Ohio State is six games into the season, and the Buckeyes have looked the part of one of the nation’s best teams. That hasn’t meant a perfect ride, though. A few players have taken big steps forward, while others have not quite matched the standard that was expected of them.
The biggest difference-maker so far has been Jeremiah Smith. It’s already difficult enough to describe a player as college football’s best, but Smith has somehow found another gear.
He’s added more to his game, especially after the catch, which has made him even tougher to defend once the ball is in his hands. The results have been loud: back-to-back 200-yard receiving games against Illinois and Iowa.
One-on-one coverage has not worked, and even double-teams have not solved the problem. Ohio State keeps feeding him, and he keeps delivering.
True freshman cornerback Jay Timmons has also jumped in and made an immediate mark. His early flash came against Texas, when he punched the ball loose on the first play and forced a fumble.
That kind of debut says plenty. Timmons looks like a shutdown corner in the making, and the Buckeyes should only get more from him as the season goes on.
Up front, transfer defensive tackle John Walker has been one of the most reliable names on the defense. He’s been especially effective against the run, where he does his best work clogging the middle. The only real answer for opponents has been to send two offensive linemen his way.
Not every Buckeye has been as strong a fit. Connor Hawkins has not settled the kicking game the way Ohio State hoped.
He has missed two field goals in the only two games the Buckeyes have played against a ranked opponent. If that pattern continues against Indiana, confidence in him could take another hit.
Right now, he’s not the kind of kicker you feel good about in a pressure moment.
Bo Jackson entered the year with expectations after a solid freshman season, but the early returns have been quieter than anticipated. Last week’s game against Maryland was the first time he cracked 100 rushing yards this season.
Even then, the bigger issue remains the same: the explosive runs just haven’t been there. That’s been a recurring problem for the backs as a group, and with injuries piling up at running back, Jackson is going to get plenty of chances against IU.
Ohio State needs more of the Maryland version and less of what he’s shown the rest of the year.
Ian Moore has had a tough assignment as the Buckeyes’ new starter at left tackle. Ryan Day chose him for the job after Moore had not started before, making him the lone new face on the offensive line.
It has been bumpy. Moore has had stretches where he gets driven back into Julian Sayin at least twice a game, and he has also allowed a couple of sacks.
Maybe the bar was set too high for a first-time starter. If so, there’s still time for him to settle in during the second half of the season.
With the injuries Ohio State has dealt with up front, that would be a welcome development.
In Other News...
Ohio State Heads Into Indiana Showdown With Big Lineup Questions
Ohio State heads into its matchup with Indiana facing some early lineup uncertainty, with offensive lineman Austin Siereveld ruled out because of a non-football illness and running back JaKobi Jackson unavailable after suffering an ankle injury. Those absences alone would matter in a Big Ten game this size, but they are part of a larger injury picture for the Buckeyes, who have several other players still listed as questionable.
Indiana, meanwhile, has a much shorter injury report, with only two players listed. For Ohio State, the challenge now is less about the opponents health and more about how much flexibility the Buckeyes can preserve as they sort through the final availability questions before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Freshman Legend Bey Suddenly Has A Real Chance To Earn Trust
An unexpected shakeup in the backfield has opened the door a little wider for Legend Bey. With Ja'Kobi Jackson ruled out for the upcoming game against Indiana and Isaiah West listed as questionable, Ohio State may need to lean on its freshman running back more than it had planned. The Buckeyes are also dealing with Austin Siereveld being out, which adds another layer of strain to the offensive line depth and could shape how the offense handles the ground game.
For Bey, this is the kind of moment that can change how a staff views a young player in a hurry. More snaps against Indiana would not just be about filling a need in the moment, but about showing he can be trusted if the Buckeyes have to keep adjusting on the fly. Ohio State has managed its backfield carefully so far, but the injury picture now gives Bey a real opening to make his case. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Just Gave Ohio State Fans A New Ranking Debate
ESPNs latest ranking stirred up a familiar kind of college football debate, and this one comes with a fresh Ohio State twist. The network put together a top-60 list of the best wide receivers in the past 50 years, blending talent and production, and it included some heavy company in Larry Fitzgerald, DeVonta Smith and Justin Blackmon.
Jeremiah Smith made the cut as the lone active college receiver on the list, which is already a notable honor for a player still early in his career. For Buckeyes fans, it is the kind of recognition that says plenty about how high Smiths ceiling already looks, even if the bigger conversation around where he fits historically is still very much ongoing. [Read more 🡒]