Ohio State’s season has reached the halfway point, and the Buckeyes have mostly lived up to the No. 1 billing they carried into the year - even with one loss already on the ledger. Some units have held up just fine, some have flashed enough to ease concern, and a few have raised real questions. Here’s where things stand at midseason.
The best news for Ohio State is that the passing game has been in strong shape. Julian Sayin has opened the year with 17 touchdown passes and has looked the part for much of the season.
But one rough stretch remains impossible to ignore: his second half against Texas, which the Buckeyes coughed up after building a 20-point fourth-quarter lead. That keeps him from climbing any higher than an A-.
Behind him, Luke Fahey has had his moments in relief, while Tavien St. Clair has been mostly disappointing, which matters when looking ahead.
Even so, quarterback has not been a problem spot.
The wide receiver room, meanwhile, is being carried by Jeremiah Smith. He has been so good that he basically grades on a different scale; as the source material puts it, he’s an A+++.
In the writer’s view, he is the greatest receiver in program history. Smith’s production has propped up a group that hasn’t gotten much meaningful help elsewhere.
At running back, the story has gone the other direction. This has been the most disappointing offensive unit so far, and the lack of explosiveness stands out.
It took six weeks for Ohio State to produce a 100-yard rusher in a game, and the backs have not consistently broken tackles or created big plays. Isaiah West even “tried to get Sayin killed last week against Maryland.”
Unless this group starts producing more chunk gains, it remains the lagging piece of the offense.
The offensive line has also fallen short of expectations. With four starters back from last season, the hope was for a sturdier, more reliable front.
Instead, Ian Moore has struggled at left tackle and is good to allow at least two or three pressures a game. Injuries on the right side have made the best combination there hard to pin down, and the run game has not gotten the push it needs.
Tight end has been steadier, even if the bar was never especially high. Ohio State has done a decent job finding open tight ends, and Nate Roberts has emerged as a legitimate pass-catching threat.
Mason Williams has been solid, while Bennett Christian is not the writer’s preference. Overall, that group has landed about where expected.
On the defensive front, the Buckeyes have gotten solid work from John Walker, who has been the most consistent presence on the line. Beyond him, though, the ride has been bumpy.
Only three defensive linemen have recorded at least a full sack, and the lack of consistent quarterback pressure is a real concern. Qua Russaw has started to trend up lately, and Kenyatta Jackson delivered a sack-fumble against Iowa, so there are signs of life.
Still, the overall consistency just isn’t there yet.
Linebacker has been one of the strongest areas on the roster. Riley Petijohn and TJ Alford have both been excellent, with Petijohn already stacking up a couple of sacks and an interception.
Payton Pierce has drawn mixed reviews, but he has bounced back well after a rough outing against Texas. Cincere Johnson has seen his snap count rise and looks ready to make a bigger move.
The secondary has been just as impressive. Ohio State ranks seventh in the country in passing yards allowed per game, giving up only 150.7 through the air.
Devin Sanchez has gotten a little handsy at times, but he’s also taking on the opponent’s top receiver every week. Jay Timmons has looked like a star at nickel, Earl Little Jr. has handled himself well at safety, and Jaylen McClain has shown a willingness to bring physicality when it’s time to separate receiver from football.
This has been the defense’s brightest spot so far.
Then there’s special teams, and that grade comes with no mercy. Connor Hawkins has missed field goals in both ranked games Ohio State has played.
Joe McGuire’s 31-yard punt against Iowa stood out for all the wrong reasons, and Legend Bey has not been a dependable kick return option. The unit has been a disaster all season, and there’s no sugarcoating it.
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 🡒]