Ohio State will not have Ja'Kobi Jackson against Indiana. Jackson didn't seem to be hurt against Maryland, so his inclusion on the Big Ten availability report was a surprise. Then it was confirmed that he was going to miss the game against Indiana, which is a blow.
With Jackson out, Bo Jackson and Legend Bey will be the two backs who get the most carries against the Hoosiers. While fans are hoping that Ja'Kobi is back on the field soon, it doesn't seem to be that way. In fact, his absence might be more long-term than people realize.
Ohio State might have to find a way without Ja'Kobi Jackson
Jackson posted on Instagram about his injury, and it seems like he might not be back as quickly as fans would like. "Sometimes God allows His strongest soldiers to face the hardest battles" is the caption that he wrote on his Instagram story. That doesn't seem to be good.
After the game against Maryland, he had a limp on his way back to the locker room. Rewatching the tape, it looks like it could be a foot injury. Eleven Warriors confirmed that. It also sounds like Jackson is going to miss some time, which is the worst time for him to miss.
After this game against IU, Ohio State will take on USC and Oregon in consecutive weeks. However, the Buckeyes do have a bye week after this game. Perhaps Jackson can get back for the Oregon game if he's not ready to go against USC. The bye week should give the team more clarity.
Legend Bey has an opportunity that he likely won't get again. He has a chance to prove that he deserves to be a real part of Ohio State's rushing attack. To this point, he has been used in mop-up duty, despite showing his ability to be explosive.
Ohio State will rely heavily on Bo Jackson for the rest of the season
Bo Jackson has had a disappointing start to the season. After winning the starting job last season, he was expected to make a leap in his sophomore year. That hasn't happened to this point, but this IU game gives him a real chance to change that. He is going to get 20-25 touches in all likelihood.
Moving forward, he is going to be the most important back that the Ohio State Buckeyes have on the roster. He might have to tote the rock 20 times every game if Bey doesn't pop in Bloomington. Otherwise, Isaiah West will have to get time, and he has struggled in recent weeks.
The passing game is still what this offense is built around. Julian Sayin can sling it to Jeremiah Smith anytime he wants. That fact alone will give Ohio State a shot to win a championship. However, a run game is going to be necessary for the team to actually bring the trophy home.
Keeping Jackson healthy is now paramount as the end of the regular season continues. Ohio State is one of the best teams in the country, even though they don't run it well. At some point, that is going to be required.
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