Ohio State walked into halftime against Illinois with a 21-10 lead, and the first 30 minutes in the Horseshoe belonged to Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes got enough from both sides of the ball to take control of the game, but the performance also left a couple of clear areas that still need cleaning up.
The biggest concern came on the defensive side, where Ohio State’s run defense had a rough half. Illinois found too much room on the ground, with the Buckeyes’ front not generating enough push and the linebackers getting pinned inside the second level. The pursuit wasn’t sharp either, and that showed up in how often Illinois was able to move the ball on the ground.
That’s a problem Ohio State can’t afford to carry forward, even if this was only the first half against Illinois. The defense is young, and there’s still growing to do, but the basic issue is simple: if the defensive line isn’t taking on blockers and freeing up the second level, stronger rushing teams are going to make life a lot harder down the road.
The offense, meanwhile, showed real progress in the area that had been a nagging issue coming in: short yardage. Ohio State had struggled there, especially near the goal line, but this half looked different.
The backs were running with more force, the offensive line was creating better movement, and Julian Sayin helped finish some of those plays with his legs. The Buckeyes went 3-for-3 in the red zone and converted 6 of 8 third downs, including several in short-yardage situations.
They did miss once on 3rd-and-2, but they responded by converting a fourth down.
And then there was Smith, who once again looked like the best player on the field. He finished the half with eight catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns, doing damage in every possible way. He made contested grabs, hauled in passes in tight coverage, beat defenders when he had room, and turned one 72-yard catch into a highlight reel of broken tackles and wasted angles.
It was the kind of half that makes the case all over again. Smith wasn’t just productive; he was overwhelming. Whether he gets that Heisman attention or not, Ohio State is watching one of the great college receivers put on a show, and he’s doing it in plain sight.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Legend Bey May Have A Bigger Problem Than Playing Time
Legend Beys first season at Ohio State has already been shaped by interruption, and not just because of the usual freshman learning curve. After an earlier suspension and an ankle injury, the running back has been working from behind for playing time, and his role has stayed limited as the Buckeyes have moved through the season. Even in areas where young players can sometimes find a foothold, his path has been narrow.
The latest sign came against Illinois, when Bey did not play and another player handled his kick-return work instead. For a freshman trying to earn more than a spot in the rotation, that kind of move can say plenty about where he stands with the staff. If the concerns run deeper than health or depth-chart traffic, it could become a bigger issue for Bey as he looks to settle his future in Columbus. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Future Talent Pipeline Is Starting To Look Different
Ohio States recruiting machine is still humming, but the shape of the pipeline is starting to change. The Buckeyes already hold 19 verbal commitments in the 2027 class, a group that includes six national top 100 players and the countrys No. 1 overall prospect, DJ Jacobs, giving the staff another chance to load up early with high-end talent.
The next wave looks just as promising, if a little different in how it is forming. Ohio State has five commitments in the 2028 class, four of them top 100 prospects, led by quarterback Christopher Vargas at No. 4 nationally, and even the 2029 class already has a foothold with wide receiver Austin Miller, ranked No. 50. For a program that has long built its roster on blue-chip talent, the real question is how this early momentum will translate when the class rankings and the pressure both start to rise. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Growing Running Back Problem Behind Ja'Kobi Jackson
Ohio State got the win over Illinois in Week 4, but the running back room left Ryan Day with a lot to sort through. The group finished with 122 rushing yards, and Ja'Kobi Jackson accounted for the best of it with 56 yards and a touchdown, giving the Buckeyes a steadier presence than they got from the rest of the rotation.
What followed was more revealing than the box score. Day publicly singled out sophomores Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, questioning their effort when compared with Ja'Kobi Jackson, and the backdrop here is not just one uneven afternoon but a position group dealing with injuries and inconsistent play. For Ohio State, the bigger concern is whether there is a reliable answer behind Ja'Kobi Jackson, because right now the depth chart looks far less settled than a contender would prefer. [Read more 🡒]