Former Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz wasted little time making his mark in a new uniform, turning his first career start into one of the weekend’s most eye-catching performances. Across the country, a long list of former Buckeyes who transferred elsewhere also logged meaningful snaps as the college football season opened.
Kienholz, now at Louisville, had a shaky first half in a prime-time meeting with Ole Miss before flipping the script after halftime. He finished with 70 snaps and a 57.8 overall PFF grade, but the real story was how he kept the Cardinals alive late.
Kienholz led a game-tying drive in the closing minutes before Ole Miss answered with a late field goal to win it. He went 18 of 29 for 307 yards, threw two touchdowns and no interceptions, took three sacks and added 69 rushing yards plus a rushing score.
Elsewhere, several other former Ohio State players carved out notable roles. Hero Kanu, now at Texas, started at defensive tackle in the Longhorns’ win over Texas State and posted 25 snaps with a 59.1 grade, along with a quarterback pressure and two tackles.
Bryce West got on the stat sheet for Wisconsin in a game that eventually got away from the Badgers against Notre Dame. West played 46 snaps, finished with a 51.4 grade, and recorded two tackles, a batted ball and a pass breakup.
At UCLA, Malik Hartford made a strong showing at free safety in a 45-24 win over California. He played 86 snaps, totaled six tackles and a pass breakup, and graded out at 71.2.
Colorado’s Jayvon McFadden started at right guard in the Buffaloes’ 14-13 win over Georgia Tech, logging 78 snaps and a 65.1 overall grade.
Damarion Witten delivered one of the week’s louder individual stat lines in Miami (OH)’s 59-14 loss to Pittsburgh. The receiver had two catches for 90 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown, while playing 38 snaps and earning a 66.9 grade.
At Kansas State, Gabe Powers started at middle linebacker in a 71-3 rout of Nicholls. He played 29 snaps, posted an 81.9 grade and made three tackles.
Tegra Tshabola started at right guard for Kentucky in a 45-13 win over Youngstown State, playing 58 snaps and grading out at 62.7.
C.J. Hicks got the start at ROLB for USF in Brian Hartline 's head coaching debut, a 19-9 win over FIU. Hicks was active throughout the game, finishing with four quarterback pressures, four tackles and a pass breakup over 66 snaps, with a 64.1 grade.
Also for USF, Bryson Rodgers started at wideout, played 26 snaps and caught all three of his targets for 25 yards, while posting a 61.9 grade.
James Peoples saw work in Penn State’s 45-0 win over Marshall, handling 14 snaps and eight carries for 31 yards. He finished with a 74.6 grade.
Trajen Odom, now at Arkansas, recorded an overall grade of 61.2 in a game against Alabama.
Mylan Graham played 16 snaps in Notre Dame’s 41-13 win over Wisconsin. He was targeted once, did not catch a pass and graded at 58.1.
Ahmed Tounkara logged 37 snaps for Western Michigan, made a tackle and earned a 56.2 grade in a game against Michigan.
Jyaire Brown started at cornerback for Southern Miss in a 49-3 win over Alcorn State, playing 34 snaps, making three tackles and grading out at 72.8.
The week also included Logan George at Washington.
In Other News...
Ohio State May Have Found The Weapon Jeremiah Smith Needed
Ohio States receiving room kept looking for the right kind of complement to Jeremiah Smith, and Devin McCuin has quickly made a case that he can help fill that role. The three-star recruit from Jacksonville, Texas, spent three seasons at UTSA before transferring to Columbus, bringing a veteran feel to a group that already had plenty of high-end talent. Ryan Day took notice after watching McCuins work against Texas A&M, pointing to the traits that tend to earn trust fast from a quarterback and coaching staff.
McCuin backed that up in his Ohio State debut against Ball State, catching six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. It was the kind of opening act that suggests there may be more here than just a useful depth addition, especially for a Buckeyes offense still sorting out how its pieces fit together. If McCuin keeps showing the same speed, route running and toughness Day praised, Ohio State may have found exactly the kind of target Jeremiah Smith can lean on. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Walks Into A Texas Atmosphere Test Fans Can Feel
Ohio States trip to Austin has plenty of football reasons to command attention, starting with a matchup against Texas that already feels like one of the early measuring-stick games of the season. The Buckeyes go in led by quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and the focus around them is not just on talent, but on how a young offense handles a road setting that should look and sound nothing like a normal September Saturday.
Matthew McConaughey, a visible Texas supporter, spent time on ESPN talking about the setting and the kind of test Ohio State should expect at DKR. The larger point is clear enough for the Buckeyes: this is the sort of atmosphere that can squeeze every mistake, reward every surge, and turn the smallest communication issue into a bigger problem. For Ohio State, surviving the crowd may be almost as important as surviving the Longhorns. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Freshman Is Pushing For A Bigger Role Faster Than Expected
Khary Wilder wasted no time getting on the field in his Ohio State debut, and not just in one spot. The freshman defensive lineman logged 17 snaps in the opener against Ball State, rotating between defensive end and defensive tackle while showing the kind of versatility that can get a young player noticed early in the season. He was around the action often enough to help create pressure on the quarterback, and he even found a role on kickoff coverage.
For a depth chart that is always being sorted out in September, that kind of early workload matters. Coaches and teammates have already pointed to Wilders energy and upside, and the path forward is straightforward enough: the more he keeps making plays, the more opportunities he is likely to earn. Whether that translates into a steadier role will be worth watching as Ohio State moves deeper into the schedule. [Read more 🡒]