Ohio State left Austin with more than a one-point loss. It left with a real problem up front.
The Buckeyes’ defensive line took a hit in the second quarter when edge rusher Zion Grady went out with what appeared to be a right knee injury, and the ripple effect showed up fast. Rotations changed, depth was tested, and Texas quarterback Arch Manning settled in far too comfortably, especially after halftime, on the way to the Longhorns’ comeback win.
That’s the part Ohio State can’t ignore after the 24-23 defeat on Saturday night: the pass rush wasn’t disruptive enough. Manning dropped back 44 times, and according to Pro Football Focus, Ohio State managed eight hurries, 13 pressures and two sacks. He was hit only three times.
The snaps tell the same story. Kenyatta Jackson logged 68 of the 80 available defensive line snaps, easily the highest total on the unit. Eddrick Houston and John Walker each played 54, James Smith was on the field for 40 and Qua Russaw for 36.
Behind them, Jason Moore played 27 snaps, Will Smith Jr. 14, Beau Atskinson 11, Epi Sitaneli 7, Grady 6 and Khary Wilder 5. Christian Alliegro also worked as an edge rusher.
There were flashes. Wilder made a major impact in his limited work, and that stood out in a game where the rest of the group just didn’t do enough. As a unit, Ohio State couldn’t consistently get to Manning, and Texas made the Buckeyes pay with fourth-quarter drives of 15, 13 and 12 plays that covered 236 yards and produced 21 points.
By the finish, Manning looked far too comfortable in the pocket, and Ohio State never found a steady answer. Whether that came down to the heat, Grady’s injury or both, the issue is now squarely in front of the Buckeyes as Big Ten play gets closer.
If Grady misses time, the pressure gets even bigger on the rest of the edge group to produce. That could mean more pressure packages from defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
It could mean a bigger role for Wilder. It could mean someone else on the edge taking a step forward.
Whatever the solution is, Ohio State needs it quickly. The defense could use the lift.
In Other News...
Ohio State Suddenly Has A CFP Scheduling Problem Fans Will Debate
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Ohio State followers know that debate well, because the Buckeyes have long valued the kind of early-season test that can sharpen a team and energize a schedule. But when coaches such as Brent Venables, Steve Sarkisian and Dan Lanning talk about the risks and rewards of those matchups, they are really pointing to the same uncomfortable question fans keep circling. In a playoff era that can punish even a quality loss, the margin between a statement win and a season-long regret can be awfully thin. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Faces Ohio State's Biggest Early Problem
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Day did not try to separate himself from the problem, saying the responsibility for the gameplan sits with him and that the Buckeyes have to improve in every phase moving forward. The early concern in Columbus is not just the loss itself, but how it happened, with Ohio State unable to close in the fourth quarter after appearing to have control. For a program built on standards, the margin for error already looks smaller than anyone wanted. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces Early Questions After Stunning Poll Drop
The early tone of Ohio States season changed fast in Austin, where a big lead slipped away and turned into a damaging loss for the top-ranked Buckeyes. What looked like a statement win against Texas instead became an opening-week reality check, the kind that can reshape how a team is viewed before September really gets going.
The fallout showed up in the latest Coaches Poll, with Texas climbing and Ohio State sliding five spots as other programs around the country also shuffled up and down the rankings. For the Buckeyes, the larger concern is less about the number beside their name and more about how quickly a game can tilt when an opponent finds momentum, which is exactly what Texas did in the fourth quarter behind Arch Manning. [Read more 🡒]