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Game updates, live scores from Week 1

Vaseline September 1, 2024

Ohio State football began its 2024 season with dominance.

Two touchdown receptions from freshman and former five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith helped the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes to a 52-6 win against Akron in Ohio Stadium.

Smith finished with a team-leading six receptions and 92 receiving yards, bringing in a 16-yard touchdown on a back-shoulder fade from quarterback Will Howard for his first collegiate touchdown before following up with a 9-yard touchdown on a slant.

In his Ohio State debut, Howard completed 17-of-28 pass attempts for 228 yards with three touchdown passes to Smith and Carnell Tate.

The Ohio State defense limited Akron to 3 points and 177 yards, scoring on a Caden Curry fumble returned for a touchdown by safety Lathan Ransom, and a interception returned for a touchdown by linebacker Gabe Powers.

Ohio State will host Western Michigan in Week 2 at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 on Big Ten Network.

Here’s what happened in Ohio State vs. Akron:

Watch Ohio State vs. Akron live on Fubo (free trial)

STAT	Akron	Ohio State
Total Yds	177	404
Pass Yds	130	234
Rush Yds	47	170
Penalties	5-35	7-45
1st Downs	11	24
3rd Downs	4-16	9-14
4th Downs	2-3	0-1
Total Plays	64	64
Avg Yds/Play	2.8	6.3
Avg Yds/Completion	7.2	13
Avg Yds/Rush	1.3	5.2
Sack-Adj Rush Yd(Avg)	72 (2.4)	170 (5.2)
Red Zone	0-0	4-4
Time of Poss	34:04	25:56
Turnovers (Def Pts Off)	3 (15)	0 (0)
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	1-0
Sacks (Def Yds)	0 (0)	5 (25)
TFL (Def Yds)	0 (0)	10 (36)

Ohio State secured its first win of the 2024 season with a 52-6 win against Akron. The Buckeyes will take on Western Michigan Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Ohio State linebacker Gabe Powers took advantage of his opportunity, securing Akron’s second interception of the day and returning it for a touchdown. The pass attempt by Akron quarterback Brayden Roggow was broken up by freshman Eddrick Houston.

With Devin Brown in the game, Ohio State stalls on a five-play, 15-yard drive leading to Joe McGuire’s third punt of the day.

Ohio State’s Devin Brown has taken over at quarterback with 7:13 remaining. He has started with his back at the end zone as the OSU drive began at the 5-yard line.

Will Howard threw his third touchdown pass of the game, and his second of 30+ yards, when he hit a wide-open Carnell Tate for a 34-yard score.

This marked the third straight drive that Ohio State capped with a touchdown, and it started clearing out the stands in earnest.

STAT	Akron	Ohio State
Score	6	38
Total Yds	152	323
Rush Att-Avg	28 – 1	25 – 5.4
Rush Yds	29	135
Pass (C-A-T-I)	16-25-0-1	14-25-2-0
Pass Yds	123	188
Penalties	4-30	4-30
1sts (Rsh-Pss)	10 (4-5)	20 (9-10)
3rd Downs	4-13 (31%)	6-10 (60%)
4th Downs	2-3	0-1
Total Plays	53	50
Avg Yds/Play	2.9	6.5
Time of Poss	25:21	19:39
Field Goals	2-2	1-1
Turnovers	2	0
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	1-0
Punts-Avg	3-45.7	2-46.5
Sacks	0	4

The third quarter of the Ohio State-Akron game ended with James Peoples rumbling through a significant hole to score a 4-yard touchdown.

Former Buckeye walk-on Garrison Smith has made a second field goal for Akron, and his most recent was impressive – a 49-yarder that would have been good from a much longer distance.

The kick was set up by the Zips’ longest play of the day, which was a 29-yard pass from Tahj Bullock to Jake Newell. Outside of that, Akron has been pretty much bottled up when it comes to long gains.

Ohio State has scored a defensive touchdown. Caden Curry hit Akron quarterback Tahj Bullock to jar the ball loose. Lathan Ransom picked up the bouncing pigskin and ran it back 26 yards.

Quinshon Judkins has scored his first touchdown as a Buckeye. The Ole Miss transfer rushed into the end zone from two yards out.

He started the drive with a 13-yard run. Sandwiched in between was a 45-yard catch by freshman Jeremiah Smith, who one pressbox wag noted is having a career day.

With a little more than 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Akron’s starting quarterback, Ben Finley, has left the game with an injury. He was 8-for-14 passing for 53 yards and a long of 19. He also threw a pick to Ohio State’s Denzel Burke.

Tahj Bullock has taken over.

Both signal callers are redshirt juniors.

