Ohio State football: Where do Buckeyes stack up in Big Ten, nation midway through regular season?

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Later this week we will bring you coach Ryan Day’s take on the first half of the season as well as our own.

1. Ohio State ranks in the national top 10 in 20 statistical categories. 

Day’s team is No. 1 in the country in first downs and blocked kicks.

Expand the scope to the top 10 and the list grows exponentially: The Buckeyes are No. 2 in tackles for loss (10.2 per game) and No. 3 in sacks (4.67 per game), total defense (234.0 yards per game), rushing offense (288.5 ypg.), red zone defense (53.3 percent) and third down conversions (55.9 percent).

Ohio State is fourth in scoring offense (49.3 points per game) and rushing offense (288.5 ypg.) and fifth in passing efficiency defense (95.1), interceptions (eight) and passes intercepted (one).

The Buckeyes are sixth in pass efficiency (190.7) and takeaways (13) while coming in eighth in third down defense (25.6 percent) and total offense (534.5 ypg.). They rank ninth in rushing defense (82.0 ypg.), punt return defense and net punting (43.0) while boasting the No. 10 turnover margin (1.17) in the country.

2. The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in 10 categories. 

Ohio State has the top running game in the conference while also leading the league in total yards and scoring through six weeks. The offense is also No. 1 in the league on third downs while the defense leads the way in red zone defense.

The Buckeyes are also No. 1 in the Big Ten in interceptions (both thrown and caught) along with takeaways, kickoff return defense and punt return defense.

3. Justin Fields leads the nation in points responsible for. 

The sophomore quarterback has had a hand in 156 points so far, the most in the country.

In his first season as a starter, he leads the Big Ten in touchdown passes (18) while ranking in the top 10 nationally in passing efficiency and rushing touchdowns.

J.K. Dobbins leads the Big Ten in rushing (826 yards) and ranks No. 2 in all-purpose yards (145.0 per game). The junior running back is No. 10 in the nation in yards per carry (7.1).

On the other side of the ball, Jeffrey Okudah leads the Big Ten in interceptions (three) while Chase Young is No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in sacks (1.42 per game).

4. Ohio State ranks in the bottom half of the Big Ten in four categories. 

Although Day’s team ranks seventh or best in nearly every category, the Buckeyes are 10th in fumbles lost (five), ninth in kickoff returns, ninth in penalties (32) and eighth in penalty yards per game (49.0).

Nationally the one ranking that sticks out from a negative perspective is sacks allowed. The Buckeyes have given up 2.17 per game to rank 71st in that category.

5. Advanced stats like Ohio State a lot, too. 

FP+, an advanced statistic from FootballOutsiders.com now affiliated with ESPN, projected Ohio State at No. 7 to start the season.

After six weeks, the Buckeyes are up to No. 2 and just a hair below No. 1 Alabama.

Ohio State is the only team with an offense (No. 5) and defense (No. 3) both in the top 10 of SP+, which is similar to OPS in baseball as it measures effectiveness on a play-by-play basis and a team’s ability to create (or prevent) explosive plays.

The Crimson Tide are No. 2 in offense and 11th defensively while defending national champion Clemson has slipped to No. 8 overall with the No. 15 offense and No. 10 defense.