Ohio State left the field after its 42-19 win over Illinois with a tidy rushing total - 122 yards from the running backs as a group - but the number doesn’t tell the whole story. The issue in that room is less about one box score and more about who’s actually separating himself.
Right now, that’s Ja’Kobi Jackson.
Ryan Day has already put Bo Jackson and Isaiah West on notice, saying the sophomore backs were getting out-hustled by the Florida transfer and weren’t running as hard as he was. Against Illinois at the “Shoe,” Ja’Kobi backed that up again. He led the group with 56 yards on 10 carries and finished in his goal-line role with a touchdown.
Bo Jackson had 53 yards on 11 carries, and West added 15 yards on two attempts. Those aren’t empty numbers, but they didn’t change the larger picture: Ja’Kobi was still the one setting the tone, and Day’s challenge to the other two didn’t seem to move the needle.
That leaves Ohio State with a bigger problem than just finding more production on the ground. The passing game isn’t getting enough help either.
Jeremiah Smith is being used exactly the way Ohio State wants him used in Arthur Smith’s offense, but the rest of Julian Sayin’s skill-position group has been far less reliable. Day has pushed the other receivers to step up and help support the potential Heisman frontrunner, and so far they haven’t answered.
Devin McCuin flashed early, especially in his debut against Ball State, but the UTSA transfer has cooled off since then. Brandon Inniss, the captain who looked poised for a breakout, has opened the year slowly. The young talent in the room has shown only bursts, not consistency.
That’s why the backfield matters so much. It was supposed to be a place Ohio State could lean on for support, but it hasn’t become that kind of safety net.
And beyond this season, the questions get even louder.
If Ja’Kobi Jackson keeps emerging as the workhorse, Ohio State may have a strong one-year answer and little else. Legend Bey was unable to show what he can do after injuring his ankle in the first half of the Kent State win, and while Day says not to worry about his long-term outlook, his time in Scarlet and Gray has already been rough.
Bey needs reps, and if they don’t come, it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll look elsewhere next year.
The same uncertainty hangs over West, whose fall camp momentum and physical transformation haven’t translated into a meaningful role. It would be a surprise if he stayed, given how little he has been able to establish himself.
Bo Jackson remains a useful option, but not the kind who changes the game by himself. That’s the heart of the issue: Ohio State has bodies in the room, but not much clarity. And if Ja’Kobi is the only one truly breaking through, the optimism around this group is going to stay hard to find.
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 Won Big But One Problem Should Worry Buckeye Fans
Ohio State handled Illinois 42-19 at home and kept the Illibuck Trophy where it belongs, so the result never really felt in doubt. Even so, the Buckeyes left the field with a familiar concern hanging over an otherwise comfortable conference win: the run defense was soft in spots, and Illinois found enough room to keep drives alive and make the game less clean than the final score suggested.
Aidan Laughery and Calil Valentine both popped some meaningful runs, and the problems did not stop there. Ohio State also had trouble getting off the field on third down, piled up penalties, and had a few individual miscues, including some from Jermaine Mathews Jr., that will not sit well with a defense aiming higher than a routine October win. [Read more 🡒]