In summation: Ohio State did what it was supposed to do against this level of MAC team. But for the first time this season, even with 16 players on the injury report heading into the game including six starters, it has a level of confidence and loads of positive tape to build on heading into Big Ten play.
Ohio State freshman quarterback Kyle McCord needed one drive to figure out what a college football defense could do.
Targeting each of his main three receivers — Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba — McCord left his first drive with three incompletions.
From the very first play of his second-ever drive of his collegiate career, McCord seemed to see a way to gain confidence. He motioned Smith-Njigba over, taking the snap and shoveled the ball into his hands. With plenty of space and plenty of speed, the sophomore receiver took the ball 22 yards to get the Ohio State offense rolling.
After three incompletions to start the game, McCord settled in, completing 11 of his next 13 passes for 229 yards, finding senior Chris Olave in the end zone on a five-yard fade, and later Smith Njigba on an underthrown, but good-enough 34-yard touchdown.
And through McCord’s comfort, Ohio State saw a bit of balance in its offensive look. But it was the big play that really ignited the offense.
McCord and the Ohio State offense seemed to find its momentum quickly in drives, recording three drives of three plays or less, using a 57-yard pass play to Wilson in the first quarter to set up a three-yard rush by running TreVeyon Henderson and an 85-yard pass to freshman Emeka Egbuka — his first career catch — setting up Master Teague for a two-yard touchdown run.
In his first game as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, McCord finished with 318 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception, completing 13-of-18 pass attempts.
Depending on how long it takes for Ohio State redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud to come back from his lingering shoulder injury, McCord showed the potential of what a Buckeye offense looks like with him behind center. That will likely completely change once conference games return, but it’s definitely a confidence booster for a kid getting his feet wet.
Ohio State’s defense did what it was supposed to against Akron. But it didn’t look like it at first.
The first play of the game seemed familiar to the Ohio State defense. Akron QB D.J. Irons found wide receiver Michael Mathison wide open on a slant for a 13-yard gain, leading to a familiar groan from the 95,000-plus strong in Ohio Stadium’s first night game of the season.
Then the Buckeyes seemed to wake up. The defense kept Irons contained for a six-yard gain, allowed a one-yard gain and forced an incompletion.
Punt. Progress against one of the historically worst teams in the Mid-American Conference.
The Akron defense, once again, pounced on the Ohio State defense of old on its second drive, taking the ball 55 yards on nine plays for a touchdown: a Irons play-action rollout to Konata Mumfield for four yards.
But then Ohio State’s defense did something it hadn’t done all season. It settled down.
The Buckeyes did not allow a point in 11 straight drives, forcing seven punts and two interceptions, allowing more than 20 yards on an Akron offensive drive three times.
The Ohio State defense combined pressure, 12 tackles for loss and nine sacks, and tight coverage, leading to interceptions on back-to-back drives by linebacker Cody Simon and safety Ronnie Hickman.
This is Akron. This is the final non-conference game of the season But this is positive tape for a young unit that has not seen a lot of positive tape over the past three weeks, allowing 230 total yards — 153 through the air and 84 on the ground — and 3.2 yards per play: by far the lowest of the season.
It was a unit that followed in the footsteps of its experience.
In the middle of the line, defensive tackle Haskell Garrett gave a unit without Taron Vincent, Tyreke Smith and without Javontae Jean-Baptise a master class on what defensive pressure was supposed to look like.
Three of Garrett’s five tackles against Tulsa Saturday night were sacks, leading a defense that finished with 12 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
Antwuan Jackson and Jerron Cage followed suit on the line with sacks of their own, adding two tackles for loss by linebacker Teradja Mitchell and quarterback hits by linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and defensive end Zach Harrison. In the final quarter, the youth stepped in, adding sacks from Tyleik Williams and Jack Sawyer — the first of his career.
Ohio State continued to show its shortcomings, failing to bring down Irons at times in the backfield, turning losses of three or four yards into two-to-three-yard gains. But there was something to work with.
Ohio State seemed to show who it trusted more in the passing game.
Coming out of halftime with a 38-7 lead, it was inevitable that redshirt freshman Jack Miller III would see the field. However, head coach Ryan Day made clear this week that when he picked a quarterback to replace Stroud as he recovered from his shoulder injury, he was picking one quarterback, one leader. He wasn't going to mix-and-match Miller and McCord each drive.
When Miller came in in the middle of the third quarter, the offense was clearly McCord's having already accumulated 318 yards passing and two touchdowns. All Miller had to do was be a traditional garbage time quarterback.
The redshirt freshman finished with 66 yards, completing 5-of-8 pass attempts, while letting the running game do most of the work.
Have Master Teague and TreVeyon Henderson separated themselves?
Redshirt freshman Miyan Williams touched the field against Akron, something he didn't have a chance to do against Tulsa. But in a game that showcased the most balance the Ohio State offense has shown all season long, Williams took a back seat in the running back room.
Freshman TreVeyon Henderson led the way with 93 yards and two touchdowns. Master Teague seemed to be the clear second-fiddle with 71 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns. Williams couldn't find that space, averaging 5.2 yards per carry with 47 yards on nine touches. Late in the fourth quarter, Evan Pryor added 35 yards and a touchdown on five touches.
