Ohio State has already seen what one elite Ole Miss transfer can do for a backfield.
When Quinshon Judkins arrived in Columbus in 2023, he changed the equation right away. He eased the burden on TreVeyon Henderson, and the two of them formed one of the best running back tandems in the country. That duo helped power the Buckeyes to a National Championship, and it’s the kind of pairing that will stick in program memory for a long time.
Now, there’s at least a little buzz that Ohio State could be watching another Ole Miss running back situation closely.
Kewan Lacy was injured in Ole Miss’ high-scoring game against Texas last week, and the injury could last for the rest of the season. He dislocated his shoulder and is set to miss this coming week at minimum, with the possibility of more time after that.
The Rebels’ season is hanging in the balance after taking two losses already, and they can’t really afford another one the rest of the way. Lacy matters to everything Ole Miss does, which makes the next stretch against Auburn and potentially Georgia especially important.
If the Rebels survive those games without him and stay in the hunt for a College Football Playoff run, there’s a chance they’ll keep pushing forward with Lacy out. If things go badly, it would not be a shock if he shut it down for the year, got healthy, and turned his attention to what comes next.
That’s where the speculation starts. The big question is whether Lacy would enter the NFL Draft or look for another college stop through the transfer portal.
The feeling here is that he should and probably would go to the draft. He’s already shown enough at the college level to look like a back with NFL talent.
Still, if he decides he wants another year in college, the portal could be an option. And if that happens, Ohio State would absolutely be a team with interest.
The Buckeyes have been chasing the kind of elite backfield firepower they had with Judkins and Henderson, and that gap has shown up in the way the team has played since. Bringing in a player like Lacy would not solve everything, but it would give Ohio State another proven weapon.
Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn’t. But after what the Buckeyes got from Judkins, it’s easy to understand why the idea of another Ole Miss transfer is worth talking about.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Got A New Warning About USC Trip
USCs offense hit an unusual wall against Wisconsin, and that should at least sharpen Ohio States attention ahead of its trip west. In a loss that doubled as the lowest-scoring outing of the Lincoln Riley era, the Trojans were held to seven points and 241 total yards, with Wisconsin making a clear point of attacking the run game first and then getting after quarterback Jayden Maiava.
For Ohio State, the lesson is less about copying Wisconsin and more about seeing a workable blueprint. USC still has the pieces to stress a defense in a hurry, but when the running game gets bogged down and Maiava feels pressure, the whole operation can stall. That gives the Buckeyes a useful warning before they walk into the matchup, because stopping the early rhythm may matter just as much as dealing with the explosive plays everyone expects. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads To USC With Two Defensive Questions Lingering
Ohio States trip to USC is arriving with a familiar kind of October tension: a big road test, a short turnaround and a growing injury list after the Buckeyes win over Indiana. The latest concern on offense is Julian Sayin, whose injury appears likely to end his season, but the defensive side is carrying its own uncertainty as Ryan Day tries to sort out who will be available in Los Angeles.
Jay Timmons and Kenyatta Jackson are the names that now hang over the matchup, with Day offering only an update that leaves their status up in the air. For a Buckeyes team that is still trying to keep its focus on the next opponent, the timing matters because USC is the kind of game where every available body on defense matters, and Ohio State may not know its full plan until later in the week. [Read more 🡒]
Carson Hinzman Suddenly Holds The Key To Ohio States Offense
With Julian Sayin out for the rest of the season, Ohio State is turning to true freshman Luke Fahey at quarterback and leaning hard on the veteran presence in front of him. That puts center Carson Hinzman in a far more important spot than usual, because the Buckeyes will need his experience to steady the offensive line, handle protection calls and help keep the operation smooth for a first-time starter.
The plan now is to trim things down and make life easier for Fahey, with a simpler playbook built around quick throws and a heavier dose of the run game. In that setup, Hinzman becomes more than just a blocker in the middle - he is one of the players most responsible for making sure the offense gets lined up properly and stays on schedule while Ohio State tries to adjust on the fly. [Read more 🡒]