Ohio State’s rushing attack didn’t light up the box score in Saturday’s 14–7 win over Texas, but it did provide an early look at how the backfield rotation could shake out moving forward.
The Buckeyes running backs managed just 87 yards on 29 carries, yet it was C.J. Donaldson who clearly emerged as the feature back. The West Virginia transfer carried the ball 19 times for 67 yards and scored Ohio State’s first touchdown of the season, a physical goal-line run in the second quarter that set the tone
for what turned into a defensive struggle.
That performance builds on his proven track record across two years in Morgantown. Donaldson logged over 1,300 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, establishing himself as a steady, downhill option who thrives in short-yardage situations.
Freshman James Peoples, meanwhile, saw a smaller role against the Longhorns than expected. He finished with 10 carries for just 20 yards, struggling to find space against Texas’ defensive front. Peoples’ speed and burst make him an intriguing long-term piece, but his vision in traffic remains a work in progress, something that became evident on Saturday as he missed cutback lanes and ran into stacked fronts.
While his skillset still gives the Buckeyes a change-of-pace option, it’s clear that Donaldson’s power and reliability currently carry more weight with the coaching staff.
The pecking order in Week 1 suggests that Donaldson will be Ohio State’s trusted early-down and red-zone back, with Peoples rotating in selectively and other young runners like Bo Jackson, Sam Dixon, and Turbo Rogers waiting for opportunities.
For a Buckeyes offense that still has questions up front, leaning on a proven runner like Donaldson could be critical in navigating tight, low-scoring games this fall.
