Ohio State gets a clean chance to flush the Texas loss this weekend, and Kent State is walking into the kind of setup nobody wants to see after a Buckeyes embarrassment. Ryan Day’s team was beaten badly by the Longhorns in Week 2, and the frustration around the program has only grown since then. Now the only move is to reset, fix the mistakes, and take it out on the next opponent.
That opponent is Kent State, which heads to Ohio Stadium this weekend as Ohio State looks to get back on track. The Buckeyes are the clear heavyweight here, and the oddsmakers have made that obvious. According to DraftKings, Ohio State is favored by 52.5 points, with the over/under set at 59.5.
For fans looking to watch, the game will air on FOX at noon ET as part of Big Noon Kickoff. It will also be available on the FOX Sports App, FOX One, and streamed live on Fubo TV.
From a matchup standpoint, this is exactly the kind of game Ohio State probably needs right now. The offense showed flashes against Texas before fading when it mattered most, and the Buckeyes need a sharper showing before the schedule tightens up. A game like this also gives them a chance to build confidence with receivers not named Jeremiah Smith, which is a major point of emphasis this week.
Kent State, though, doesn’t bring the same kind of talent Texas did, and that’s why this one has blowout written all over it. Ohio State is coming off a loss that clearly left a mark, and there’s a real chance the Buckeyes come out with their foot on the gas from the opening snap. This is also the second MAC team Ohio State has faced in three weeks after Ball State was held out of the end zone.
The expectation is that the starters could stay on the field longer than usual, especially with Day wanting a more complete performance than the one in Austin. The focus should be on getting the offense rolling and seeing someone step up opposite Jeremiah Smith.
There’s even a path where Ohio State pours it on to an extreme level. A 70-point night isn’t out of the question, though the more realistic read is simply a much cleaner and more explosive effort than last week. The call here is Ohio State 59, Kent State 0.
Still, a dominant win over Kent State won’t change much in the bigger picture. It would only serve as a brief breather before the Big Ten part of the schedule arrives.
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Jayden Miles is part of that next wave, and his trip gives Ohio State a chance to make its case in person while the class comes into focus. With the Buckeyes still trying to recover from their loss to Texas and sharpen things on the field, the recruiting side matters even more, because landing the right back can change the feel of an entire cycle. [Read more 🡒]