Ohio State wasted no time turning Saturday into a runaway at Ohio Stadium, and Jeremiah Smith made sure the afternoon came with a piece of history attached.
The Buckeyes blasted Kent State 59-3 behind Julian Sayin’s efficient work at quarterback, a steady ground game and a defense that kept creating problems for the Golden Flashes. The win pushed Ohio State to 2-1, while Kent State dropped to 1-2.
Smith’s landmark moment came midway through the first quarter on a 23-yard catch from Sayin. That reception moved him to 2,909 career receiving yards, giving him the Ohio State record and topping Michael Jenkins’ previous mark of 2,898.
Ohio State’s offense set the tone immediately. On the Buckeyes’ opening possession, Ja’Kobi Jackson finished a seven-play, 65-yard march with an 11-yard touchdown run less than three minutes into the game. Soon after, Sayin found tight end Nate Roberts for a 6-yard score, and Isaiah West added a 4-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter to make it 21-0.
The Buckeyes kept layering on points in the second quarter. Bo Jackson scored from the 1-yard line to make it 28-0, giving Ohio State three rushing touchdowns from three different players before halftime.
The defense was just as disruptive. Riley Pettijohn picked off a pass in the second quarter, and Kent State had little success sustaining drives against Ohio State’s front. Then, as the first half expired, Sayin lofted a Hail Mary that Brandon Inniss hauled in for a 49-yard touchdown, sending the Buckeyes into the locker room up 35-0.
That was already enough to put the game out of reach, but Ohio State kept rolling after the break. A Kent State turnover early in the third quarter led to another scoring drive, and Jackson finished it with his second touchdown of the day, a 1-yard run that stretched the margin to 42-0.
The longest play of the afternoon came from a freshman. Chris Henry Jr. took a screen pass, made a defender miss and sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 49-0. Later, Jamir Perez scooped up a Kent State fumble and returned it for a touchdown to make it 56-0.
Ohio State also got a 31-yard field goal from Connor Hawkins. Kent State avoided the shutout only after Tanner Mintz intercepted Tavien St. Clair and returned the ball to the Buckeyes’ 6-yard line, setting up a 20-yard field goal for the Golden Flashes’ only points.
The result marked Ryan Day’s 84th win as Ohio State’s head coach, moving him past Urban Meyer into fourth all-time. He can pass Jim Tressel, who has 94, this season.
By the end, the Buckeyes had eight touchdowns, multiple turnovers and plenty of snaps for younger players. Kent State simply never had an answer for Ohio State’s depth, speed or size.
Ohio State now turns to next week’s matchup against Illinois.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Gave Ohio State Fans More Reason To Hate Him
Oregons 84-0 win over Portland State came with a bit of extra edge, even for a game that was over long before the final whistle. The Ducks set a new program record for points in a single game, but it was Dan Lannings choice late in the rout that stirred the most reaction, since he opted to keep pushing and score again rather than simply run out the clock.
For Ohio State fans, the timing only adds to the anticipation. The Buckeyes are set to face Oregon on November 7, and the recent history between the programs has already carried plenty of intensity. If this latest episode is any indication, that matchup could arrive with even more frustration, and more motivation, than usual on both sides. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Needs More Than A Win To Calm Growing Doubts
A trip to Kent State gives Ohio State the kind of chance teams usually crave after a messy week: a lopsided matchup, a softer stage and room to reset after a game that exposed issues on both sides of the ball. The Buckeyes have spent the days since that setback evaluating what went wrong defensively and offensively, and there is obvious pressure on the staff to show the roster can respond quickly rather than let the frustration linger.
The emphasis now is on cleaner execution and a better running game, which should be the safest place to start against an overmatched opponent. There will also be a shuffle up front because of injury, adding another layer of urgency to an offensive line that needs to settle in fast. Ohio State is expected to win decisively, but the larger test is whether the performance looks like a team steadying itself or one still searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Buckeyes Blowout Brings Big Moments And One Injury Fans Will Watch
Ohio States noon matchup with Kent State at Ohio Stadium has quickly become more about the Buckeyes stacking up positive moments than sweating the result. Isaiah West found the end zone, Nate Roberts added a touchdown catch and Ja'Kobi Jackson scored on the ground, the kind of spread-out production that usually comes in a game where the depth chart gets plenty of work and the home crowd gets to watch the backups mix in.
The bigger concern for Buckeyes fans came when Legend Bey exited after one carry and headed to the medical tent, a reminder that even a lopsided non-conference game can carry some uneasiness. There was also a milestone worth noting for Jeremiah Smith, who moved into the program record book during the game, giving Ohio State another headline to track as the afternoon rolled on. [Read more 🡒]