Ohio State’s first Saturday back came with the kind of clean, lopsided result you’d expect against Ball State: a 56-3 win, a healthy roster afterward, and a stat sheet that already starts to tell the story of this season.
The Buckeyes had plenty going on before kickoff at Ohio Stadium, too. Senior day was part of the pregame build-up, the alumni band joined TBDBITL, and former national championship-winning head coach Jim Tressel was inducted into the Buckeyes’ Ring of Honor. Then the game started, and Ohio State handled business quickly.
After an early three-and-out, the offense found its rhythm and kept it. The Buckeyes scored on eight of 12 possessions, pushed the ball all over the field and never let Ball State get comfortable. On the other side, the defense squeezed the Cardinals down to 165 total yards and kept them out of the red zone.
Julian Sayin shook off two early incompletions and settled into a sharp opening performance, going 21-of-25 for 320 yards and three touchdowns. Jeremiah Smith was every bit the featured target again, catching eight passes for 151 yards and two scores.
In his debut, Devin McCuin added six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Bo Jackson and Ja'Kobi Jackson each ran for 83 yards and scored once.
The defense had its own standouts. Riley Pettijohn paced the team with six tackles, Jay Timmons broke up two passes, and Epi Sitanilei collected Ohio State’s only sack.
More than anything, the Buckeyes got what they wanted from Week 1: a clean opener, a chance to work in a lot of players, and no injury damage. That sets the stage for a much bigger test in Week 2 at Texas.
Now comes the early statistical picture. After the first full week of college football, Ohio State’s place in the national and Big Ten rankings is starting to take shape, and those numbers will keep shifting as the season goes on. All of the stats are from CFBStats.com.
In Other News...
Ohio States Defense Faces A Texas Threat Beyond Arch Manning
Even with Arch Manning drawing the loudest attention, Ohio States opening-week trip to Texas looks like a test of the whole Longhorns offense. Ryan Wingo gives Texas a vertical threat on the outside after a strong start to the season and a productive year ago, while Cam Coleman brings the kind of size and physicality that can stress a secondary at every level. For a Buckeyes defense trying to set the tone early, the challenge is not just tracking the quarterback, but making sure the receivers do not turn the game into a track meet.
Trevor Goosby adds another layer to the matchup up front, because his presence at left tackle helps determine how comfortable Texas can be in protecting its offense and opening up the passing game. His return from the knee issue in fall camp gives the Longhorns a more complete look, and it leaves Ohio State with a clear early-season measuring stick on both edges of the line. If the Buckeyes are going to leave this one with a statement, they will have to account for more than the headline name under center. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads To Texas With One Early Concern Still Lingering
Ohio State opened the season looking deep and well prepared, with Steve Helwagens early read emphasizing how much the Buckeyes can lean on their overall roster strength. The secondary stood out as one of the cleaner parts of the performance, and the general takeaway was encouraging enough for a team already eyeing a much bigger test ahead at Texas.
There is still one practical concern hanging over that trip, though, and it has less to do with talent than with conditions. With severe heat expected in Austin, Ohio State may have to go two deep to manage the workload, and the opener also left a few reminders of what still needs cleaning up, from shaky first-half run blocking to a handful of dropped passes from Chris Henry Jr. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Buzz Just Raised A Bigger Ohio State Question
Jeremiah Smiths rise has been fast enough to force bigger conversations around Ohio State, and the latest one comes from a new NFL mock draft that already has the Buckeyes wideout at the very top of the board. The projection underscores just how much pro buzz Smith has generated, with his name now circulating well beyond the usual early-career hype that follows a standout college receiver.
The more interesting part for Ohio State is what all of that means down the road, because Smith may have to weigh the possibility of entering the draft after his junior season. Miami is one of the teams being linked to that kind of scenario, and the fit would make some sense for a franchise that has been reshuffling its offensive identity and looking for more high-end weaponry. For the Buckeyes, it is another reminder that Smiths ceiling is already creating questions that normally do not arrive this early. [Read more 🡒]