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When you’re loaded with talent like Ohio State’s offense usually is, it’s easy to change your plan of attack every year.
With C.J. Stroud at quarterback it was obvious passing the football was option number one,
especially with the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave as Stroud’s targets. In the one season Kyle McCord was a quarterback the offense didn’t really have a true identity, leading to inconsistency throughout the season.
The following season the additions of Will Howard and Quinshon Judkins from the transfer portal helped the team focus on the run more.
Heading into last season there were questions on what Ohio State with look like with new starters at quarterback and running back. Julian Sayin put any concerns to rest pretty early with his pinpoint accuracy throwing the football.
As the offense gained confidence with Sayin running the show, the rushing attack was incorporated more with freshman Bo Jackson seeing the bulk of the carries until the Buckeyes neared the goal line, which is when West Virginia transfer C.J. Donaldson was deployed.
Jackson finished the regular season with nearly 1,100 yards rushing, and Donaldson found the end zone 10 times on the ground.
Compared to the 2024 team, last year’s Buckeye squad only rushed for about 500 yards less in two less games. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins did most of the damage during the national championship season, combining for 2,076 yards on the ground.
Last year four Ohio State backs ran for at least 300 yards, with James Peoples and Isaiah West joining Jackson and Donaldson to reach that mark.
Following his outstanding freshman season, expect Bo Jackson to see the bulk of the carries this year. With Donaldson now in the NFL and James Peoples having transferred to Penn State, Isaiah West will get the first crack at teaming with Jackson in the backfield. Both running backs missed spring practices while recovering from injuries, but they should be healthy and ready to go when the Buckeyes open the season against Ball State.
Expect Jackson and West to combine for at least 2,000 yards rushing this season for Ohio State. While it likely won’t be an even split like we saw from Henderson and Judkins in 2024, it’s not crazy to imagine Jackson rushing for at least 1,200-1,300 yards and West taking care of the rest.
With the length of the college football season these days, teams need at least two solid running backs if they are going to make a serious run at a national title. Jackson and West have the look like they could check that box.
Early on in the season the offense could default to more of a run-first look as they try and adjust to how new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith likes to run things. Also, with how tough the Ohio State schedule is, you could see the Buckeyes try and run the football more to wear on their opponents. Use the rushing attack to open things up for quarterback Julian Sayin to hit deep shots to wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Chris Henry Jr.
What will also help Jackson and West reach at least 2,000 yards rushing as a duo is they’ll be running behind an experienced offensive line. During the 2024 College Football Playoff run we saw just how dangerous the Ohio State rushing attack was since the offensive line was playing angry after an ugly performance in the loss to Michigan.
Following an embarrassing close to the season in losses to Indiana and Miami, this year the offensive line has a lot to prove. Jackson and West will be the beneficiaries of the offensive line playing with a chip on their shoulders.
We all saw the progress Jackson made throughout the season as the starter at running back. As the season went on it was obvious the coaching staff started to trust West more each week, as he received at least six carries in each of the last four regular season games.
The freshman back averaged at least six yards per carry in three of those games. What was a bit odd was once the Buckeyes hit the Big Ten Championship Game and the Cotton Bowl the carries dried up, as West only saw three carries against Indiana and none against Miami.
As long as both backs are able to stay healthy throughout the regular season, combining for 2,000 yards rushing seems like an attainable goal. Others on the depth chart will be fighting for carries but unlike last year the fight for reps isn’t quite as wide open.
After Henderson and Judkins left there were a number of backs looking to establish themselves. The only ones left standing from that fight last year are Jackson and West, which will go a long way with the coaching staff.