STAT	Akron	Ohio State
Total Yds	83	203
Pass Yds	85	116
Rush Yds	-2	87
Penalties	2-10	3-25
1st Downs	7	13
3rd Downs	2-7	5-9
4th Downs	1-2	0-1
Total Plays	32	39
Avg Yds/Play	2.6	5.2
Avg Yds/Completion	7.7	11.6
Avg Yds/Rush	-0.1	4.8
Sack-Adj Rush Yd(Avg)	16 (1.5)	87 (4.8)
Red Zone	0-0	2-2
Time of Poss	15:09	14:51
Turnovers (Def Pts Off)	1 (3)	0 (0)
Fumbles-Lost	0-0	1-0
Sacks (Def Yds)	0 (0)	4 (18)
TFL (Def Yds)	0 (0)	5 (20

With a defender draped on him, Jeremiah Smith made a touchdown catch going into the end zone, his second score on the day. Smith has four receptions for 44 yards on six targets this afternoon.

It was maybe the one area in which OSU’s defense struggled in 2023. As effective as it was overall for most of the year, they struggled to get sacks. They have three today against Akron, two by J.T. Tuimoloau.

That’s part of the reason the Ohio State offense is taking over.

TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 11 yards, but then Will Howard had three straight incompletions. Ohio State had to settle for a 40-yard Jayden Fielding goal at the end of a drive that started at the Akron 33, thanks to a Denzel Burke pick.

Howard is 6-for-16 passing today for 76 yards.

Ohio State’s Denzel Burke, playing a smothering defense, stripped the Ben Finley pass free from its intended receiver, and Burke has recorded his first interception of the season.

With 12:59 left in the second quarter, Akron has taken over after an Ohio State drive stalled and the Buckeyes turned the ball over on downs.

Tegra Tshabola started at right guard and played the first two series for Ohio State, but Carson Hinzman has taken over at that spot as the third series is underway.

STAT	Akron	Ohio State
Score	3	7
Total Yds	41	97
Rush Att-Avg	7 – -0.6	8 – 4.6
Rush Yds	-4	37
Pass (C-A-T-I)	6-7-0-0	5-10-1-0
Pass Yds	45	60
Penalties	1-5	2-20
1sts (Rsh-Pss)	4 (1-2)	6 (2-4)
3rd Downs	1-3 (33%)	4-5 (80%)
4th Downs	0-0	0-0
Total Plays	14	18
Avg Yds/Play	2.9	5.4
Time of Poss	07:54	07:06
Field Goals	1-1	0-0
Turnovers	0	0
Fumbles-Lost	0-0	0-0
Punts-Avg	1-25.0	1-42.0
Sacks	0	2

Ohio State has two tackles for loss today, the latest a sack by linebacker C.J. Hicks. It’s notable because OSU’s starting linebackers combined for one sack during the entire 2023 season. The tackle helped force a short Akron punt, and OSU is taking over at their 41-yard line.

On his second catch as an Ohio State Buckeye, freshman Jeremiah Smith put OSU up 7-3 with a 16-yard score. The drive also featured Smith’s first career catch as a Buckeye, when Smith made an 11-yard grab. He has been targeted four times today.

Emeka Egbuka caught a 19-yard pass from Will Howard and also came close to scoring, but officials ruled he was juggling the ball in the end zone.

Officials
Referee	Tim O’Dey
Umpire	Ken Zelmanski
Head Linesman	BJ Henry
Line Judge	Jeff Meslow
Back Judge	Robert Smith, Jr.
Field Judge	Nicole Randolph
Side Judge	John Masterson
Center Judge	Dan Novak

Akron marched down the field, and – aided by a Davison Igbinson penalty – took an early lead on OSU with a 48-yard field goal. Zips quarterback Tahj Bullock had a 12-yard pass and a 12-yard rush during the drive.

Akron’s field goal kicker? Garrison Smith, who was an invited walk-on for the Buckeyes during the 2021 season and did not see any playing time.

Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun was called for targeting, but the call was overturned on review. The play still resulted in 15 yards for Akron due to Igbinosun’s late hit. And the Zips are marching down the field.

After 51 seconds and three plays that covered 9 yards (all on a TreVeyon Henderson run), Ohio State football had to punt on its opening series.

Cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. is wearing jersey No. 3, not No. 4 as originally listed.

Today’s coin for the honorary coin toss featured one side with the image of Archie Griffin. Akron won the toss and deferred to the second half. OSU will receive while the Zips defend the south end zone.

Right before the national anthem the Ohio State Buckeyes observed a moment of silence for late Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau, who died Thursday night when police say a drunk driver struck him while he was bicycling near his Salem, New Jersey home.

