Jeremiah Smith gave Ohio State exactly what it needed against Texas. The rest of the offense never came close to matching him.
Smith was the clear headliner in Columbus’ view of the matchup, turning 16 targets into eight catches, 164 yards and a touchdown. That was enough to make him the game’s top performer by Pro Football Focus grade, a dominant 84.0 that reflected just how often he was the Buckeyes’ answer when the offense needed one.
But that’s where the good news mostly stopped. Smith was also the only Buckeye receiver who consistently tilted the field, and Texas eventually treated him like the only problem it had to solve. Once that happened, his night went quiet over the final 20 minutes, with the Longhorns throwing everything at him and forcing Ohio State to find production somewhere else.
It never really did. The Buckeyes’ other weapons combined for just nine catches, and only two of those came from wide receivers. That lack of a second threat is what allowed Texas to tighten the screws on Smith and keep him from finishing the game the way he started it.
Julian Sayin’s PFF grade came in at 64.1 on 65 snaps, a solid but unspectacular number in a game where Ohio State needed more than solid. Behind him, the running back group offered a little more variety. Bo Jackson posted a 74.5 grade on 42 snaps, while Isaiah West checked in at 67.7 on two snaps, Ja’Kobi Jackson at 67.3 on 21 snaps and Legend Bey at 60.0 on one snap.
At wide receiver, the gap between Smith and everyone else was stark. Brandon Inniss graded at 59.8 on 33 snaps, Chris Henry Jr. at 59.1 on nine, Brock Boyd at 54.9 on 12 and Devin McCuin at 52.7 on nine. Phillip Bell was listed at 445.9 on nine snaps.
The tight ends didn’t provide much help either. Nate Roberts earned a 57.5 grade across 40 snaps, Mason Williams came in at 54.4 on 23 snaps and Bennett Christian finished at 41.1 on 27 snaps.
Up front, the Buckeyes got a steadier showing. Gabe VanSickle led the line with a 68.9 grade in seven snaps, followed by Phillip Daniels at 68.4 on 58 snaps, Ian Moore at 66.3 on 65 snaps, Austin Siereveld at 63.3 on 65 snaps, Carson Hinzman at 61.6 on 65 snaps and Luke Montgomery at 54.7 on 65 snaps.
In Other News...
Ohio State Let One Slip Away In Brutal Collapse Against Texas
Ohio State had the kind of opener that can linger for a while, building a 20-point cushion on Texas before watching the game turn into a long second-half grind. The Buckeyes looked in control early against the Longhorns, but Steve Sarkisians group kept chipping away and eventually flipped the matchup into one of the more jarring results of the weekend.
Texas rally mattered not just because it beat No. 1 Ohio State, but because it did it with the sort of poise and resilience Sarkisian said was shaped by a lesson from Pete Carroll. For the Buckeyes, the loss leaves a brutal reminder that a big lead against a top opponent is only as safe as the next series, and for Texas it was a breakthrough comeback that will follow the team for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Texas Loss Just Sparked A New Respect Debate
Ohio States season-opening trip to Texas ended in a one-point defeat, but the reaction in the AP poll was far less severe than some might have expected. The Buckeyes slid only one spot to No. 3 on the ballot, a move that reflected how closely the game was played and how much respect remains for both programs after a matchup between teams viewed as among the nations best.
The bigger point behind the ballot was consistency, with the ranking change calibrated against how other top teams looked in Week 1. A narrow road loss to a top-ranked opponent did not carry the same weight as shakier performances elsewhere, which is why the Buckeyes stayed near the top instead of tumbling further down the poll. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than One Early Loss
The Week 2 trip through a top-five matchup in Columbus ended with Ohio State looking like a team that let a major opportunity slip away. The Buckeyes were in control at halftime, and the game had the feel of the kind of early-season showcase that can steady a contender and reinforce the No. 1 ranking before the schedule starts to tighten.
Instead, the afternoon turned into a reminder that one loss can expose bigger concerns than a line in the standings. Texas left with the kind of result that can reshape the national conversation, and for Ohio State the immediate issue is no longer just the setback itself but what it says about how quickly a championship-caliber team can lose its grip when the game turns. [Read more 🡒]