The Ohio State Buckeyes are still in the CFP mix after knocking off Northwestern 28-19 on Saturday, but it's painfully obvious what will continue to plague this program the rest of the fall: an overreliance on stars.
Ohio State wiped out the Wildcats because Jeremiah Smith looked like his typically dominant self, and Bo Jackson had a boom game after a middling game against Oregon last week. Smith had more receptions than the rest of his teammates combined, one of them a touchdown catch, while Jackson had 134 all-purpose yards and also found the end zone.
True freshman quarterback Luke Fahey finally got the help that Ryan Day felt was necessary to win a football game. It's hard to foresee this happening enough the rest of the way for this season to end in a championship of any kind, though.
Smith and Jackson's buoying a team-wide effort that otherwise saw modest performances from skill-position players highlights the depth issues this team has been afflicted with this season.
Ohio State's depth will be the Buckeyes' undoing in 2026
Let's not forget that this season is on the brink of postseason elimination because Julian Sayin's presence was more important than anyone could imagine. This team has lost its teeth since Sayin went down injured, but there were early signs that the defense wasn't reaching last year's levels under Matt Patricia in year two. The Illinois game was a shocking display of defensive deficiencies, particularly against the run.
Without Sayin, the quarterback room has proven to be woefully underprepared. Fahey has done everything possible to carry the torch in Sayin's absence, but Tavien St. Clair is in quarterback purgatory in Columbus.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. Smith was supposed to be flanked by a rising young receiving corps that also featured intriguing transfers. No No. 2 option has truly emerged. UTSA transfer Devin McCuin comes the closest, though he just hit 30 receptions in Week 11.
Jackson has had to become a workhorse in the running back room, with Isaiah West providing a good short-yardage push but ultimately not being able to handle a major role. Ja'Kobi Jackson's potentially season-ending injury has forced Bo into the role he filled at the end of the 2025 season, to which he's responded positively.
Still, this is not a hard offense to scheme against.
If you stop Smith in the passing game and contain Jackson on the outside, the interior offensive line isn't holding up well enough for the offense to get other players involved. Opposing pass rushes are causing too many issues in the pocket. Chris Henry Jr. had a perfect opportunity to be a game-breaker in the passing game against Northwestern, but he dropped what would've been a touchdown. He's far from the only player who isn't taking advantage of the few non-Smith/Jackson targets.
The depth will be the Buckeyes' undoing down the stretch. Next year's team needs more balance, especially because JJ Smith, at the very least, won't be there to bail this offense out anymore once he's drafted to the NFL.
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