You can’t talk about Ohio State’s offense without starting with Jeremiah Smith. Against Texas, that’s even more true.
Every snap will feel like a hunt for the Buckeyes’ star receiver. Julian Sayin will be looking for him.
Opposing coaches will be hunting him. At least two defensive backs will be shaded his way on play after play.
Smith can blow by cornerbacks, rise over safeties and even haul in a pass with either hand - or his helmet.
But Saturday’s matchup with No. 4 Texas may hinge on the part of the game Smith can’t control: whether Ohio State can run the ball and close out a lead late.
That’s where Bo Jackson comes in, along with reserves Isaiah West, Legend Bey and Ja’Kobi Jackson. The offensive line matters, too, with four starters back from last season. If the Buckeyes are ahead late, they’ll need all of it working together to keep the ball moving and the clock draining.
That’s a big reason this feels like a different kind of Ohio State team. The Buckeyes return eight starters from an offense that ranked fifth nationally in yards per play a year ago, but they also replace eight starters - including three first-round picks - from a defense that finished second in the country. The shape of the roster points toward more dependence on the offense, which means more long possessions and fewer stops to lean on.
And recent history says the run game has to be part of that equation.
Under Ryan Day, Ohio State has been at its best when it can control games on the ground. The Buckeyes averaged 5.7 yards per carry in 2019, 5.96 in 2020, 5.54 in 2021 and 5.37 in 2022.
Then came the drop: 4.19 in 2023 and 4.99 in 2024. The 2023 team ranked 79th in the country and missed the College Football Playoff.
Last year’s group ranked 51st and fell to a more physical Miami team in the CFP quarterfinal.
The one season in between stands out for a reason. Ohio State paired Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson and won the national championship.
Day knows what that kind of balance means.
“If we’re going to get to where we need to go, we need a high level of play at that running back position,” Day said last month.
The numbers back him up. During Day’s tenure, Ohio State has won seven national championships, including the 2024 title season, and six of those teams ranked 31st or better in yards per carry.
The average rank among those six was 25.7. The lone exception was 2023 Michigan, which finished 53rd while leaning so heavily on Blake Corum that it hurt his efficiency.
So yes, the Buckeyes need to run it better. That’s not just a nice-to-have against Texas. It’s part of the formula.
And Texas is built to test that formula. The Longhorns ranked 12th in yards per carry allowed last season and bring back six starters, including four from the front seven and safety Jelani McDonald, who led the team in tackles.
They’re also loaded on offense. Arch Manning isn’t Sayin, but he directed a Texas attack that averaged 34.8 points per game over its final six games last season.
Steve Sarkisian then added the nation’s third-best transfer portal class. Former five-star receiver Cam Coleman, previously of Auburn, is now catching passes from Manning.
Raleek Brown, a former top-100 recruit from Arizona State, joins former 900-yard rusher Hollywood Smothers from N.C. State in a revamped backfield.
Five of Texas’ top six linemen have at least 800 college snaps.
That puts Ohio State in a tricky spot, especially with defensive coordinator Matt Patricia trying to account for the losses of Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs. The Buckeyes may have to answer Texas with offense as much as defense.
So if this turns into a shootout, don’t be surprised. And if Ohio State is sitting on a narrow lead late, trying to burn four minutes off the clock, the key question won’t be about Smith at all.
It’ll be whether the Buckeyes can do the one thing their best player can’t: finish the game on the ground.
In Other News...
Ohio State Fans Will Want To See Yetis New Buckeyes Gear
Ohio State fans looking to add a little scarlet and gray to their everyday carry now have a new option from Yeti. The company has rolled out a limited-edition 26-ounce Rambler water bottle in Buckeyes branding as part of its Collegiate Fandom Collection, giving supporters a chance to rep the program with a familiar piece of gear built from stainless steel and double-wall vacuum insulation.
The bottle comes with Yetis TripleHaul Handle and Chug Cap, and it is dishwasher safe, with an optional straw cap sold separately. It is one of 12 college football designs in the collection, but the Buckeyes version is not a permanent run, since it will be discontinued once current inventory is gone. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Sees Ohio State Texas Coming Down To One Big Play
Urban Meyer isnt treating Ohio States trip to Texas like a heavyweight mismatch. The former Buckeyes coach called the Week 2 showdown a coin toss after both teams opened the season in impressive fashion, and he pointed to the quarterbacks as the center of it all, with Julian Sayin and Arch Manning expected to carry much of the spotlight when the game kicks off on ABC.
Austin adds another layer to a matchup that already feels like it could swing on a single mistake or a single burst of execution. Texas has been tough at home, and Meyer made clear that the environment will matter, which only raises the stakes for Ohio State as it heads into one of the biggest early-season games on the calendar with little separating the two teams. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads To Texas With One Early Concern Looming
Texas opened the season with a win over Texas State and now turns its attention to a Week 2 home game against Ohio State, a matchup that already carries plenty of early-season intrigue. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are coming off their own opener against Ball State and will be trying to settle in on both sides of the ball after making changes along the offensive line and defense.
One of the first things Ohio State will have to monitor in Austin is Texas health on defense and in the backfield. Running back Derrek Cooper is expected to miss the game after an ankle injury, and safety Yaheim Riley also did not dress in the opener, leaving the Longhorns with some uncertainty to sort through before the Buckeyes arrive. [Read more 🡒]