After a sluggish start to the season, Ohio State came alive in the second half to secure a 52-6 victory over Akron in their opener. The Buckeyes held a modest 17-3 lead at halftime but shook off the rust with a 21-point third quarter, allowing them to bring in the backups and cruise to an easy Week 1 win.
Here’s a breakdown of the good, the bad, and the ugly from Ohio State’s victory over Akron.
The Good:
Jeremiah Smith
Amidst a somewhat disjointed first-half performance, freshman standout Jeremiah Smith made a powerful debut in college football. After dropping his first target on a screen pass, he quickly redeemed himself by catching a 16-yard touchdown pass from transfer quarterback Will Howard — Howard’s first TD for the Buckeyes. Smith didn’t stop there; he also scored on a 9-yard slant to make it 17-3 in the second quarter and made the game’s longest play with a 45-yard one-handed catch, setting up another touchdown early in the third quarter. Smith finished the game with six receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, living up to the high expectations placed on him.
The Defense
While the offense stumbled early, Ohio State’s defense was solid from beginning to end. Despite some early-season missteps, the defense prevented Akron from reaching the end zone, allowing only two field goals. The Buckeyes scored twice on defense — once on a fumble return by Lathan Ransom and again on a deflected interception by Gabe Powers. They also registered 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. Akron was limited to just 177 total yards, including 47 rushing yards on 35 attempts (1.3 yards per carry) and a 4-for-16 third-down conversion rate.
Special Teams
Ohio State’s special teams, now without Parker Fleming, showed promise against Akron. Jayden Fielding successfully converted his lone field goal attempt from 40 yards, and Brandon Inniss looked confident in his punt return duties. While there was nothing spectacular, the unit performed above average, a marked improvement from previous seasons.
The Bad
The Offensive Line
Ohio State’s offensive line struggled, especially in the first half, missing starting left guard Donovan Jackson. The run blocking was particularly weak, with 44 of their 87 first-half rushing yards coming from just three carries. The remaining 43 yards were gained on 15 attempts, averaging 2.86 yards per carry. Although their performance improved as the game progressed, the offensive line remains an area of concern, especially considering last season’s struggles and Jackson’s absence.
The Ugly:
The First Half
Ohio State’s first half was notably sluggish. While a 17-3 halftime lead against a lower-tier MAC team isn’t catastrophic, it wasn’t confidence-inspiring for a team favored by 50 points. The passing game was particularly erratic, with Will Howard completing just 10 of his first 21 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns to Smith, hampered by drops, miscommunications, and questionable play calls. The Buckeyes’ first three drives included a punt and a turnover on downs, but they eventually scored on five of the next six drives.
