Ohio State got back in the win column Saturday, beating Northwestern 28-19 to snap a two-game skid. The result mattered. The performance, though, left plenty of the same questions hanging in the air.
Yes, the Buckeyes fought through another uneven afternoon and came away with a victory. But the game didn’t do much to calm the noise around a team that still looks stuck in the same bad habits. For all the final score said, Ohio State did not look like a group that had suddenly cleaned things up.
The most obvious issue was still the defense on third down. Matt Patricia’s unit had another rough day, even against a Northwestern offense starting its backup quarterback. Through the first three quarters, the Wildcats converted 6 of 11 third downs, and they weren’t living in easy territory either - their average distance to go was 8.5 yards.
That wasn’t the only problem. Of the seven explosive plays Ohio State allowed, four came on third or fourth down.
Northwestern hit the Buckeyes with two passing plays of 20-plus yards on third-and-long and also picked up a 10-yard run on a third-and-2 late in the second quarter. After limiting chunk plays early in the season, Ohio State has now started giving them up again, and far too often in the biggest moments.
Patricia did move away from the three-man rushes that hurt the Buckeyes in their previous two games, but that didn’t solve the larger issue. Ohio State still couldn’t get off the field when it needed to, and the defense kept finding itself out of position. The middle of the field was open too often, and the leverage problems were there again.
The pass rush, at least, showed some life. Ohio State finished with five sacks, a clear step forward after managing just one sack total against USC and Oregon combined, with that lone takedown coming on a corner blitz by Jermaine Mathews.
Will Smith Jr. got things going with a first-quarter sack, ending a streak of five straight games without a sack from an Ohio State defensive lineman. Kenyatta Jackson led the way with two sacks, the first multi-sack game by a Buckeye this season. Qua Russaw and James Smith each added one.
On offense, the biggest change was simple: Jeremiah Smith got the ball early and often. After being largely forgotten for two full quarters against Oregon, Ohio State made a point of feeding its top receiver.
That paid off. Jeremiah Smith caught 11 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown and was clearly the centerpiece of the attack.
Luke Fahey was solid, if uneven, at quarterback. He made a few nice plays by moving around in the pocket, but there were also moments when he missed open receivers and put the ball in the dirt. His day had the feel of a quarterback who can flash, but not yet sustain it.
He also had a deep ball that might have been his best throw of the game, only for Chris Henry Jr. to drop it despite the pass hitting him right in the hands. It looked like an easy touchdown.
The run game gave Ohio State something to lean on, even with two starters missing from the offensive line. Bo Jackson carried 20 times for 114 yards and a touchdown, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. Isaiah West added 45 yards on 10 carries, but his fumble near the goal line cost the Buckeyes a chance to add points late.
Special teams remained a mess, even after Ohio State fired coordinator Robby Discher last week. The Buckeyes muffed a punt on the receiving end, averaged just 43 yards per punt, and gave up a 30-yard punt return. They did benefit from a Northwestern muffed punt, which handed them a turnover.
Penalties also stayed in the picture. Ohio State was flagged five times for 50 yards, including an illegal block that wiped out a 15-yard gain by Devin McCuin, plus a pair of roughing the passer calls. Legend Bey was also penalized for taunting after an impressive play, erasing the good result for the freshman.
So the Buckeyes won. That part is real. But the larger question remains the same one that followed the previous two losses: what actually changed?
Jeremiah Smith was featured properly, and the pass rush showed some punch. Beyond that, the same issues kept showing up.
The third down defense is still a problem. The tight ends room is still being asked to do too much in key blocking spots.
Fahey is still inconsistent.
Ohio State did enough to beat Northwestern. Whether that is enough to carry them through the final two games is another matter entirely.
In Other News...
Desmond Howard Took Another Shot At Jeremiah Smith And Buckeyes Fans Wont Like It
Desmond Howard stirred the pot again on First Take, taking aim at Jeremiah Smith and suggesting the Ohio State receiver has not delivered decisive moments in big games over the past two years. It is the kind of criticism that lands loudly in Columbus, especially with Smith already carrying the kind of national profile that makes every comment about him feel bigger than it should.
The pushback is easy to find in Ohio States own recent games, from Smiths game-winning touchdown against Indiana to a strong showing against Iowa that featured key receptions and scores. Even with the Buckeyes College Football Playoff path still uncertain, Smith remains one of the sports top Heisman Trophy candidates, which is exactly why any fresh swipe at his big-game rsum is going to get noticed. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Bigger Problem Than Just Beating Northwestern
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The path forward is complicated by more than just its own inconsistency. The Buckeyes are also watching results elsewhere, with teams such as UCLA, Indiana, USC, Oregon and Iowa all shaping the postseason picture around them. Even if Ohio State handles Northwestern, the bigger question is whether this group can sharpen enough to hold its place in a crowded Big Ten race and keep its playoff hopes alive. [Read more 🡒]
Northwestern Coach Sounds Off After Ohio State Call Changed The Game
David Braun had plenty to say after Northwesterns 28-19 loss to Ohio State, and much of it started with respect for the Buckeyes. The Wildcats coach praised Ohio States performance and pointed to the programs recent success as the kind of standard his team is trying to chase, even while the result left Northwestern still searching for a breakthrough in Big Ten play.
Braun also made clear he disagreed with the replay ruling that helped swing momentum toward an Ohio State touchdown, a moment that only added to Northwesterns frustration. Beyond the officiating, he said the Wildcats have to clean up their penalties, and he offered a cautious update on injured quarterback Aidan Chiles, saying the recovery remains a week-to-week process. [Read more 🡒]