Ohio State’s offense can carry a lot, but it can’t cover for everything forever.
That’s the problem staring the Buckeyes in the face in 2026, because the defense that once felt like a constant source of edge has not played that role this season. In Columbus, the last few years of watching that unit were a treat. This year, the burst and swagger haven’t been there in the same way, and the absence of that big hitter flying around the field is hard to miss.
Names like Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, and Jack Sawyer were central pieces in 2024 and 2025. Right now, Ohio State is searching for someone to take on that kind of presence again, because the team’s path to another National Championship run looks like it has to be built with the offense doing the heavy lifting.
The warning signs have already shown up. Against Texas in Week 2, Ohio State watched a 20-point fourth-quarter lead disappear. The defense wasn’t the only culprit in that collapse - the offense went stagnant and the play-calling got questionable at times - but it still exposed how fragile things can get when the Buckeyes lose control of a game.
The Illinois game felt even more revealing. Ohio State held the Illini to 19 points, but the way the defense handled zone coverage kept creating stress.
Every time the Buckeyes dropped into it, it seemed like someone was out of place and a receiver was left uncovered. The scoreboard said one thing.
The feeling on the field said something louder.
Now the schedule turns into a grind. Ohio State has four more top-20 matchups left, including Saturday against Iowa, and all of them come against Big Ten opponents. That stretch is going to force the Buckeyes to find an identity on defense fast.
One player who could help define that identity is Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
Jackson didn’t hold back when talking about Ohio State’s defensive performance against Illinois, especially against the run. Even so, he believes the Buckeyes will respond this week against Iowa, which enters as one of the Big Ten’s best rushing teams: https://t.co/BLG1xJmy24 pic.twitter.com/H5N0S4iuyX
Jackson’s production hasn’t jumped off the page yet. Through four games, he has 11 tackles and two sacks. Earl Little Sr. leads the team with 23 tackles, which says plenty about how much this defense has leaned on committee effort instead of standout individual numbers.
So far, Ohio State has given up 48 points in its first four games. That total figures to keep climbing with Indiana, USC, and Oregon still ahead, all three in a row.
That’s why this season keeps circling back to the same issue. The offense is capable of carrying the Buckeyes a long way, but if the defense doesn’t find a difference maker, the pressure on the attack becomes enormous. Asking Ohio State to score around 40 points a game just to stay afloat is a tough way to live over the long haul.
For now, the Buckeyes are heading into the most important stretch of their season, and the spotlight is squarely on the defense.
In Other News...
Julian Sayin Sends Ohio State Offense A Clear Warning Before Iowa
Julian Sayin left the Illinois game sounding more like a quarterback settling into the bigger picture than one looking for a quick victory lap. He pointed to the offense's steady progress, the value of keeping drives alive with his legs, and the growing comfort level around him as young receivers continue to take on larger roles. Jeremiah Smith has been a central part of that mix, and Sayin also credited the veteran offensive linemen for helping stabilize things up front as the Buckeyes keep building.
The next test comes with another road trip, and Sayin made it clear those spots demand sharper execution and a little more maturity from everyone involved. Iowa is the kind of place where the margin for error can shrink fast, and Ohio State's quarterback knows the offense cannot treat this as a finished product. The message from Sayin was simple enough: the Buckeyes have come a long way, but the real work is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Still Has One Passing Game Issue Jeremiah Smith Cant Solve
Jeremiah Smith has been everything Ohio State could have hoped for in the passing game, and then some. The offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, pointed to the wideouts exceptional production, with Jeremiah Smith leading the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns, while the Buckeyes continue to lean on him as the centerpiece of the aerial attack.
Still, the passing game has one lingering question beyond its star. Ohio State is trying to establish a reliable second option, with Devin McCuin currently sitting as the teams second-leading receiver, and coaches and players have kept stressing that the offense will need more than one target to keep evolving. The message from inside the program is clear enough: the Buckeyes are pleased with the production they have, but they also know the next layer of consistency has to come from somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has One Huge Chance To Make A National Statement
Ohio State heads into a rare early measuring-stick game with a chance to leave no doubt about where it stands nationally. The Buckeyes have looked sharp enough to build real momentum, and the next step comes in a difficult road setting where every possession matters and every explosive play carries extra weight.
Jeremiah Smith remains one of the biggest reasons this game has taken on added intrigue, even beyond the team stakes around him. With the matchup set against unbeaten Iowa and its stingy defense at Kinnick Stadium, Ohio State will also be watching how Julian Sayin handles the moment and whether the defense can create the kind of turnovers that turn a good win into something louder. [Read more 🡒]