-AM (1410)