Ohio State got the kind of reminder it needed against Marshall: the upside is real, but the growing pains are still very much part of the package.
The Buckeyes entered the season with plenty of buzz because, for the first time since the Thad Matta era, they brought in two five-star freshmen. Through the first two games, that excitement had been hard to find on the floor. Anthony Thompson and LJ Smith combined to shoot just 3-of-19 in those outings, and neither had given Ohio State much reason to think the ceiling had changed yet.
That shifted against Marshall. Thompson, a starter, finally flashed the talent that made him a five-star recruit in the 2026 class.
He scored 10 points in the first half and hit two 3-pointers, giving Ohio State a burst it had been waiting to see. His shot didn’t stay quite that hot after halftime, but the opening stretch was enough to show why the Buckeyes believe this group can be better than anything they’ve had in the Jake Diebler era.
Smith, meanwhile, kept searching for a breakthrough. He finished scoreless, missing all four of his shots. There’s some context there - he should still be a senior in high school - but Ohio State is going to need more from him if it wants to reach its full potential.
Even with Thompson’s burst, the Buckeyes didn’t exactly run away from the Thundering Herd in their 84-74 win. Marshall found room to score from all over the floor, and that remains one of the biggest issues for this team to clean up.
The next step isn’t just more offense from the freshmen. It’s getting stops.
Thompson’s length gives him a chance to become a solid wing defender, but the bigger challenge right now is consistency. When his shot isn’t falling, he still has to bring it on the other end. That’s part of the learning curve for a young player, and it matters even more on a team still trying to figure itself out.
And this Ohio State team has plenty to figure out. There are a lot of new faces, and chemistry doesn’t happen overnight. The schedule isn’t exactly easing them into it, either.
Next up is a road game at fourth-ranked UConn, a team that played for a national title a year ago. It’s the kind of matchup that will tell Ohio State where it stands right now. It will also show the Buckeyes how much work is still ahead if they don’t get the result they want.
If they do pull off the win, though, it would say plenty. Taking down a top-five team on the road would send a clear message that this group can beat anybody on a given night. For that to happen, the freshmen have to be ready from the opening tip.
Thompson can’t afford another quiet half like the one he had before making two late free throws against Marshall. But even with the uneven performance, he offered a glimpse of what Ohio State is hoping to build around this season.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Exposed A Problem Bigger Than One Loss
Ohio State came out sharp against Oregon, jumping ahead 14-0 in the first quarter and still holding a 14-3 edge late in the first half. Then the game tilted hard, with Oregon scoring 38 straight points and flipping the matchup with a fake punt, turnovers and a surge that left the Buckeyes chasing the rest of the way.
The loss does not close the door on Ohio States bigger goals, since the Buckeyes still control a path to the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff if they take care of the games left on their schedule. But the way this one unraveled raised the kind of questions that linger beyond a single defeat, especially around quarterback play and whether the teams effort can stay steady when the game turns against it. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Is Running Out Of Time To Fix A Costly Problem
Ohio State has made a clear move to address one of the seasons most frustrating issues, parting ways with special teams coordinator Robby Discher after nine games in 2026. The Buckeyes turned to Rob Keys as the interim coordinator for the rest of the year, while Matt Guerrieri and James Laurinaitis will help steer the punt and kickoff units, giving Ryan Day a reshuffled staff as the team tries to steady a phase that has repeatedly hurt it.
Day said there will not be any more coaching changes before the next game, but the evaluation process is still ongoing. That leaves Ohio State in a familiar late-season spot: trying to clean up a costly problem quickly, with limited time to see whether the new arrangement can bring order to a unit that has already given away too many damaging moments. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Has More Riding On 2028 Offensive Line Recruiting
The loss to Oregon and the move on special teams coordinator Robby Discher put another spotlight on where Ohio State needs to steady itself, and recruiting remains part of that conversation. The Buckeyes already have a highly regarded 2028 class taking shape, and the offensive line is one of the areas drawing early attention as the staff tries to keep its long-term foundation strong.
Five-star tackle Antijuan Wilkes has already included Ohio State among his top eight schools, which is the kind of early traction the Buckeyes want at a premium position. Lincoln Faalafi also made a visit to Columbus, but the early read there points another direction, leaving Ohio State with work to do as it tries to turn promising contact into actual momentum up front. [Read more 🡒]