Even though it was a sleepy start to the game and it was only a 10-point lead at the half, the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes turned it on late and scored 24 unanswered points to defeat the Ohio Bobcats, 37-9.
Here is our report card for the first game under the lights of the season.
A+: Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith
As the saying goes, when the going gets tough, throw the ball to Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate… I think that’s the saying at least.
Smith recorded nine catches for 153 yards and a touchdown, and Tate recorded five catches for 101
yards and two total touchdowns. Tate has now scored in all three games, and Smith has three total touchdowns.
These are two of the top five receivers in the country, and Julian Sayin is getting better each week. Scary times for defenses in the Big Ten.
A+: Ohio State defense
Another game down, another game that the Ohio State defense gets an A grade. Everyone is playing well, and they held a solid Ohio offense to 181 yards with 67 of those yards coming on one play.
After the bye next week, they will take on Washington on the road. Demond Williams, Jonah Coleman and that receiving crew will make it tough on them, so we will get to see the defense tested once again.
A: Julian Sayin and Bo Jackson
He wasn’t perfect throughout the game, but his two interceptions were both tipped at the line and he made the deep throws when he had too. As I mentioned before, he is getting better each week and we will see him play his first road game in two weeks at Washington.
Also, freshman running back Bo Jackson should be the starter moving forward. He has played in two games as the third string running back and has rushed for 100 yards in each game. Ohio State has a history of true freshman running backs being huge contributors, and Jackson looks like he could be another guy.
B-: Red Zone Execution
The Buckeyes scored on five of their six red zone trips, but only two of those were touchdown drives. Big games can come down to red zone execution, and the offense has to be better in that spot.
In a glass half full outlook, Jayden Fielding looked good in his first field goal attempts of the season.
C: Punt Returns
I said it last week, and I will say it this week: They have to get better on the punt return team. Whether it is better blocking or putting someone other than Brandon Inniss out there, the field position battle they lose can come back to hurt them in big games, starting in Big Ten play against Washington.
C-: Chris Simms
I am not one to normally criticize the broadcast, but Chris Simms had a tough night. He called Ryan Day “Jason Day” twice, he called Julian Sayin “Jayden Sayin”, he said Carnell Tate was a day two NFL Draft prospect and called Caleb Downs a top-20 prospect.
He also told people to turn the game off with eight minutes left. Just an odd broadcast.
