Ohio State faces Kent State at noon Sept. 19 at Ohio Stadium.
Here are our predictions for the game:
Ohio State vs. Kent State predictions
Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 52, Kent State 0: The Buckeyes managed only a tepid response
to their last nonconference loss. After an early upset by Oregon in 2021, they needed to pull away from Tulsa in the fourth quarter to finish with a 41-20 win. But don’t expect a similar hangover following the stunning collapse at Texas. Even if Ohio State is slow going early on, this is an especially lopsided matchup. Kent State suffered a 57-0 loss at South Carolina in Week 1 — its only time facing an FBS opponent this year — and hardly threatened to put points on the scoreboard. The Golden Flashes crossed midfield just once and never ended a drive in the Gamecocks’ territory.
Rob Oller, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 52, Kent State 3: From the frying pan of Texas into the fire of ... Kent State? Who are we kidding? The Buckeyes will go up big early -- sound familiar? -- and this time pile on more points against a Golden Flashes squad that lost 57-0 to South Carolina in their opener. Note: South Carolina is worse than Ohio State. The Buckeyes will rid some of the sour taste from the collapse in Austin by putting up big numbers in every offensive category. And expect Julian Sayin to connect with wide receivers not named Jeremiah Smith.
Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 56, Kent State 3: The Buckeyes should easily bounce back from a 24-23 loss to Texas last week against their final nonconference opponent of the season, Kent State. While the Golden Flashes are coming off a 36-15 win over Wofford, they fell 57-0 to South Carolina in their season opener and gave up 367 passing yards. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin has thrown for 667 yards and six touchdowns in two games against Mid-American Conference opponents, with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith catching three of those touchdowns.
Bold predictions
Legend Bey returns to the end zone
Joey Kaufman: While freshman running back Legend Bey touched the ball only once at Texas after showing some sizzle during the opening weekend against Ball State, making multiple defenders miss when he took a swing pass for six points, he’ll have opportunities to add to his highlight reel against Kent State, which allowed three of South Carolina’s running backs to find the end zone. Look for Bey to score a touchdown on a run of at least 20 yards.
Julian Sayin will run for two touchdowns
Rob Oller: It sounds crazy, but Sayin will run for as many touchdowns (2) as he throws for. He's not Bo Jackson, who will nab a rushing TD of his own, but the junior quarterback has shown the newfound ability to find running lanes when everything else breaks down.
Ohio State TE records receiving TD
Brianna Mac Kay: Against Texas, Ohio State tight ends Mason Williams and Nate Roberts had more receptions than any wide receiver outside of Jeremiah Smith, combining for six catches for 66 yards. Julian Sayin recorded six touchdown passes to tight ends last season, including three against nonconference opponents. With new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith known to heavily utilize tight ends, and Kent State allowing four receiving touchdowns against South Carolina, there could be opportunities for one of the six tight ends who’ve played this season to catch a pass in the end zone.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Our Ohio State football experts make bold predictions for Kent State game
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