Ohio State Football: Three big takeaways from win over WKU
By Ryan Stano
![Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) celebrates scoring a 15-yard touchdown during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ohio Stadium. Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) celebrates scoring a 15-yard touchdown during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ohio Stadium.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3d7574106252c7f2d536890e53b8980b0fedc8f613903eb34b6d2efa2daf3488.jpg)
2. The Ohio State football team can trust Kyle McCord
After last week’s game, Ryan Day said that Kyle McCord would be the starting quarterback for the rest of the game. That seemed to lift a burden off of his shoulders because he was fantastic in this game, throwing for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns on 19/23 passing.
McCord really missed just one throw on third down to a wide-open Julian Fleming in the first half. He also fumbled the ball on a sack. After that, he settled down and started to rip it. He showed that he is worth trusting and is going to be a strength for this Buckeye team moving forward.
It helps when you are able to get the ball to your best players. Marvin Harrison Jr. had 5 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown while Emkea Egbuka had 4 catches for 57 yards and 2 touchdowns. Both players got involved a lot, which was great to see.
Both of those receivers will need to be focal points of the offense again this week against Notre Dame. The Irish are certainly going to come up with a game plan to try to mitigate the damage those receivers can cause. It’ll be up to McCord to find the open man and make the right play.
After the Western Kentucky game, I have little doubt that McCord will be able to do just that. He has firmly settled into this offense. He looks like he has total command of it and is much more comfortable in the pocket than he was in the first two games of the season.
The final takeaway from this game has to do with the offensive line.