Does the Ohio State football team need Jaxon Smith-Njigba to beat TTUN?

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has played in a grand total of three games for the Ohio State football team this year. He’s yet to play a complete game also as he’s hurt his hamstring in every game he’s tried to play in. He last suited up for the Buckeyes against Iowa.

Whether or not he ever plays for the Buckeyes again remains to be seen. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the most impactful players in the country. Ohio State can do stuff with him on the field that defenses simply cannot stop. He’s the ultimate weapon as a wide receiver.

But it’s clear that Ohio State can’t count on him being on the field. There are only two games left in the regular season. Maryland is first before TTUN comes to town. We know they don’t need JSN to beat Maryland, but do they need him to beat TTUN in their first trip to the Shoe since 2018?

The Ohio State football team is good enough to beat TTUN without Jaxson Smith-Njibga

In my opinion, the Buckeyes don’t need him to beat Michigan. Ohio State has already proven that they have one of the most explosive offenses in the country without him. Marvin Harrison Jr. might be the best receiver in the country now that JSN hasn’t played all year.

Not only is the offense still really good, but the defense is much better than it was last year when TTUN was able to run all over the Buckeyes and beat them in the Big House. Ohio State’s massive improvement on that side of the ball makes it even more likely that the Buckeyes could beat them even without JSN.

The more pressing concern is whether or not the Ohio State Buckeyes will have a healthy running back for that game. We don’t know how long Miyan Williams will be out. TreVeyon Henderson is allegedly coming back this week, but that would still leave only two healthy backs left on the team.

As long as Ohio State has one of Henderson or Williams, they have a really good shot of beating TTUN in the Shoe, regardless of whether or not Smith-Njigba takes the field along with them.