Whatever hierarchy Ohio State has in the running back room, it has seemed to work over the past few games. And it's something that is seemingly fluid, giving carries to the hot hand. It will be interesting to see how long Teague has that hot hand.
Ohio State freshman quarterback Kyle McCord needed one drive to figure out what a college football defense could do.
Targeting each of his main three receivers — Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba — McCord left his first drive with three incompletions.
From the very first play of his second-ever drive of his collegiate career, McCord seemed to see a way to gain confidence. He motioned Smith-Njigba over, taking the snap and shoveled the ball into his hands. With plenty of space and plenty of speed, the sophomore receiver took the ball 22 yards to get the Ohio State offense rolling.
After three incompletions to start the game, McCord settled in, completing 11 of his next 13 passes for 229 yards, finding senior Chris Olave in the end zone on a five-yard fade, and later Smith Njigba on an underthrown, but good-enough 34-yard touchdown.
And through McCord’s comfort, Ohio State saw a bit of balance in its offensive look. But it was the big play that really ignited the offense.
McCord and the Ohio State offense seemed to find its momentum quickly in drives, recording three drives of three plays or less, using a 57-yard pass play to Wilson in the first quarter to set up a three-yard rush by running TreVeyon Henderson and an 85-yard pass to freshman Emeka Egbuka — his first career catch — setting up Master Teague for a two-yard touchdown run.
In his first game as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, McCord finished with 318 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception, completing 13-of-18 pass attempts.
Depending on how long it takes for Ohio State redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud to come back from his lingering shoulder injury, McCord showed the potential of what a Buckeye offense looks like with him behind center. That will likely completely change once conference games return, but it’s definitely a confidence booster for a kid getting his feet wet.
Ohio State’s defense did what it was supposed to against Akron. But it didn’t look like it at first.
The first play of the game seemed familiar to the Ohio State defense. Akron QB D.J. Irons found wide receiver Michael Mathison wide open on a slant for a 13-yard gain, leading to a familiar groan from the 95,000-plus strong in Ohio Stadium’s first night game of the season.
Then the Buckeyes seemed to wake up. The defense kept Irons contained for a six-yard gain, allowed a one-yard gain and forced an incompletion.
Punt. Progress against one of the historically worst teams in the Mid-American Conference.
The Akron defense, once again, pounced on the Ohio State defense of old on its second drive, taking the ball 55 yards on nine plays for a touchdown: a Irons play-action rollout to Konata Mumfield for four yards.
But then Ohio State’s defense did something it hadn’t done all season. It settled down.
The Buckeyes did not allow a point in 11 straight drives, forcing seven punts and two interceptions, allowing more than 20 yards on an Akron offensive drive three times.
The Ohio State defense combined pressure, 12 tackles for loss and nine sacks, and tight coverage, leading to interceptions on back-to-back drives by linebacker Cody Simon and safety Ronnie Hickman.
This is Akron. This is the final non-conference game of the season But this is positive tape for a young unit that has not seen a lot of positive tape over the past three weeks, allowing 230 total yards — 153 through the air and 84 on the ground — and 3.2 yards per play: by far the lowest of the season.
It was a unit that followed in the footsteps of its experience.
In the middle of the line, defensive tackle Haskell Garrett gave a unit without Taron Vincent, Tyreke Smith and without Javontae Jean-Baptise a master class on what defensive pressure was supposed to look like.
Three of Garrett’s five tackles against Tulsa Saturday night were sacks, leading a defense that finished with 12 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
Antwuan Jackson and Jerron Cage followed suit on the line with sacks of their own, adding two tackles for loss by linebacker Teradja Mitchell and quarterback hits by linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and defensive end Zach Harrison. In the final quarter, the youth stepped in, adding sacks from Tyleik Williams and Jack Sawyer — the first of his career.
Ohio State continued to show its shortcomings, failing to bring down Irons at times in the backfield, turning losses of three or four yards into two-to-three-yard gains. But there was something to work with.
Ohio State seemed to show who it trusted more in the passing game.
Coming out of halftime with a 38-7 lead, it was inevitable that redshirt freshman Jack Miller III would see the field. However, head coach Ryan Day made clear this week that when he picked a quarterback to replace Stroud as he recovered from his shoulder injury, he was picking one quarterback, one leader. He wasn't going to mix-and-match Miller and McCord each drive.
When Miller came in in the middle of the third quarter, the offense was clearly McCord's having already accumulated 318 yards passing and two touchdowns. All Miller had to do was be a traditional garbage time quarterback.
The redshirt freshman finished with 66 yards, completing 5-of-8 pass attempts, while letting the running game do most of the work.
Have Master Teague and TreVeyon Henderson separated themselves?
Redshirt freshman Miyan Williams touched the field against Akron, something he didn't have a chance to do against Tulsa. But in a game that showcased the most balance the Ohio State offense has shown all season long, Williams took a back seat in the running back room.
Freshman TreVeyon Henderson led the way with 93 yards and two touchdowns. Master Teague seemed to be the clear second-fiddle with 71 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns. Williams couldn't find that space, averaging 5.2 yards per carry with 47 yards on nine touches. Late in the fourth quarter, Evan Pryor added 35 yards and a touchdown on five touches.
Whatever hierarchy Ohio State has in the running back room, it has seemed to work over the past few games. And it's something that is seemingly fluid, giving carries to the hot hand. It will be interesting to see how long Teague has that hot hand.
