Last week, the Buckeyes had the biggest fourth-quarter collapse in the history of the Ohio State football program. Instead of having a triumph on the road that would have kept Ohio State as the top-ranked team in the country, a lot of tough conversations have happened in the last few days.
The Buckeyes have had to reevaluate things. The defense was too conservative in the second half of the game. Offensively, Julian Sayin was just 2/12 in the second half. There are some fears that this team isn't going to be good enough to beat the good teams on their schedule. Beating down Kent State would help some of those fears.
Ohio State expects to run Kent State into the ground
Ohio State is the Big Noon Kickoff game this week. They are massive favorites over the Golden Flashes, and this game will likely be over in the first half. Still, Buckeye fans won't be happy with anything less than an absolute beatdown of Kent State in the Shoe.
The offense needs to show some improvement from last week, especially with the run game. Ohio State has yet to establish the run in the first half of any game they have played. Even against Ball State, Bo Jackson struggled to find open space. That has to change.
I fully expect Arthur Smith to emphasize the run early in the game. He knows that getting Jackson and the rest of the backs going is going to be important down the stretch. Ohio State has the next two weeks to really get themselves ready for the tough schedule in the Big Ten.
This game against the Golden Flashes is really the last one that they will have this year. Illinois isn't great, but they are much better than Kent State. If the Ohio State Buckeyes have anger they want to get out, this is the game to burn off that anger.
Ohio State has to keep the pedal down against Kent State
Fans won't be happy with anything less than a 50+ point victory in this game. Through two weeks, Ohio State ranks just 73rd in the country in rushing offense. That's unacceptable for what Smith is supposed to be able to do with his offense. He is supposed to be a run-offense savant.
Smith will have to do that with a new starting offensive line combination, as Phillip Daniels is likely out for this game. That means Gabe VanSickle will be the starting right guard and Austin Siereveld will be kicked out to right tackle. That new combination might shake things up.
Ryan Day has faced a lot of criticism this week, and rightly so. He needs to show that his team is resilient in the face of adversity. He has a lot on his plate today, including figuring out the kicking game. Connor Hawkins better make all of his kicks today, or things will get ugly.
A massive win for the Buckeyes would calm a lot of fears around Columbus.
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