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5 things we learned from winning

Vaseline September 29, 2024

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Here are five things we learned from Ohio State’s 38-7 win at Michigan State on Saturday night:

The Buckeyes are making real progress on offense

Michigan State presented the first real test for an offense revamped by Chip Kelly.

Through four weeks, the Spartans allowed just 4.3 yards per play, a mark that ranked No. 17 in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Part of their success came from pressuring quarterbacks. Before this weekend, only one defense in the country had collected more sacks.

The pressure contributed to Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard’s interception in the second quarter when he threw a pass to Emeka Egbuka in double coverage.

But Ohio State was otherwise flawless and cut through the defense. Six of the first eight stages yielded points. The offensive line also kept Howard from getting sacked. Before pulling their starters after three quarters, the Buckeyes averaged 7.3 yards per play, leaning on the backfield tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins and a cast of other playmakers.

Ryan Day trusts Will Howard

Two fourth-down decisions by Day revealed his confidence in Howard.

It was early in the second quarter when Howard was nearly picked off in the end zone on third-and-goal, seemingly eyeing Jeremiah Smith as safety Malik Spencer slid into coverage to break up the pass.

Day responded by letting them go for it on the next play, with Howard dropping back and tight end Gee Scott Jr. found open on a drag route for a score.

The Buckeyes also had Howard scanning the field when they faced a fourth-and-5 at Michigan State’s 33-yard line during the third quarter.

The call resulted in him contacting Egbuka through a crossing pattern. Egbuka caught the ball just inside the 20-yard line and outpaced safety Nikai Martinez as he raced down the sideline en route to a 33-yard touchdown.

“I love it when you feel that confidence from your coordinator, from your head coach,” Howard said, “when they put the ball in your hand on fourth down.”

Slowly the plague defense begins

Although Michigan State didn’t score any points on its first possession, it became the latest team to move the ball against the Buckeyes’ defense early on.

The Spartans went 55 yards in seven plays, reaching the Ohio State 20-yard line, before linebacker Cody Simon set Aidan Chiles on a quarterback sneak on fourth down.

It was the third time in four games that the Buckeyes allowed an opponent to cross midfield on the opening drive after Akron started with a 48-yard field goal and Marshall reached the end zone last week.

The Buckeyes were so vulnerable this week that they allowed the Spartans to average 8.6 yards per play on their first four drives.

Besides the fourth down stop, forced fumbles kept the drives from changing much on the scoreboard, but a more experienced offense can take advantage of this.

Jeremiah Smith is the key in the red zone

Through four games, the Buckeyes were nearly perfect in the red zone.

Each of their 16 trips inside the 20-yard line has produced points and only once has it not been a touchdown.

One factor is Smith, the top freshman wide receiver. Smith is a veteran pass catcher who made a one-handed grab for a 17-yard touchdown late in the second quarter on Saturday and also ran 19 yards into the end zone on an end-around on an earlier drive.

Of the Buckeyes’ 15 red zone touchdowns this year, four were Smith’s, including two against the Spartans.

Returners are still being sought

The Buckeyes have used a different kickoff player in three straight games.

After Jayden Ballard misjudged a fair catch on a return against Western Michigan, they replaced him with Brandon Inniss, who was the returner against Marshall last week.

But they sent Emeka Egbuka against the Spartans, allowing him to resume his role from his freshman season in 2021.

Touchbacks from Michigan State kicker Jonathan Kim ultimately kept Egbuka from giving the ball back.

Inniss continues to return punts and has taken two from 19 yards this week, but there is no clear option for kick-off.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him [email protected].