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

Over/under: 56.5 points

With Donovan Jackson out, Austin Siereveld will likely start for Ohio State at left guard against Akron. Siereveld was warming up with the starting line along with Josh Fryar, Seth McLaughlin, Tegra Tshabola and Josh Simmons

With Cody Simon sidelined for Ohio State vs. Akron, Sonny Styles has the green dot, which indicates his helmet has a speaker to communicate with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

This means Styles will likely start at middle linebacker with C.J. Hicks playing on the outside.

Urban Meyer has not hidden his affinity for Ohio State football’s 2024 roster.

On FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff” Saturday, Meyer put some weight behind his thoughts on Ohio State’s roster, picking the Buckeyes to win the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.

“The best roster in college football,” Meyer said. “The best rosters almost always win. They’ll win.”

Nick Saban has heard a lot about Ohio State’s roster and how its players have received around $20 million in name, image and likeness compensation.

On ESPN’s College GameDay, the former Alabama football coach shared his thoughts on Ohio State’s use of NIL funds for its 2024 roster.

“I just want to say, you guys keep talking about a $20 million roster,” Saban said. “If you don’t pay the right guys, you’ll be s— out of luck.”

Ohio State fans may see some showers during OSU-Akron. The National Weather Service reports a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon with a high near 84. The showers and thunderstorms are expected mainly before 8 p.m.

Here are the NFL teams at Ohio Stadium for Ohio State-Akron

Las Vegas Raiders
Buffalo Bills

Here’s what you need to know before Ohio State-Akron:

Throughout the offseason, defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau said at the pregame Skull Session, Ohio State has developed the reputation of the most talented team in college football. But he also said he doesn’t want that reputation to remain.

“This whole offseason,” Tuimoloau said, “we aimed to change that narrative (and) be known as the most violent, the most disciplined, the most hard-working team in the nation.”

Ohio State will be without two starters against Akron Saturday in linebacker Cody Simon and offensive lineman Donovan Jackson. Here’s Ohio State’s full injury report vs. Akron

OUT

OL Devontae Armstrong
SAF Jayden Bonsu
DL Cade Casto
OL Donovan Jackson
LB Cody Simon
WR Reis Stocksdale
RB T.C. Caffey (season)

Aug. 31: Akron at Ohio State; 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 7: Akron at Rutgers: 12 p.m.
Sept. 14: Akron vs. Colgate; 6 p.m.
Sept. 21: Akron at South Carolina
Sept. 28: Akron at Ohio
Oct. 5: Akron vs. Bowling Green; 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 12: Akron at Western Michigan
Oct. 26: Akron vs. Eastern Michigan
Nov. 2: Akron vs. Buffalo
Nov. 13: Akron at Northern Illinois; 7 p.m.
Nov. 19: Akron at Kent State; 7/7:30/8 p.m.
Nov. 26: Akron vs. Toledo; 7 p.m.

Aug. 31: Ohio State vs. Akron; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Sept. 7: Ohio State vs. Western Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Sept. 21: Ohio State vs. Marshall; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Sept. 28: Ohio State at Michigan State; Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
Oct. 5: Ohio State vs. Iowa; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Oct. 12: Ohio State at Oregon; Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
Oct. 26: Ohio State vs. Nebraska; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Nov. 2: Ohio State at Penn State; Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
Nov. 9: Ohio State vs. Purdue; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Nov. 16: Ohio State at Northwestern; Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
Nov. 23: Ohio State vs. Indiana; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Nov. 30: Ohio State vs. Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Buy Ohio State football tickets this season with StubHub

Here are the Columbus DIspatch’s Ohio State predictions for the 2024 season:

Bill Rabinowitz: 15-1, Big Ten champion, College Football Playoff national champion
Joey Kaufman: 15-1, Big Ten champion, College Football Playoff national champion
Rob Oller: 14-1, Big Ten champion, Loss in College Football Playoff semifinals
Colin Gay: 14-2: Big Ten champion, Loss in College Football Playoff national championship

Series record: Ohio State leads 8-1
Ohio State’s last win: Sept. 25, 2021 (59-7)
Akron’s last win: Sept. 5, 1894 (12-6)

Ohio State vs. Akron time today

Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Ohio Stadium; Columbus, Ohio

What channel is Ohio State vs. Akron game on today?

Ohio State vs. Akron will be broadcast nationally on CBS. Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson will call the game from the booth at Ohio Stadium with Jenny Dell reporting from the sideline. Streaming options for the game include Paramount+, CBS’s subscription streaming service, and FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Listen to Ohio State vs. Akron on the radio

Ohio State football is broadcasted live on WBNS-FM/AM (97.1/1460).

Here are the announcers for the Ohio State-Michigan game:

Paul Keels (play-by-play)
Jim Lachey (analysis)
Clay Hall (sideline)

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